eras of the tour De france
The history of the Tour can be divided into six categories: The Dreyfus Affair 1899, The Inaugural Race 1903, The Boom Years 1908-1933, Sponsorship 1930-1969, Strikes and Scandals 1966-1988, and The Testing Times 2010 (http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/the-timeline-tour-de-france-2022114.html) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France).
The Dreyfus Affair polarized France with the innocence of a french solider who was accused of selling military secrets to the Germans. Because of this the newspaper Le Velo supported that the solider was innocent and caused L’auto who opposed the solider to be formed, and this led to L’auto’s publicity stunt the Tour De France to raise its popularity. The Dreyfus affair died down after the solider was acquitted of all charges (http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/the-timeline-tour-de-france-2022114.html) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France).
Inagural race as discussed earlier was the first year in which the Tour De France took place, and where Maurice Garin dominated at all stages and won. The race was also organized by Henri Desgrange, and at first faced struggles but fixed these with changed to the rules and fees of the race
(http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/the-timeline-tour-de-france-2022114.html) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France).
The Boom Years are the years in which the Tour gained the most popularity and became one of Europe's most major sporting event. These years also saw the increase in L’Auto’s circulation rise over 100,000, the codification of the rules of the Tour, and the introduction of the forerunner wearing the yellow jersey (http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/the-timeline-tour-de-france-2022114.html) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France).
The Sponsorship years would’ve been introduced much earlier if it were not for lead organizer of the Tour Henri Desgrange being anti-sponsorship. In 1930 touriste-routiers and sponsored competitors were replaced with regional teams. Then in the 1960s organizers gave into pressure and reintroduced trade teams in 1962 to help increase bicycle sales, and then in 1967- 1968 regional teams were reintroduced until in 1969 trade teams became permanent
(http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/the-timeline-tour-de-france-2022114.html) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France).
The Strikes and Scandals era was mainly caused by drug use, doping, and other forms of cheating and misconduct. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) imposed daily and overall distance limits, imposed rest days and tried to implement a mid-route drug test. The mid-route drug test led to cyclers striking in 1968 and riders also protested by crossing the finish line on foot in 1978. The Tour De France has been interrupted by striking steel workers in 1982, and striking photographers in 1987. Then the whole race went on strike in protests against the 1987 winner Pedro Delgado. The Testing times are also attributed to drug use and continue to this day, and have led to many scandals such as Lance Armstrong blood doping to improve performance in the Tours he took part in
(http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/the-timeline-tour-de-france-2022114.html) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France).
The Dreyfus Affair polarized France with the innocence of a french solider who was accused of selling military secrets to the Germans. Because of this the newspaper Le Velo supported that the solider was innocent and caused L’auto who opposed the solider to be formed, and this led to L’auto’s publicity stunt the Tour De France to raise its popularity. The Dreyfus affair died down after the solider was acquitted of all charges (http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/the-timeline-tour-de-france-2022114.html) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France).
Inagural race as discussed earlier was the first year in which the Tour De France took place, and where Maurice Garin dominated at all stages and won. The race was also organized by Henri Desgrange, and at first faced struggles but fixed these with changed to the rules and fees of the race
(http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/the-timeline-tour-de-france-2022114.html) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France).
The Boom Years are the years in which the Tour gained the most popularity and became one of Europe's most major sporting event. These years also saw the increase in L’Auto’s circulation rise over 100,000, the codification of the rules of the Tour, and the introduction of the forerunner wearing the yellow jersey (http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/the-timeline-tour-de-france-2022114.html) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France).
The Sponsorship years would’ve been introduced much earlier if it were not for lead organizer of the Tour Henri Desgrange being anti-sponsorship. In 1930 touriste-routiers and sponsored competitors were replaced with regional teams. Then in the 1960s organizers gave into pressure and reintroduced trade teams in 1962 to help increase bicycle sales, and then in 1967- 1968 regional teams were reintroduced until in 1969 trade teams became permanent
(http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/the-timeline-tour-de-france-2022114.html) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France).
The Strikes and Scandals era was mainly caused by drug use, doping, and other forms of cheating and misconduct. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) imposed daily and overall distance limits, imposed rest days and tried to implement a mid-route drug test. The mid-route drug test led to cyclers striking in 1968 and riders also protested by crossing the finish line on foot in 1978. The Tour De France has been interrupted by striking steel workers in 1982, and striking photographers in 1987. Then the whole race went on strike in protests against the 1987 winner Pedro Delgado. The Testing times are also attributed to drug use and continue to this day, and have led to many scandals such as Lance Armstrong blood doping to improve performance in the Tours he took part in
(http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/the-timeline-tour-de-france-2022114.html) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France).