The route of the 2023 Tour de France includes several brushes with the fate of champions who defined the history of the race. Racing the Tour on home turf was often an intense sporting experience for these riders, who were born or settled down in some of the towns and cities that dot the map of this edition. In the run-up to the start of the event on 1 July, letour.fr is pulling out the photo album to revisit the ties of six extraordinary riders to the Grande Boucle.
André Darrigade is sure to grace the Tour with his presence at the start of the stage from Dax to Nogaro. The "Landes Greyhound" was the most prolific sprinter of his time, with 22 victories to his name —a feat only bested by Mark Cavendish—, but he also left a lasting impression as an accomplished all-rounder who clinched many wins from breakaways. An exceptional teammate, he worked hard for Louison Bobet before going on to play a key role in Jacques Anquetil's five triumphs. "If he had put his own ambitions first and been a bit luckier, he would have another ten stage wins to his name. I have nothing but admiration for him", said Marcel Bidot, the captain of the French national team.
ALL THE EPISODES
