1963 Tour de France
Encyclopedia
The 1963 Tour de France was the 50th Tour de France
, taking place June 23 to July 14, 1963. The total race distance was 21 stages over 4137 km, with riders averaging 37.092 km/h. Stages 2 and 6 were both two part stages, the first half being a regular stage and the second half being a team
or individual time trial
.
The Tour organisers were trying to break the dominance of Anquetil, who had won already three Tours, by reducing the time trials length to only 79 km, so that the climbing capabilities would be more important.
Nonetheless, the race was won by Anquetil, who was able to stay close to his main rival Federico Bahamontes
in the mountains, one time even by faking a mechanical problem in order to get a bicycle that was more suited for the terrain. Bahamontes finished as the second-placed cyclist, but won the mountains classification. The points classification
was won by Rik Van Looy
.
The IBAC-Molteni team was a combination of five cyclists from IBAC and five from Molteni, each wearing their own sponsor's jerseys.
The main favourite before the race was Jacques Anquetil, at that moment already a three-time winner of the Tour, including the previous two editions. Anquetil had shown good form before the Tour, as he won Paris-Nice
, the Dauphiné Libéré
, the Critérium National
and the 1961 Vuelta a España
. Anquetil was not sure if he would ride the Tour until a few days before the start; he had been infected by a tapeworm, and was advised not to start. Anquetil had chosen to ride races with tough climbs, to prepare for the 1963 Tour de France.
The major competitor was thought to be Raymond Poulidor
, who had shown his capabilities in the 1962 Tour de France
.
, the winner of the 1959 Tour de France
. Bahamontes was known as a climber, so it was unexpected that he gained time on a flat stage.
The third stage saw another successful breakaway. Seamus Elliot won the stage, and became the new leader in the race; it was the first time that an Irish cyclist lead the Tour de France.
The time trial in stage 6b was won by Anquetil, with Poulidor in second place. Gilbert Desmet
became the new leader.
The situation did not change much in the next stages until the stages in the Pyrenees, starting with the tenth stage. Bahamontes lead the first group, but Anquetil was able to stay in that first group, which was a surprise. Anquetil stayed in that first group until the finish, where he outsprinted the rest to win his first mountain stage.
In the other two stages in the Pyrenees, Anquetil was able to stay in the first group, lost little time on his competitors, and kept getting closer to Desmet, who was still leading the general classification.
The fifteenth stage was the first in the Alps. Bahamontes won this stage, and in the general classification jumped to second place, three seconds ahead of Anquetil. In the sixteenth stage, Fernando Manzaneque
won, eight minutes ahead of Bahamontes and Anquetil who stayed together. Because Desmet was further behind, Bahamontes became the new leader of the race, with a margin of three seconds on Anquetil.
The race was decided in the seventeenth stage. The rules in 1963 did not allow cyclists to change bicycles, unless there was a mechanical problem. Anquetil's team director, Raphaël Géminiani
, thought that Anquetil could use a different bicycle on the ascent of the Col de la Forclaz
, so he advised Anquetil to fake a mechanical problem on the start of that climb; Géminiani cut through a gear cable, and claimed that it snapped. Anquetil could thus use a light bicycle with lower gears, especially suited for a climb, which gave him an advantage on his competitors. Bahamontes reached the top of the Forclaz first, and only Anquetil had been able to follow him. After the top, Anquetil got his regular bicycle back, and rode to the finish together with Bahamontes. Anquetil won the sprint, and the bonus time made him the new leader.
As expected, Anquetil won some more time in the time trial in stage 19, and became the winner of the 1963 Tour.
, and had one restday, in Aurillac
.
was won by Rik Van Looy.
was won by Saint Raphaël.
Carpano and the combined team IBAC-Molteni did not finish with three or more cyclists, so they were not included in the team classification.
Anquetil was the first cyclist to win a fourth Tour de France. In the next year, he set the record sharper by winning his fifth Tour.
The French public had expected much from Raymond Poulidor
, but Poulidor only made the eighth place. Normally, Poulidor was more popular than Anquetil even when Anquetil won, but this time Poulidor received "contemptuous whistles" at the finish in the Parc des Princes
, while Anquetil received a standing ovation.
