René Vietto
Encyclopedia
René Vietto was a French road racing cyclist.
In the 1934 Tour de France
, Vietto, a relative unknown, got wings on the mountains. This was not a surprise, because he had won the Grand Prix Wolber. He was prepared for the Alps
and won easily on the steepest terrain. After he won the two major Alpine stages, journalists reported that this 'boy' could be the purest mountain climber that France knew.
During the 1934 Tour, he was poised to be race leader after his team leader Antonin Magne
crashed during stage 16. Vietto unaware of Magne's situation; his lead gave him the virtual race lead. A marshal on a motorcycle caught Vietto to inform him his captain was on the side of the road, with teammate Lapébie ahead, and the other teammates behind the yellow jersey. Vietto turned rode back up the mountain into the descending riders (reversing course was legal, but is no longer so), to give Magne his bike. Magne mounted Vietto’s bike and with Lapébie closed the gap to preserve his overall lead and win the Tour. A photograph shows Vietto sitting on a stone wall as the race passes.
This made him a star in France. The image of a 20-year-old who sacrificed his chance of winning the Tour doubled his popularity. Vietto was still named the Tour's best climber. Vietto finished 5th, almost 1 hour behind Magne. Vietto never won the Tour. He was closest in 1939
, when he received the yellow jersey in Lorient
in one of the first stages, but in the mountains, once his favorite place, he was left by Sylvère Maes
. After that Tour, war broke out and the race wasn't held until 1947. Vietto, still loved, attacked from the second stage. As a result, he took the yellow jersey in Brussels
, to lose it a day before the finish, in a time trial of 139 km.
Despite failing to hold the lead, Vietto wore the yellow jersey for 15 stages during the 1938 Tour de France
and during the 1947 Tour de France
for 14 stages. He finished second in 1939, fifth in 1934 and 1947 and eighth in 1935. He has the highest career yellow jersey statistics of anyone to never win the Tour de France overall.
Vietto lost a toe to sepsis
in 1947. Legend has it that Vietto insisted his domestique, Apo Lazarides
, cut off one of his own toes to match. According to legend, Vietto's toe is in formaldehyde in a bar in Marseilles.
1935
1939
1943
1946
1947
In the 1934 Tour de France
1934 Tour de France
The 1934 Tour de France was the 28th Tour de France, taking place July 3 to July 29, 1934. It consisted of 23 stages over 4,363 km, ridden at an average speed of 30.360 km/h. The race was won by Antonin Magne, who had previously won the 1931 Tour de France. The French team was dominant,...
, Vietto, a relative unknown, got wings on the mountains. This was not a surprise, because he had won the Grand Prix Wolber. He was prepared for the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
and won easily on the steepest terrain. After he won the two major Alpine stages, journalists reported that this 'boy' could be the purest mountain climber that France knew.
During the 1934 Tour, he was poised to be race leader after his team leader Antonin Magne
Antonin Magne
Antonin Magne was a French cyclist who won the Tour de France in 1931 and 1934. He raced as a professional from 1927 to 1939 and then became a team manager...
crashed during stage 16. Vietto unaware of Magne's situation; his lead gave him the virtual race lead. A marshal on a motorcycle caught Vietto to inform him his captain was on the side of the road, with teammate Lapébie ahead, and the other teammates behind the yellow jersey. Vietto turned rode back up the mountain into the descending riders (reversing course was legal, but is no longer so), to give Magne his bike. Magne mounted Vietto’s bike and with Lapébie closed the gap to preserve his overall lead and win the Tour. A photograph shows Vietto sitting on a stone wall as the race passes.
This made him a star in France. The image of a 20-year-old who sacrificed his chance of winning the Tour doubled his popularity. Vietto was still named the Tour's best climber. Vietto finished 5th, almost 1 hour behind Magne. Vietto never won the Tour. He was closest in 1939
1939 Tour de France
The 1939 Tour de France was the 33rd Tour de France, taking place from 10 to 30 July 1939. The total distance was 4,224 km and the average speed of the riders was 31.986 km/h....
