The Tour de France loves its history and stories. Hardly a sport event celebrated the past as the biggest Cycling race in the world. To 100. Birthday of the Yellow Jersey is once again clear why.
111 Time, Eddy Merckx was allowed to cheer in Yellow – a record in the tour’s history
Evil tongues could say that The Tour lives in the past. She loves your story, all wrapped up in you, delights in you and oozes sometimes just so full of Pathos. Whether 100 years of the Tour de France, the anniversary of the first Alpine stage, the first stage in the Pyrenees, the first mountain arrival, the memory of the heroes of the past – it is sufficient lapse of scarcely a year in which not anything is thought of it – and that the Tour is reminiscent of wars, battles and their victims. You can write this off as a nostalgic sentiment, or Marketing. Anyone who knows the French culture, but: The Tour is France. It reflects the development of the country and society of the last 115 years and sees himself as part of the “Patrimoine national”, the national heritage. Since the culture of remembrance is, of course.
The next stage is The Yellow Jersey. In the case of the upcoming Tour, whose route was unveiled on Thursday in Paris, is celebrating its 100. Birthday. In the case of the 106. The tour de France in 2019, will be the leader’s Jersey, especially in the focus and its history through a variety of ways to celebrate. In 1919, Tour founder Henri Desgrange, the idea, the overall leader be highlighted. Why in Yellow? Since the views of the Tour-a historian (Yes, the actually there). On the one hand, the events have been printed at the end of the sports newspaper L’Auto in yellow color, on the other hand, at the time shortly after the first world war have been no other material color available. No matter which Version you believe, the invention was a brilliant idea.
“The Holy Grail”
Because “the Yellow one” has become a worldwide brand, the Trademark of the Tour par excellence. No other Jersey achieved the importance of this Piece of fabric. Whether it’s a national team Jersey in football, the Green jacket at the US Masters in Golf, or the rainbow Jersey of the Cycling world champion – not a sports dress, comes on to the Maillot jaune. Five times winner Miguel Indurain put it during the tracks-presentation in Paris: “The Yellow Jersey is the highest culmination; it is an honor to wear it. It is the Holy Grail.”
Bernard Hinault: “I always had only one thing in mind: Yellow.”
The Premiere was anything other than radiant. The Tour de France in 1919, and their drivers were drawn from the consequences of the First world war that had devastated Europe and particularly France. As the Frenchman Eugène Christophe was awarded at the Start of the eleventh stage as the first driver with the yellow bibs were only ten riders next to him in the race. The Peloton was thinned by Defects, falls, but also the late consequences of world war injuries sustained. The Yellow Jersey, at the time, still no aerodynamic Lycra fabric, but a barely breathable wool shirt, then switched over to the owner. The Tour in 1919 won at the end of the Belgian Firmin Lambot, Christophe, who was left empty-handed, remained a rather tragic figure in the Tour’s history, how the French love you. Another Raymond Poulidor, three times Second and five times third in the Tour, but never in Yellow drove.
Tragedy outshines Triumph
Speaking of which, tragedy and Drama of the Yellow Jersey have made it what it is. The superior winner was not overshadowed by the story of the tragic loser. For example, since the from of Luis Ocaña would be. The up and coming Spaniard drove in 1971, a excellent race and even the great Eddy Merckx literally on the wall. Seven minutes ahead of Ocaña, already, as he was released a few days before the end of the Tour on the wet descent of the Col de Menté under pressure and rushed. He gave up the Tour, his pain-distorted face in the Tour history. Or Wim van Est, whose Name is inseparably connected with the anecdote of 1951, as he took in the lead when the descent from the Col d’Aubisque too optimistic. The Dutchman raced off the road and plunged 70 meters in depth. With replacement hoses-made lifeline pulled him back up, and except for a few scratches and cracks in the Yellow Jersey, van Est was missing actually nothing.
The Scam belongs to the history of the Yellow Jersey. Prominent representatives: Ullrich (l) and Armstrong (R)
All of these stories are part of the fascination and privilege to wear the Yellow Jersey. As Bernard Hinault said on Thursday in Paris: “I always had only one thing in mind: Yellow.” And Eddy Merckx added: “For me, it was a childhood dream, to be allowed to wear the Yellow Jersey.” And very often true: 111 stages or half-stages, Merckx rode in Yellow – so often like no other. Not only the Yellow Jersey, he will also pay homage to the Tour in 2019. The Start in the Belgian capital of Brussels to remember the “cannibals”.
Just a piece of cloth?
266 professional cyclists were allowed to wear the Yellow Jersey in the last 99 years – and have made it with your services to more, than it actually is. “In a century, the Yellow Jersey for the legend was,” says Tour Director Christian Prudhomme. “It has seen everything: The Good, the greatest heroes, but also the Poor, the fraud. And why? It is like life.” What you can do with a piece of cloth everything …