The 1965 Tour de France was memorable for a number of reasons. In his first year as a professional, Felice Gimondi, a substitute replacement on the Salvarani team, captures the overall title ahead of Raymond Poulidor, last year's second place finisher. The 52nd edition of the Grand Boucle was counter-clockwise (Pyrenees first) and consisted of 22 stages and 4,177 km (2,595 mi) with an average speed of 35.886 km/h (22.3 mph).
Gimondi would go on to become one of only five riders, the others being Alberto Contador and five-time Tour winners Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault, to have won all three of the major Tours. Besides Gimondi's first tour and win, it was a first for other reasons: the 1965 Tour started in Cologne, Germany (the first time the Tour started in Germany, and only the third time it started outside France), and it was the first time the start ramp was used in time trials.
Read more about 1965 Tour De France: Participants, Race Details, Stages, Classification Leadership, Results
Famous quotes containing the words tour and/or france:
“Left Washington, September 6, on a tour through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia.... Absent nineteen days. Received every where heartily. The country is again one and united! I am very happy to be able to feel that the course taken has turned out so well.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
“The good critic is he who relates the adventures of his soul among masterpieces.”
—Anatole France (1844–1924)