Race Official Flag – Tour de l’Avenir.

This flag comes with the original full-length dowel, complete with the ball on top, a great display piece.

In a tradition that 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.

1963 was the third edition of the Tour de l’Avenir. Until 1967, the race took place earlier in the day but on the same course as the Tour de France. It was created to attract teams from nations that had no professional riders to enter the Tour de France. The 1963 race winner was André Zimmerman making him the first French winner of the race. Zimmermann would go on to ride in the Tour de France five times as a professional and was on the 1964 Saint-Raphael team supporting Jacques Anquetil, who won the 1964 Tour.

Flag Size: 23  x 17 1/2 inches (58.5 x 44.5 cm)
Stick Length: 31 1/2 in ( 81 cm)

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