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1959 Criterium International, Race Used Car Plaque, Race Winner Andre Darrigade
1959 Criterium International, Race Used Car Plaque, Race Winner Andre Darrigade - Image 2
1959 Criterium International, Race Used Car Plaque, Race Winner Andre Darrigade - Image 3

1959 Criterium International, Race Used Car Plaque, Race Winner Andre Darrigade

$250.00

1959 Criterium National de la Route, Race Winner Andre Darrigade

The Critérium International de la Route was created in 1932 by the Paris-Soir sports journalist Gaston Blenac. Held on the last weekend in March, it was initially open to only French riders and was considered as a sort of French national championship. In the early years, it was a one-day race starting in the Vallée de Chevreuse and finishing at the Parc des Princes Velodrome. Beginning in 1959, the race route started to change every year, and in 1963, the race moved to having 2 or 3 stages over two days of racing. The race was finally opened to non–French cyclists in 1979. Bernard Hinault is the only cyclist to win the race in both its forms. The race has been won by some of the most famous cycling names, including Andre Darrigade, Louison Bobet, Jacques Anquetil, Raymond Poulidor, Sean Kelly, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain, Stephen Roche, Joop Zoetemelk, Laurent Fignon, and Chris Froome. Sadly, the last edition of the legendary race was held in 2016.

In today’s racing, the race organizer cars, team vehicles, and other participants of the official race caravan have disposable stickers affixed to the windshields. Slipping a bit into the way back machine, there was a time when the cars had plaques attached to the front of the follow cars.

As with most things ephemeral, the majority of the plaques were promptly tossed in the trash once the race was finished. The ones that survived have become quite collectible.

Made of Paper over Masonite

Size: 15 3/4 x 9 7/8  inches  (40 x 245cm)

This is a one-of-a-kind item; please look carefully at the photos to determine the condition.

Only 1 left in stock

SKU: COL-0448 Categories: , Tags: , ,

Description

Andre Darrigade

At the Tour de France, Darrigade wore 19 yellow jerseys and won 22 stages. He won the Points Classification in 1959 and 1961. He also won the opening stage in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1961. However, Darrigade lost time in the mountains, and his best final positions were 16th in 1956, 1959, and 1960.

Raphaël Géminiani said: “Darrigade was the greatest French sprinter of all time and he’ll stay that way for a long time. The mold has been broken. But he wasn’t just a sprinter. He was an animateur who could start decisive breaks; he destroyed the image of sprinters who just sit on wheels.” He began his sprints from a long distance from the line, challenging others to pass him.

In single-day races, he won the national championship in 1955 on the famous Boucles de l’Aulne in Châteaulin, beating a Louison Bobet at the top of his career (reigning world champion and winner of the Tour de France 1953, 1954, and 1955). He won the 1956 Giro di Lombardia, beating the Campionissimo Fausto Coppi in front of his home crowd at the Milan velodrome. Two weeks later he beat Coppi again to win the Trofeo Baracchi with Rolf Graf. He won the world championship in Zandvoort on 16 August 1959, dominating a breakaway of eight riders, ahead of the Italian Michele Gismondi and the Belgian Noël Foré.

This is a one-of-a-kind item, so please review the photos carefully to determine the condition.

Additional information

Weight 2 lbs

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