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1968 Tour de France

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1968 Tour de France
Route of the 1968 Tour de France
Route of the 1968 Tour de France
Race details
Dates27 June – 21 July
Stages22, including four split stages
Distance4,492 km (2,791 mi)
Winning time133h 49' 42"
Results
Winner  Jan Janssen (NED) (Netherlands)
  Second  Herman Van Springel (BEL) (Belgium A)
  Third  Ferdinand Bracke (BEL) (Belgium B)
Points  Franco Bitossi (ITA) (Italy)
  Mountains  Aurelio González (ESP) (Spain)
  Combination  Franco Bitossi (ITA) (Italy)
  Team Spain
← 1967
1969 →

The 1968 Tour de France was the 55th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place between 27 June and July 21, with 22 stages covering a distance of 4,492 km (2,791 mi). Eleven national teams of 10 riders competed, with three French teams, two Belgian teams and one from Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, and a combined Swiss/Luxembourgian team.

The 1968 Tour marked the first time the race end at the Vélodrome de Vincennes taking covering a distance of for the now-defunct Parc des Princes Velodrome, which served as the final stop from 1904 to 1967. The general classification was won by Jan Janssen, who overtook Herman Van Springel in the final time trial.

Teams

For a more comprehensive list, see List of teams and cyclists in the 1968 Tour de France.

The 1968 Tour started with 110 cyclists, divided into 11 teams of 10 cyclists.[1]

The teams entering the race were:

  • France A
  • France B
  • France C
  • Germany
  • Belgium A
  • Belgium B
  • Spain
  • Great Britain
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Switzerland/Luxembourg (combined)

Route and stages

The 1968 Tour de France started on 27 June, and had two rest days, in Royan and Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via.[2]

Stage characteristics and winners[1][2][3]
Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner
1a 27 June Vittel 6.1 km (3.8 mi) Individual time trial  Charly Grosskost (FRA)
1b 28 June Vittel to Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg) 189 km (117 mi) Plain stage  Charly Grosskost (FRA)
2 29 June Arlon (Belgium) to Forest (Belgium) 210.5 km (130.8 mi) Plain stage  Eric de Vlaeminck (BEL)
3a 30 June Forest (Belgium) 22 km (14 mi) Team time trial  Belgium A
3b Forest (Belgium) to Roubaix 112 km (70 mi) Plain stage  Walter Godefroot (BEL)
4 1 July Roubaix to Rouen 238 km (148 mi) Plain stage  Georges Chappe (FRA)
5a 2 July Rouen to Bagnoles-de-l'Orne 165 km (103 mi) Plain stage  André Desvages (FRA)
5b Bagnoles-de-l'Orne to Dinard 154.5 km (96.0 mi) Plain stage  Jean Dumont (FRA)
6 3 July Dinard to Lorient 188 km (117 mi) Plain stage  Aurelio González Puente (ESP)
7 4 July Lorient to Nantes 190 km (120 mi) Plain stage  Franco Bitossi (ITA)
8 5 July Nantes to Royan 223 km (139 mi) Plain stage  Daniel van Ryckeghem (BEL)
9 7 July Royan to Bordeaux 137.5 km (85.4 mi) Plain stage  Walter Godefroot (BEL)
10 8 July Bordeaux to Bayonne 202.5 km (125.8 mi) Plain stage  Gilbert Bellone (FRA)
11 9 July Bayonne to Pau 183.5 km (114.0 mi) Plain stage  Daniel van Ryckeghem (BEL)
12 10 July Pau to Saint-Gaudens 226.5 km (140.7 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Georges Pintens (BEL)
13 11 July Saint-Gaudens to La Seu d'Urgell (Spain) 208.5 km (129.6 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Herman Van Springel (BEL)
14 12 July La Seu d'Urgell to Perpignan 231.5 km (143.8 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Jan Janssen (NED)
15 14 July Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via to Albi 250.5 km (155.7 mi) Plain stage  Roger Pingeon (FRA)
16 15 July Albi to Aurillac 199 km (124 mi) Plain stage  Franco Bitossi (ITA)
17 16 July Aurillac to Saint-Étienne 236.5 km (147.0 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Jean-Pierre Genet (FRA)
18 17 July Saint-Étienne to Grenoble 235 km (146 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Roger Pingeon (FRA)
19 18 July Grenoble to Sallanches 200 km (120 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Barry Hoban (GBR)
20 19 July Sallanches to Besançon 242.5 km (150.7 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Jozef Huysmans (BEL)
21 20 July Besançon to Auxerre 242 km (150 mi) Plain stage  Eric Leman (BEL)
22a 21 July Auxerre to Melun 136 km (85 mi) Plain stage  Maurice Izier (FRA)
22b Melun to Paris 55.2 km (34.3 mi) Individual time trial  Jan Janssen (NED)
Total 4,492 km (2,791 mi)[4]

