Description
1959 Tour de France
The 1959 Tour de France, the 46th edition of the race, took place from June 25 to July 18, featuring 120 riders, of whom 65 finished. Covering 4,358 km (2,708 mi) across 22 stages, it was won by Spanish cyclist Federico Bahamontes, who also claimed the mountains classification. French sprinter André Darrigade secured the points classification, while the Belgian team emerged victorious in the team classification.
Despite the French national team’s strong contenders, the race became a battle between Anglade, representing a French regional team, and Bahamontes of the Spanish national team. When the French team declined to support Anglade, Bahamontes seized the opportunity to secure victory, marking the first win by a Spanish cyclist.
Notable members of the French team included Jacques Anquetil, Louison Bobet, Raphael Géminiani, and Roger Riviere, all considered potential Tour winners. However, internal conflicts arose as each vied for team captaincy, refusing to assist one another.
Under the leadership of Federico Bahamontes, the Spanish team adopted a new strategy, shifting focus from mountains to the general classification, thanks to the guidance of manager Fausto Coppi.
Defending champion Charly Gaul found himself with minimal support in a mixed team of Luxembourgian and Dutch cyclists. The Italian team, lacking key performers from the previous year, relied on Ercole Baldini as captain, though his chances against Gaul, Bahamontes, and Anquetil seemed slim.
Among the French regional teams, Henri Anglade stood out, particularly representing the Centre-Midi team.
Cyclists were represented by agents negotiating post-tour criterium prices. Notably, Daniel Dousset represented Anquetil, Rivière, and Bahamontes, while Piel Poulidor represented Anglade, underscoring Anquetil’s vested interest in supporting Bahamontes over Anglade.
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The Musette: A Simple Cloth Bag and Icon of Cycling
We see riders wrapped in spare tubes with goggles firmly in place, carrying the unmistakable fabric food bag from bicycle racing’s earliest photographs. This simple but vital musette bag takes its name from the nose bag often seen hanging around horses’ necks.
Getting food and water to riders has always been a tricky but crucial part of racing. In the early days, riders often raided bars and cafes to supplement what a rider could carry in a musette, leaving bills for race organizers to settle later. Formal feed zones were introduced to racing in 1919, but riders still had to stop to take on provisions from large tables. By the 1950s, the random cafes and tables of food began to be replaced by team staff on the side of the road handing off the musettes to riders who did not need to stop and risk losing valuable time. As cycling technology advances, with innovations like radios and wireless shifting, the proven and straightforward musette bag remains a vital method for riders in the peloton to get food and drinks.
In the early days, musettes were not available for fans to purchase. They were highly prized and collected, especially when a favorite brand or race was featured.
This item is one of a kind; please look carefully at the photos to determine the condition.
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