, when he received the yellow jersey in Lorient
Lorient
Lorient, or L'Orient, is a commune and a seaport in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-History:At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were trading with India had established warehouses in Port-Louis...
in one of the first stages, but in the mountains, once his favorite place, he was left by Sylvère Maes
Sylvère Maes
Sylvère Maes was a Belgian cyclist, who is most famous for winning the Tour de France in 1936 and 1939.- Palmarès :1932...
. After that Tour, war broke out and the race wasn't held until 1947. Vietto, still loved, attacked from the second stage. As a result, he took the yellow jersey in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, to lose it a day before the finish, in a time trial of 139 km.
Despite failing to hold the lead, Vietto wore the yellow jersey for 15 stages during the 1938 Tour de France
1938 Tour de France
The 1938 Tour de France was the 32nd Tour de France, taking place July 5 to July 31, 1938. It was composed of 21 stages over 4694 km, ridden at an average speed of 31.565 km/h...
and during the 1947 Tour de France
1947 Tour de France
The 1947 Tour de France was the 34th Tour de France, taking place from 25 June to 20 July 1947. The total race distance was 21 stages over 4,640 km, ridden at an average speed of 31.412 km/h...
for 14 stages. He finished second in 1939, fifth in 1934 and 1947 and eighth in 1935. He has the highest career yellow jersey statistics of anyone to never win the Tour de France overall.
Vietto lost a toe to sepsis
Sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially deadly medical condition that is characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state and the presence of a known or suspected infection. The body may develop this inflammatory response by the immune system to microbes in the blood, urine, lungs, skin, or other tissues...
in 1947. Legend has it that Vietto insisted his domestique, Apo Lazarides
Apo Lazarides
Apo Lazaridès , was a Greek-born French champion cyclist.Born Jean-Apôtre Lazaridès in Marles-les-Mines, Pas-de-Calais of Greek ancestries , he cycled in the mountains as a boy...
, cut off one of his own toes to match. According to legend, Vietto's toe is in formaldehyde in a bar in Marseilles.
Major Victories
1934- Tour de France1934 Tour de FranceThe 1934 Tour de France was the 28th Tour de France, taking place July 3 to July 29, 1934. It consisted of 23 stages over 4,363 km, ridden at an average speed of 30.360 km/h. The race was won by Antonin Magne, who had previously won the 1931 Tour de France. The French team was dominant,...
:- Mountains classification
- Winner stage 7, 9, 11 and 18
- 5th place overall classification
- Grand Prix Wolber
1935
- Tour de France1935 Tour de FranceThe 1935 Tour de France was the 29th Tour de France, taking place July 4 to July 28, 1935. It consisted of 21 stages over 4,338 km, ridden at an average speed of 30.650 km/h. Although the French team was favourite, Belgian Romain Maes took the lead in the first stage, and never gave it away...
:- Winner stage 6 and 9
- 8th place overall classification
- Paris–Nice
1939
- Tour de France1939 Tour de FranceThe 1939 Tour de France was the 33rd Tour de France, taking place from 10 to 30 July 1939. The total distance was 4,224 km and the average speed of the riders was 31.986 km/h....
:- 2nd place overall classification
- holding yellow jerseyYellow jerseyThe general classification in the Tour de France is the most important classification, the one by which the winner of the Tour de France is determined. Since 1919, the leader of the general classification wears the yellow jersey .-History:...
for 11 days
1943
- Circuit du Midi
1946
- Grand Prix de la République
1947
- Tour de France1947 Tour de FranceThe 1947 Tour de France was the 34th Tour de France, taking place from 25 June to 20 July 1947. The total race distance was 21 stages over 4,640 km, ridden at an average speed of 31.412 km/h...
:- Winner stage 2 and 9
- 5th place overall classification
- holding yellow jerseyYellow jerseyThe general classification in the Tour de France is the most important classification, the one by which the winner of the Tour de France is determined. Since 1919, the leader of the general classification wears the yellow jersey .-History:...
for 15 days