Race overview

Jan Janssen (pictured in 1967), winner of the general classification

In the fifteenth stage, Raymond Poulidor was hit by a motor and had to give up. The Tour ended with a time trial, and before the time trial, Herman Van Springel was leading, followed by San Miguel at 12 seconds, Janssen at 16 seconds and Bitossi at 58 seconds. Janssen won the final time trial, with Van Springel in second place, but the margin was large enough for Janssen to win the Tour.[1]

Doping

In the 1968 Tour de France, 163 doping tests were performed.[5] Two returned positive:

Both were removed from the race, suspended for one month and given a fine.

Classification leadership

There were several classifications in the 1968 Tour de France, two of them awarding jerseys to their leaders. The most important was the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage. The cyclist with the least accumulated time was the race leader, identified by the yellow jersey; the winner of this classification is considered the winner of the Tour.[8]

Additionally, there was a points classification. In the points classification, cyclists got points for finishing among the best in a stage finish, or in intermediate sprints. The cyclist with the most points lead the classification.[8] The jersey for the points classification leader was red in 1968, unlike all other years since its introduction in 1953, when it was green.[9]

There was also a mountains classification. The organisation had categorized some climbs as either first, second, third, or fourth-category; points for this classification were won by the first cyclists that reached the top of these climbs first, with more points available for the higher-categorized climbs. The cyclist with the most points lead the classification.[8] The leader of the mountains classification, which had been calculated since 1933 but had never had a jersey, also became identifiable by a "macaron" on his jersey.[9]

A newly introduced classification was the combination classification. This classification was calculated as a combination of the other classifications. The leader was not identified by a jersey, but wore a "macaron" on their jersey.[9][10]

The fifth individual classification was the intermediate sprints classification. This classification had similar rules as the points classification, but only points were awarded on intermediate sprints. In 1968, this classification had no associated jersey.[11]

For the team classification, the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added; the leading team was the team with the lowest total time. The riders in the team that lead this classification wore yellow caps.[12] The Switzerland/Luxembourg team finished with only two cyclists.

The combativity award was given to Roger Pingeon.[2]

Classification leadership by stage
Stage Winner General classification
 Points classification
 Mountains classification Combination classification Team classification
1a Charly Grosskost Charly Grosskost Charly Grosskost no award no award France B
1b Charly Grosskost Eric Leman Italo Zilioli France A
2 Eric de Vlaeminck Eric De Vlaeminck
3a Walter Godefroot Herman Van Springel Belgium A
3b Belgium A
4 Georges Chappe Jean-Pierre Genet France A
5a André Desvages Georges Vandenberghe Georges Vandenberghe Georges Vandenberghe
5b Jean Dumont Franco Bitossi
6 Aurelio González Puente
7 Franco Bitossi Franco Bitossi
8 Daniel van Ryckeghem
9 Walter Godefroot Walter Godefroot
10 Gilbert Bellone Franco Bitossi
11 Daniel van Ryckeghem Walter Godefroot
12 Georges Pintens Andrés Gandarias Spain
13 Herman Van Springel Aurelio González Franco Bitossi
14 Jan Janssen Georges Vandenberghe
15 Roger Pingeon
16 Franco Bitossi Rolf Wolfshohl Franco Bitossi Franco Bitossi
17 Jean-Pierre Genet Aurelio González
18 Roger Pingeon Gregorio San Miguel
19 Barry Hoban Herman Van Springel Franco Bitossi
20 Jozef Huysmans
21 Eric Leman
22a Maurice Izier
22b Jan Janssen Jan Janssen
Final Jan Janssen Franco Bitossi Aurelio González Franco Bitossi Spain

Final standings

General classification

Final general classification (1–10)[1]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Jan Janssen (NED) Netherlands 133h 49' 42"
2  Herman Van Springel (BEL) Belgium A + 38"
3  Ferdinand Bracke (BEL) Belgium B + 3' 03"
4  Gregorio San Miguel (ESP) Spain + 3' 17"
5  Roger Pingeon (FRA) France A + 3' 29"
6  Rolf Wolfshohl (FRG) Germany + 3' 46"
7  Lucien Aimar (FRA) France B + 4' 44"
8  Franco Bitossi (ITA) Italy + 4' 59"
9  Andrés Gandarias (ESP) Spain + 5' 05"
10  Ugo Colombo (ITA) Italy + 7' 55"