After Anquetil and Géminiani had shown that the rule that bicycle changes were not allowed was easily circumvented by faking a mechanical problem, this rule was removed for the next year.
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, taking place June 23 to July 14, 1963. The total race distance was 21 stages over 4137 km, with riders averaging 37.092 km/h. Stages 2 and 6 were both two part stages, the first half being a regular stage and the second half being a team
Team time trial
A team time trial is a road-based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock .Teams start at equal intervals, usually two, three or four minutes apart...
or individual time trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...
.
The Tour organisers were trying to break the dominance of Anquetil, who had won already three Tours, by reducing the time trials length to only 79 km, so that the climbing capabilities would be more important.
Nonetheless, the race was won by Anquetil, who was able to stay close to his main rival Federico Bahamontes
Federico Bahamontes
Federico Martín Bahamontes is a Spanish former professional road racing cyclist.-Biography:Bahamontes was born in Santo Domingo-Caudilla , of Cuban descent. His family was devastated during the Spanish civil war and Bahamontes' father, Julián, took the family to Madrid as refugees...
in the mountains, one time even by faking a mechanical problem in order to get a bicycle that was more suited for the terrain. Bahamontes finished as the second-placed cyclist, but won the mountains classification. The points classification
Points classification in the Tour de France
The points classification in the Tour de France is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 1953. Points are given for high finishes in a stage and for winning intermediate sprints, and these are recorded in a points classification. It is considered a sprinters' competition...
was won by Rik Van Looy
Rik Van Looy
Henri van Looy is a Belgian former professional cyclist of the post-war period, nicknamed the King of the Classics or Emperor of Herentals...
.
Changes from the 1962 Tour de France
The Tour organisers were trying to break the dominance of Anquetil, who had won already three Tours, by reducing the time trials length to only 79 km, so that the climbing capabilities would be more important.Participants
The 1963 Tour started with 130 cyclists, divided into 13 teams:
|
|
The IBAC-Molteni team was a combination of five cyclists from IBAC and five from Molteni, each wearing their own sponsor's jerseys.
The main favourite before the race was Jacques Anquetil, at that moment already a three-time winner of the Tour, including the previous two editions. Anquetil had shown good form before the Tour, as he won Paris-Nice
Paris-Nice
Paris–Nice, "the race to the sun", is a professional cycling stage race held each March.The first Paris–Nice was in 1933, and was won by Alfons Schepers from Belgium. The most successful cyclist in Paris–Nice was Sean Kelly from Ireland, who won seven consecutive titles from 1982 to 1988.Although...
, the Dauphiné Libéré
Dauphiné Libéré
The Critérium du Dauphiné is an annual cycling road race, run over eight stages in the Dauphiné region in France during the first half of June. The race was inaugurated by a local newspaper, the Dauphiné Libéré, which gave its name to the event...
, the Critérium National
Critérium International
The Critérium International is a two-day bicycle stage race held in France every spring. It was formerly known as the Critérium National de la Route, first run in 1932....
and the 1961 Vuelta a España
1961 Vuelta a España
The 16th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 29 to May 11, 1961. It consisted of 16 stages covering a total of 2,856.5 km, and was won by Angelino Soler of the Faema cycling team...
. Anquetil was not sure if he would ride the Tour until a few days before the start; he had been infected by a tapeworm, and was advised not to start. Anquetil had chosen to ride races with tough climbs, to prepare for the 1963 Tour de France.
The major competitor was thought to be Raymond Poulidor
Raymond Poulidor
Raymond Poulidor , is a former professional bicycle racer. He was known as the eternal second, because he finished the Tour de France in second place three times, and in third place five times, including his final Tour at the age of 40...
, who had shown his capabilities in the 1962 Tour de France
1962 Tour de France
The 1962 Tour de France was the 49th Tour de France, taking place June 24 to July 15, 1962. It was composed of 22 stages over 4274 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.306 km/h. After more than 30 years, the Tour was again contested by trade teams...
.
