1960 Tour de France – Race Official’s Car Flag

In a tradition started with the first Tour de France in 1903, these flags were affixed to wood dowels and placed in special holders on race official cars. These flags were used well into the 1960s. For 20+ years after that the flags were used by officials and course marshals to warn riders of oncoming danger. What is particularly appealing is during the period from post-WWII until the late 1960s, the flags had the year clearly visible. As time has marched on, the desirability of these flags has grown, with particular interest given to the years where the winner was also considered a great champion.

1960 marked  the 47th edition of the Tour de France.  The race took place between 26 June and 17 July, with 21 stages covering a distance of 4,173 km (2,593 mi). The race featured 128 riders, of which 81 finished.

Since Jacques Anquetil was absent from the Tour in 1960 after winning the Giro, Roger Riviere was the race favorite. Halfway into the race, Rivière was in second place behind Nencini, and with his specialty the time trial remaining, he was still favored for the victory. Sadly Rivière had a career-ending crash in the fourteenth stage and Gaston Nencini went on to win the 1960 Tour.

Size 57 x 39 cm ( 22.5 x 15.5 inches)