Points classification

Final points classification (1–10)[1][13]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Franco Bitossi (ITA) Italy 241
2  Walter Godefroot (BEL) Belgium B 219
3  Jan Janssen (NED) Netherlands 200
4  Daniel Van Rijckeghem (BEL) Belgium A 167
5  Georges Vandenberghe (BEL) Belgium B 155
6  Herman Van Springel (BEL) Belgium A 119
7  Barry Hoban (GBR) Great Britain 113
8  Georges Pintens (BEL) Belgium A 95
9  Michael Wright (GBR) Great Britain 92
10  Rolf Wolfshohl (FRG) Germany 89

Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1–10)[1][13]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Aurelio González (ESP) Spain 96
2  Franco Bitossi (ITA) Italy 84
3  Julio Jiménez (ESP) Spain 72
4  Roger Pingeon (FRA) France A 65
5  Andrés Gandarias (ESP) Spain 57
6  Barry Hoban (GBR) Great Britain 50
7  Gregorio San Miguel (ESP) Spain 30
8  Jean-Pierre Ducasse (FRA) France B 28
9  Arie Den Hartog (NED) Netherlands 26
10  Silvano Schiavon (ITA) Italy 25

Combination classification

Final combination classification (1–5)[13]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Franco Bitossi (ITA) Italy 11
2  Jan Janssen (NED) Netherlands 18.5
3  Roger Pingeon (FRA) France A 20
4  Herman Van Springel (BEL) Belgium A 20.5
5  Gregorio San Miguel (ESP) Spain 26

Intermediate sprints classification

Final intermediate sprints classification (1–5)[13]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Georges Vandenberghe (BEL) Belgium B 59
2  Michael Wright (GBR) Great Britain 45
3  Barry Hoban (GBR) Great Britain 43
4  Eric Leman (BEL) Belgium B 27
5  Serge Bolley (FRA) France B 20

Team classification

Final team classification (1–10)[13]
Rank Team Time
1 Spain 403h 47' 51"
2 Belgium A +12' 12"
3 France B +21' 45"
4 Italia +25' 01"
5 Belgium B +25' 16"
6 France A +44' 27"
7 France C +46' 39"
8 Netherlands +49' 11"
9 Germany +49' 11"
10 Great Britain +1h 53' 52"

Combativity classification

Final combativity award (1–5)[13]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Roger Pingeon (FRA) France A 307
2  Aurelio González (ESP) Spain 243
3  Jean Dumont (FRA) France C 219
4  Barry Hoban (GBR) Great Britain 215
5  Rolf Wolfshohl (FRG) Germany 168

Aftermath

It was the last edition in which the cyclists participated in national teams; from 1969 on, commercial teams were used.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "55ème Tour de France 1968" (in French). Mémoire du cyclisme. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c Historical guide 2016, p. 59.
  3. ^ Zwegers, Arian. "Tour de France GC Top Ten". CVCC. Archived from the original on 10 June 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Historical guide 2016, p. 109.
  5. ^ "Laatste controles op doping negatief". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). Koninklijke Bibliotheek. 23 July 1968. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Fransman Samyn wegens doping uit de Tour". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). Koninklijke Bibliotheek. 6 July 1968. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Stablinski uit de Tour verbannen". De tijd (in Dutch). Koninklijke Bibliotheek. 15 July 1968. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  8. ^ a b c Christian, Sarah (2 July 2009). "Tour de France demystified - Evaluating success". RoadCycling.co.nz Ltd. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  9. ^ a b c "Les maillots du Tour de France 1968" (in French). Mémoire du cyclisme. 27 August 2007. Archived from the original on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  10. ^ Mark, Eddy van der. "Tour Xtra: Other Classifications & Awards". Chippewa Valley Cycling Club. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  11. ^ Mark, Eddy van der. "Tour Xtra: Intermediate Sprints Classification". Chippewa Valley Cycling Club. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  12. ^ Chauner, David; Halstead, Michael (1990). The Tour de France Complete Book of Cycling. Villard. ISBN 0679729364. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Clasificaciones". El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 22 July 1968. p. 21. Retrieved 22 November 2010.

Sources

Media related to 1968 Tour de France at Wikimedia Commons

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