Race details
In the first stage, four men escaped. One of them was Federico BahamontesFederico Bahamontes
Federico Martín Bahamontes is a Spanish former professional road racing cyclist.-Biography:Bahamontes was born in Santo Domingo-Caudilla , of Cuban descent. His family was devastated during the Spanish civil war and Bahamontes' father, Julián, took the family to Madrid as refugees...
, the winner of the 1959 Tour de France
1959 Tour de France
The 1959 Tour de France was the 46th Tour de France, taking place between 25 June and 18 July 1959. The race featured 120 riders, of which 65 finished. The Tour included 22 stages over 4,391 km, and the winner had an average speed of 35.474 km/h....
. Bahamontes was known as a climber, so it was unexpected that he gained time on a flat stage.
The third stage saw another successful breakaway. Seamus Elliot won the stage, and became the new leader in the race; it was the first time that an Irish cyclist lead the Tour de France.
The time trial in stage 6b was won by Anquetil, with Poulidor in second place. Gilbert Desmet
Gilbert Desmet
Gilbert Desmet , nicknamed Smetje van Lichtervelde, is a retired Belgian cyclist, professional from 1952 to 1967. In the 1956 Tour de France, he wore the yellow jersey for 2 days, and in the 1963 Tour de France he wore it for 9 days. Desmet won 101 professional courses, including Paris–Tours, La...
became the new leader.
The situation did not change much in the next stages until the stages in the Pyrenees, starting with the tenth stage. Bahamontes lead the first group, but Anquetil was able to stay in that first group, which was a surprise. Anquetil stayed in that first group until the finish, where he outsprinted the rest to win his first mountain stage.
In the other two stages in the Pyrenees, Anquetil was able to stay in the first group, lost little time on his competitors, and kept getting closer to Desmet, who was still leading the general classification.
The fifteenth stage was the first in the Alps. Bahamontes won this stage, and in the general classification jumped to second place, three seconds ahead of Anquetil. In the sixteenth stage, Fernando Manzaneque
Fernando Manzaneque
Fernando Manzaneque Sánchez was a Spanish professional road racing cyclist born in Campo de Criptana. Fernando was the older brother of Jesús Manzaneque.-Major Results:19551957...
won, eight minutes ahead of Bahamontes and Anquetil who stayed together. Because Desmet was further behind, Bahamontes became the new leader of the race, with a margin of three seconds on Anquetil.
The race was decided in the seventeenth stage. The rules in 1963 did not allow cyclists to change bicycles, unless there was a mechanical problem. Anquetil's team director, Raphaël Géminiani
Raphael Geminiani
Raphaël Géminiani is a French former road bicycle racer. He had six podium finishes in the Grand Tours. He is one of four children of Italian immigrants who moved to Clermont-Ferrand. He worked in a cycle shop and started racing as a boy...
, thought that Anquetil could use a different bicycle on the ascent of the Col de la Forclaz
Col de la Forclaz
Col de la Forclaz is a mountain pass in the Alps in the Canton of Valais in Switzerland. It connects Martigny at and Le Châtelard . The road from Martigny to the Col has an average gradient of 6% but in parts is more like 8%...
, so he advised Anquetil to fake a mechanical problem on the start of that climb; Géminiani cut through a gear cable, and claimed that it snapped. Anquetil could thus use a light bicycle with lower gears, especially suited for a climb, which gave him an advantage on his competitors. Bahamontes reached the top of the Forclaz first, and only Anquetil had been able to follow him. After the top, Anquetil got his regular bicycle back, and rode to the finish together with Bahamontes. Anquetil won the sprint, and the bonus time made him the new leader.
As expected, Anquetil won some more time in the time trial in stage 19, and became the winner of the 1963 Tour.
Stages
The 1963 Tour de France started on 23 June in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and had one restday, in Aurillac
Aurillac
Aurillac is a commune in the Auvergne region in south-central France, capital of the Cantal department.Aurillac's inhabitants are called Aurillacois, and are also Cantaliens or Cantalous in Occitan....
