PHOTOGRAPHS : COLLECTION L ’ ÉQUIPE
Was it madness ? Writing in Le Méridional newspaper , Jean Denis was outraged : “ It ’ s a weird idea to stay up there , these people [ the organisers ] should be seen by a psychiatrist !” Other journalists were also unhappy . “ This Tour is frightening ,” said Maurice Vidal , then director of weekly magazine Miroir Sprint .
There was good reason to fear Alpe d ’ Huez , although Robic relished the thought of racing up there . Exiting Bourg d ’ Oisans , as he turned left to attack the climb , the 1947 Tour winner accelerated . Right away , Raphaël Geminiani jumped on his wheel . But the gradient surprised them and the two Frenchmen faltered .
Little Jean pulled like a maniac on his bars , trying to haul his bike up the steep slopes . His violent efforts saw his shorts roll up to reveal the naked , white , fragile muscle beneath . Behind him , big Gem held on . His arms set wide , he looked like he was about to take flight . With his Cyranolike nose bent over his bars , he fought for breath , struggling like a fish out of water , suffering , battling . And then Robic slipped away . Gem had been defeated by the Oisans mountain . It was a pig of an Alpine climb !
AN EAGLE HUNTING ITS PREY As Gem wavered , a rocket fired out of the peloton , without any warning whatsoever , giving no one the chance to respond . Fausto Coppi had decided to attack and his preplanned acceleration had burned off his rivals , making it a three-man contest that very quickly was down to two . In an instant , the Italian bridged up to his friend
Geminiani , but didn ’ t glance at him or offer a word . This was no time for sentiment . Fausto then sped after Robic like an eagle hunting its prey . He was pushing a big gear , his rhythm impressive and perfectly smooth as he advanced with light and fluid movements . He was impassive , no hint even of movement around his lips as he searched for a little oxygen . The only things moving were his long stiltlike legs that carried him up to the press motorbikes . “ He had enough in reserve to regulate the traffic on the climb , indicating for cars to pass or to wait . It was an impressive spectacle ,” commented former champion Charles Pélissier . Then Coppi swooped on Robic . He wiped the back of his neck with his right hand , as if measuring the work that he ’ d done . Then , immediately , he set the
pace . Robic was under the illusion that he could hold on to this raging machine . But , racing on a bike that was too big for him , the rider nicknamed ‘ Death-dodger ’ had to yield 6km from the summit .
Coppi , on the other hand , was fully in charge . He pedalled as if completely unruffled . “ I realised that Jean Robic wasn ’ t there any more when I could no longer hear him breathing or the crunch of his tyres on the surface behind me ,” Il Campionissimo explained later . “ I didn ’ t want to turn around . This is my style in the mountains . I only dare to glance back at my opponents when going around the hairpin bends .”
“ VAI FAUSTO ! DAI FAUSTO !” Coppi was exacting his revenge , erasing his disappointments from the
France ’ s Secretary of State for Sports , Jean Masson , congratulates Coppi on his impressive stage win .
HE WAS PUSHING A BIG GEAR , HIS RHYTHM IMPRESSIVE AND PERFECTLY SMOOTH ”
previous year . In 1951 , fate had hit him hard . His brother Serse had been killed in the Giro di Piemonte . Fausto had agreed to ride the Tour to honour his memory , but he lacked strength . He wilted on the scorching road into Montpellier and arrived in Paris more than 46 minutes behind winner Hugo Koblet . Short of preparation following a broken collarbone , he also missed out at the Giro ( 4th ).
2022 TOUR DE FRANCE | 27