1956 Tour de France
Walkowiak, the regional rider nobody expected and few forgave.
The 1956 Tour de France was the 43rd edition, held from 5 to 28 July over 22 stages and 4,498 km. No previous winner started, something that had only happened in 1903 and 1927, and the race was won by an unknown, Roger Walkowiak of the North-East/Centre French regional team. Many fans dismissed the win as lucky or unworthy, which Walkowiak took hard and which made him reluctant to talk about it afterwards. It was the fastest Tour yet, averaging more than 36 km/h, and Walkowiak became only the second winner, after Firmin Lambot in 1922, not to win a single stage. Riders were allowed to change wheels rather than repair punctures for the first time.
Quick Facts
- Date
- 5–28 July 1956
- Stages
- 22
- Distance
- 4498
- First
- Roger Walkowiak
- First color
- yellow
- First team
- North-East/Centre
- Second
- Gilbert Bauvin
- Second team
- France
Facts from the source article.
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