.
| Stage | Date | Route | Terrain | Length | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 June | Paris – Épernay Épernay Épernay is a commune in the Marne department in northern France. Épernay is located some 130 km north-east of Paris on the main line of the Eastern railway to Strasbourg... |
 |
152 km (94.4 mi) | |
| 2A | 24 June | Reims – Jambes Jambes Jambes is a Walloon town in southern Belgium, in the province of Namur. Since 1977 it has been part of the city of Namur.Jambes is known for the former Géronsart Abbey, the 13th century Enhaive or Anhaive keep , the old bridge on the Meuse River and the seat of the Government of Wallonia... |
|
186 km (115.6 mi) | |
| 2B | Jambes – Jambes Jambes Jambes is a Walloon town in southern Belgium, in the province of Namur. Since 1977 it has been part of the city of Namur.Jambes is known for the former Géronsart Abbey, the 13th century Enhaive or Anhaive keep , the old bridge on the Meuse River and the seat of the Government of Wallonia... |
 Team time trial A team time trial is a road-based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock .Teams start at equal intervals, usually two, three or four minutes apart... |
22 km (13.7 mi) | Pelforth-Sauvage | |
| 3 | 25 June | Jambes – Roubaix Roubaix Roubaix is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is located between the cities of Lille and Tourcoing.The Gare de Roubaix railway station offers connections to Lille, Tourcoing, Antwerp, Ostend and Paris.-Culture:... |
|
223 km (138.6 mi) | |
| 4 | 26 June | Roubaix – Rouen Rouen Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages... |
|
236 km (146.6 mi) | |
| 5 | 27 June | Rouen – Rennes Rennes Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:... |
|
285 km (177.1 mi) | |
| 6A | 28 June | Rennes – Angers Angers Angers is the main city in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France about south-west of Paris. Angers is located in the French region known by its pre-revolutionary, provincial name, Anjou, and its inhabitants are called Angevins.... |
|
118 km (73.3 mi) | |
| 6B | Angers – Angers Angers Angers is the main city in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France about south-west of Paris. Angers is located in the French region known by its pre-revolutionary, provincial name, Anjou, and its inhabitants are called Angevins.... |
Individual time trial An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials... |
25 km (15.5 mi) | ||
| 7 | 29 June | Angers – Limoges Limoges Limoges |Limousin]] dialect of Occitan) is a city and commune, the capital of the Haute-Vienne department and the administrative capital of the Limousin région in west-central France.... |
|
236 km (146.6 mi) | |
| 8 | 30 June | Limoges – Bordeaux Bordeaux Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture... |
|
232 km (144.2 mi) | |
| 9 | 1 July | Bordeaux – Pau | |
202 km (125.5 mi) | |
| 10 | 2 July | Pau – Bagnères-de-Bigorre Bagnères-de-Bigorre Bagnères-de-Bigorre is a French commune in the south-western Hautes-Pyrénées department, of which it is a sub-prefecture.-Notable people:Bagnères-de-Bigorre was the birthplace of:*Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke... |
 |
148 km (92 mi) | |
| 11 | 3 July | Bagnères-de-Bigorre – Luchon | |
131 km (81.4 mi) | |
| 12 | 4 July | Luchon – Toulouse Toulouse Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea... |
|
173 km (107.5 mi) | |
| 13 | 5 July | Toulouse – Aurillac Aurillac Aurillac is a commune in the Auvergne region in south-central France, capital of the Cantal department.Aurillac's inhabitants are called Aurillacois, and are also Cantaliens or Cantalous in Occitan.... |
|
234 km (145.4 mi) | |
| 14 | 7 July | Aurillac – Saint-Étienne Saint-Étienne Saint-Étienne is a city in eastern central France. It is located in the Massif Central, southwest of Lyon in the Rhône-Alpes region, along the trunk road that connects Toulouse with Lyon... |
