1937 Tour de France

The 1937 Tour de France was the 31st edition, held from 30 June to 25 July over 20 stages and 4,415 km, and the first run by Jacques Goddet, who allowed gear changes and gave each team a car with spare equipment. Charles Holland and Bill Burl were the first British riders in the race; Burl lasted two stages and Holland rode well until mechanical problems ended his race on stage 14c, while the Canadian Pierre Gachon, the only non-European, never finished the first stage. The entire Belgian team, including leader Sylvère Maes, withdrew in protest at what they called French chauvinism: stones thrown by spectators, closed level crossings, pepper in the eyes and harsh penalties while French riders were helped. The Frenchman Roger Lapébie won.