On July 9, thirty-five years later, the Tour de France will again climb the slopes of the Puy de Dôme.
For the occasion,
Le Figaro Sport
takes you back to the most legendary moments of the Auvergne climb.
To discover
Tour de France 2023: the map and ten things to remember on the route
The general classification of the Tour de France
1952: Fausto Coppi establishes (a little more) his domination
July 17, 1952. For the first ascent of the Puy de Dôme in the history of the Tour de France, it is none other than the elegant climber Fausto Coppi, yellow jersey on his back, who wins.
The Italian, who literally crushed the Grande Boucle that year - in Paris, his runner-up was relegated to 28'17 '' -, ahead of the Dutchman Jan Nolten by ten seconds and his great rival and compatriot Gino Bartali by thirty-one seconds.
The first Frenchman, Raphaël Geminiani, finished at the foot of the podium, forty-six seconds behind.
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1959: Federico Bahamontes spreads his wings
July 10, 1959. For its second appearance in the Tour de France, the Puy de Dôme is climbed as part of a time trial stage.
The Eagle of Toledo, Federico Bahamontes, spreads its wings to crush the competition, relegating the Luxembourger Charly Gaul to one minute and twenty-six seconds and the Frenchman Henry Anglade to three minutes.
The Spaniard also takes up six minutes in the yellow jersey, the Belgian Joseph Hoevenaers, and thus returns to four small seconds from first place in the general classification.
A stage victory that forged his success on this Grande Boucle.
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1964: The legendary Jacques Anquetil-Raymond Poulidor duel
July 12, 1964. This is the most significant ascent of the Puy de Dôme but also one of the most legendary moments in the history of the Tour de France.
In the last kilometers of the Auvergne climb, while the Spaniards Julio Jimenez and Federico Bahamontes took off to compete for stage success, the French Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor engage in a thrilling duel for victory in the general classification.
They are neck and neck.
Literally.
Because the Norman, on the verge of rupture, bluffs and climbs to the height of Limousin.
Finally, in the last hectometres, "Poupou" got rid of his great rival.
Jacques Anquetil is stationary.
On the line, he concedes forty-two seconds to his main competitor in the race for the yellow jersey,
but keeps it for fourteen short seconds;
he will bring him back to Paris.
Raymond Poulidor has rarely come so close to wearing the Grande Boucle leader's tunic.
By its intensity and the emotions it generated, this incredible “battle” completely made people forget the victory at the top of Julio Jimenez.
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1975: the attack on Eddy Merckx
July 11, 1975. That year, Bernard Thévenet's stunt - which took up thirty-four seconds from Eddy Merckx - was eclipsed...by a punch.
Indeed, one hundred and fifty meters from the finish line, in full defense of his yellow jersey in the middle of a sometimes hostile crowd, the "Cannibal" was violently struck in the liver by a spectator.
After crossing the finish line 49 seconds behind the winner Lucien Van Impe, not without difficulty, and keeping his leader's tunic, the Belgian descended to find his attacker.
He identifies him and points him out to the police.
Physically diminished, the five-time winner of the Grande Boucle will lose the jersey two days later, in Pra-Loup, in favor of Bernard Thévenet who will finally win his first Tour de France.
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1978: Bernard Hinault limits damage to Joop Zoetemelk
July 14, 1978. French champion's jersey on the back, Bernard Hinault, in the race to win his first Tour de France, achieves a remarkable time trial between Besse-en-Chandesse and the Puy de Dôme.
The Breton takes fourth place and concedes only one minute and forty seconds on the winner - and then favorite of the Grande Boucle - Joop Zoetemelk.
A performance that allows him to stay in the wake of the Dutchman in the general classification.
A week later, on a new individual stage against time, the one who will later be nicknamed the “Badger” will take a little more than four minutes from him to take the yellow jersey.
He will bring it back to the Champs-Elysées.
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1983: Pascal Simon's ordeal to save his yellow jersey
July 16, 1983. Of suffering and happiness.
Yellow jersey, it is with the fractured scapula - an injury contracted after a fall suffered several days earlier - that Pascal Simon takes the start of this time trial.
The Frenchman is going through a real ordeal - especially in the last kilometers - to save his lead in the general classification.
He fights as best he can and crosses the line in fifty-fifth position, five minutes and ten seconds behind the winner, the Spaniard Angel Arroyo.
He concedes three minutes and twenty-two seconds to his main competitor for the final victory, his compatriot Laurent Fignon, but nevertheless retains the leader's tunic.
Unfortunately for him, he had to give up two days later.
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1988: Johnny Weltz last winner
July 21, 1988. Thirty-five years ago, the Tour de France climbed the Puy de Dôme for the last time.
And if the Auvergne climb has often seen one of the leaders win at the top, that year it was (almost) an illustrious stranger who raised his arms there.
Indeed, having left on a breakaway with the West German Rolf Golz, the Dane Johnny Weltz broke away in the ascent to win the best victory of his career.
Behind, in the race for the general classification, the Spaniard Pedro Delgado takes advantage of the steep slopes to increase his lead a little more over his opponent, the Dutchman Steven Rooks.
