Tour de France, 1974 Bar Tray, Eddy Merckx’s Fifth Tour Win , 14 ½ Inches

1974 Tour de France Bar Tray
Race Winner, Eddy Merckx

From the early 1950s through the late 1970s, beer and spirit companies plied the bars of France with Tour de France-inspired metal beer trays. Two sizes were typical: one that transported two glasses of frosty happiness and the other designed more for a group of fans ready to enjoy the whole day. The trays were ephemeral—here today and gone tomorrow. With each passing year, these once-abundant trays become harder to find.

In the 1974 Tour de France, Eddy Merckx, having emerged as the pre-race favorite following his triumph at the 1974 Giro d’Italia, secured his fifth Tour victory with a comfortable lead of 8’04”. Raymond Poulidor claimed second place, while Vicente Lopez Carril finished third. Patrick Sercu clinched the Points classification, Domingo Perurena the Mountains, and Barry Hoban the Sprints.

Merckx’s fifth Tour win marked a historic achievement, equaling the record set by Jacques Anquetil. Impressively, he had triumphed in all five Tours he had entered. This victory marked several new records for Merckx: he amassed a total of 32 stage victories, surpassing Andre Leducq’s previous record of 25, and became the first cyclist to conquer the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Tour de Suisse in a single year. Following his Tour de France triumph in 1974, Merckx won the World Championships, securing his status as the first cyclist to achieve the illustrious Triple Crown of Cycling.

Tray Size: 14.5 inches  (37 cm)

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