|
237 km (147.3 mi) | |
| 15 | 8 July | Saint-Étienne – Grenoble Grenoble Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère... |
|
174 km (108.1 mi) | |
| 16 | 9 July | Grenoble – Val d'Isère Val d'Isère Val d'Isère is a commune of the Tarentaise Valley, in the Savoie department in south-eastern France. It lies from the border with Italy. It is on the border of the Vanoise National Park created in 1963. The Face de Bellevarde was the scene of the men's downhill race as part of the 1992 Winter... |
|
202 km (125.5 mi) | |
| 17 | 10 July | Val d'Isère – Chamonix Chamonix Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics... |
|
228 km (141.7 mi) | |
| 18 | 11 July | Chamonix – Lons-le-Saunier Lons-le-Saunier Lons-le-Saunier is a commune and capital of the Jura department in eastern France.-Geography:The town is in the heart of the Revermont region, at the foot of the "premier plateau" of the Jura massif... |
|
225 km (139.8 mi) | |
| 19 | 12 July | Arbois – Besançon Besançon Besançon , is the capital and principal city of the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It had a population of about 237,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 2008... |
Individual time trial An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials... |
54 km (33.6 mi) | |
| 20 | 13 July | Besançon – Troyes Troyes Troyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town... |
|
234 km (145.4 mi) | |
| 21 | 14 July | Troyes – Paris | |
185 km (115 mi) |
Classification leadership
| Stage | General classification |
Points classification Points classification in the Tour de France The points classification in the Tour de France is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 1953. Points are given for high finishes in a stage and for winning intermediate sprints, and these are recorded in a points classification. It is considered a sprinters' competition...  |
Mountains classification | Team classification Team classification The team classification is a prize given in the Tour de France to the best team in the race. It has been awarded since 1930, and the calculation has changed throughout the years.-Calculation:... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | no award | Libertas | ||
| 2a | Pelforth | |||
| 2b | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| 5 | ||||
| 6a | ||||
| 6b | Saint Raphaël | |||
| 7 | ||||
| 8 | ||||
| 9 | ||||
| 10 | ||||
| 11 | ||||
| 12 | ||||
| 13 | ||||
| 14 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
| 16 | ||||
| 17 | ||||
| 18 | ||||
| 19 | ||||
| 20 | ||||
| 21 | ||||
| Final | Saint Raphaël |
General classification
| Rank | Name | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Raphaël | 113h 30' 05" | |
| 2 | Margnat | +3' 35" | |
| 3 | Ferrys | +10' 14" | |
| 4 | Saint Raphaël | +11' 55" | |
| 5 | Faema-Flandria | +15' 00" | |
| 6 | Faema-Flandria | +15' 04" | |
| 7 | I.B.A.C.-Molteni | +15' 27" | |
| 8 | Mercier | +16' 46" | |
| 9 | Wiel's | +18' 53" | |
| 10 | GBC-Libertas | +19' 24" |
| Final general classification (11–76) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Name | Team | Time |
| 11 | Pelforth-Sauvage | +21' 39" | |
| 12 | Ferrys | +22' 30" | |
| 13 | Wiel's | +25' 03" | |
| 14 | KAS | +26' 44" | |
| 15 | Wiel's | +28' 20" | |
| 16 | Pelforth-Sauvage | +30' 36" | |
| 17 | KAS | +31' 36" | |
| 18 | I.B.A.C.-Molteni | +32' 06" | |
| 19 | Pelforth-Sauvage | +33' 50" | |
| 20 | Mercier | +35' 38" | |
| 21 | +39' 52" | ||
| 22 | +41' 05" | ||
| 23 | +42' 22" | ||
| 24 | +43' 02" | ||
| 25 | +45' 00" | ||
| 26 | +49' 21" | ||
| 27 | +54' 22" | ||
| 28 | +55' 07" | ||
| 29 | +55' 41" | ||
| 30 | +56' 42" | ||
| 31 | +57' 14" | ||
| 32 | +1h 02' 50" | ||
| 33 | +1h 03' 28" | ||
