Re: [CR] Daily coverage of the 1949 Tour de France, anyone?

(Example: Racing:Roger de Vlaeminck)

In-Reply-To: <4a3f7184.5a.7079.2014889521@siscom.net>
References: <4a3f7184.5a.7079.2014889521@siscom.net>
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:57:19 -0700
To: <aldoross4@siscom.net>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "Jan Heine" <heine94@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [CR] Daily coverage of the 1949 Tour de France, anyone?


At 6:56 AM -0500 6/22/09, aldoross4 wrote:
>I was thinking about trying again with the daily coverage of
>the 1949 TdF. Not as HUGE as last year, which I think had
>way too many pictures and much too much detail. Perhaps in
>blog form this time (like the '49 Giro coverage), 5-10 pics
>per day, and enough text to explain who won and how, without
>listing everyone's breakfast and analysing brands of shoe
>laces.
>
>But only if there's enough interest. This will take about
>an hour a day for me to prepare, so it will only be
>worthwhile if enough people are interested.

The 1949 Tour really was a fascinating event. You have the Italians dominating the race, with Magni, Bartali and then Coppi in the yellow jersey, but only after the Coppi-Bartali rivalry had been resolved.

Just as interestingly, you have 1930s technology pitted against the latest derailleurs, Bartali on a Cervino, Coppi on Simplex. (And Magni split the difference, riding part on a Campagnolo Cambio Corsa and part on Simplex.)

Add to that a lot of drama, and it was a classic race. (And one wonder what would have happened if Bartali had won. Would we all be riding derailleur with paddles that didn't touch the chain unless you shifted?)

The race and the front-runners' bikes occupy a long chapter in our book "The Competition Bicycle" - for good reason. Day to day coverage would be wonderful.

Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
140 Lakeside Ave #C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com