| 34 | +1h 05' 26" | ||
| 35 | +1h 07' 26" | ||
| 36 | +1h 08' 35" | ||
| 37 | +1h 09' 15" | ||
| 38 | +1h 09' 40" | ||
| 39 | +1h 10' 37" | ||
| 40 | +1h 12' 25" | ||
| 41 | +1h 16' 46" | ||
| 42 | +1h 20' 41" | ||
| 43 | +1h 22' 10" | ||
| 44 | +1h 25' 01" | ||
| 45 | +1h 26' 54" | ||
| 46 | +1h 27' 34" | ||
| 47 | +1h 27' 53" | ||
| 48 | +1h 29' 26" | ||
| 49 | +1h 31' 28" | ||
| 50 | +1h 32' 05" | ||
| 51 | +1h 32' 08" | ||
| 52 | +1h 32' 20" | ||
| 53 | +1h 33' 34" | ||
| 54 | +1h 35' 50" | ||
| 55 | +1h 36' 09" | ||
| 56 | +1h 42' 39" | ||
| 57 | +1h 46' 41" | ||
| 57 | +1h 46' 41" | ||
| 59 | +1h 48' 24" | ||
| 60 | +1h 53' 09" | ||
| 61 | +1h 54' 20" | ||
| 62 | +1h 56' 31" | ||
| 63 | +1h 58' 37" | ||
| 64 | +2h 02' 08" | ||
| 65 | +2h 02' 38" | ||
| 66 | +2h 04' 50" | ||
| 67 | +2h 06' 46" | ||
| 68 | +2h 10' 26" | ||
| 69 | +2h 14' 47" | ||
| 70 | +2h 17' 58" | ||
| 71 | +2h 21' 17" | ||
| 72 | +2h 22' 31" | ||
| 73 | +2h 22' 42" | ||
| 74 | +2h 26' 00" | ||
| 75 | +2h 28' 19" | ||
| 76 | +2h 45' 10" | ||
Points classification
The points classificationPoints classification in the Tour de France
The points classification in the Tour de France is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 1953. Points are given for high finishes in a stage and for winning intermediate sprints, and these are recorded in a points classification. It is considered a sprinters' competition...
was won by Rik Van Looy.
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
G.B.C. Libertas | 275 |
| 2 | Saint Raphaël | 138 | |
| 3 | Margnat | 112 | |
| 4 | Wiel's | 111 | |
| 5 | Ferrys | 81 | |
Mountains classification
The Mountains classification was won by Féderico Bahamontes.| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Margnat | 147 | |
| 2 | Mercier | 70 | |
| 3 | Saint Raphaël | 68 | |
| 4 | Margnat | 51 | |
| 5 | Saint Raphaël | 47 | |
Team classification
The team classificationTeam classification
The team classification is a prize given in the Tour de France to the best team in the race. It has been awarded since 1930, and the calculation has changed throughout the years.-Calculation:...
was won by Saint Raphaël.
| Rank | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Raphaël | 340h 35' 25" |
| 2 | Pelforth | +36' 49" |
| 3 | Faema | +43' 13" |
| 4 | Wiels-Groene Leeuw | +59' 03" |
| 4 | Ferrys | +59' 03" |
| 6 | Margnat | +1h 04' 21" |
| 7 | Mercier | +1h 24' 34" |
| 8 | Peugeot | +1h 42' 13" |
| 9 | KAS | +1h 56' 08" |
| 10 | G.B.C. Libertas | +2h 05' 26" |
| 11 | Solo-Terrot | +4h 18' 36" |
Carpano and the combined team IBAC-Molteni did not finish with three or more cyclists, so they were not included in the team classification.
Aftermath
Anquetil, who had been criticized that he just a time trial specialist, showed that he was also capable of mountain stages, and everybody agreed that Anquetil was the best cyclist overall.Anquetil was the first cyclist to win a fourth Tour de France. In the next year, he set the record sharper by winning his fifth Tour.
The French public had expected much from Raymond Poulidor
Raymond Poulidor
Raymond Poulidor , is a former professional bicycle racer. He was known as the eternal second, because he finished the Tour de France in second place three times, and in third place five times, including his final Tour at the age of 40...
, but Poulidor only made the eighth place. Normally, Poulidor was more popular than Anquetil even when Anquetil won, but this time Poulidor received "contemptuous whistles" at the finish in the Parc des Princes
Parc des Princes
The Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed...
, while Anquetil received a standing ovation.
After Anquetil and Géminiani had shown that the rule that bicycle changes were not allowed was easily circumvented by faking a mechanical problem, this rule was removed for the next year.