The 1914 Tour de France was the twelfth edition of the Tour de France, a multiple‑stage bicycle race primarily held in France. The race commenced on 28 June 1914 in Paris and concluded on 26 July 1914, also in Paris, after fifteen stages covering a total distance of approximately 5,405 kilometres (3,360 mi).
Overview
- Organizer: Le Vélo, the French sports newspaper that founded the Tour.
- Number of stages: 15
- Total distance: ~5,405 km (≈3,360 mi)
- Start city: Paris
- Finish city: Paris
- Dates: 28 June – 26 July 1914
Participants
- Riders who started: 145
- Riders who finished: 54
Winners and classifications
- General classification (overall winner): Philippe Thys (Belgium) – total time 152 h 56 min 46 s.
- Second place: Henri Pélissier (France).
- Third place: Jean Rossius (Belgium).
There was no separate points or mountains classification in the 1914 edition; the general classification was determined solely by cumulative elapsed time.
Route
The 1914 route followed a clockwise circuit of France, visiting major cities and mountain passes. Notable stages included:
- Paris → Le Havre (388 km)
- Le Havre → Cherbourg (364 km)
- Cherbourg → Brest (405 km)
- Brest → Les Sables‑d’Olonne (411 km)
- Les Sables‑d’Olonne → Bayonne (482 km)
- Bayonne → Luchon (326 km) – included high‑mountain passes in the Pyrenees
- Luchon → Perpignan (322 km)
- Perpignan → Toulon (280 km)
- Toulon → Nice (282 km) – coastal stage along the Mediterranean
- Nice → Grenoble (317 km) – first significant Alpine crossing
- Grenoble → Geneva (328 km) – route briefly entered Switzerland
- Geneva → Strasbourg (254 km)
- Strasbourg → Metz (313 km)
- Metz → Dunkirk (395 km)
- Dunkirk → Paris (340 km)
Historical context
The 1914 Tour de France was the final edition before a five‑year interruption caused by the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914. Many participants enlisted in military service soon after the race’s conclusion. The Tour resumed in 1919 after the war’s end.
Legacy
Philippe Thys’s victory marked his second Tour de France win (he also won in 1913) and contributed to his standing as one of the early dominant cyclists in the event’s history. The 1914 race is often referenced for its timing on the eve of a major global conflict and for illustrating the endurance challenges of early long‑distance road cycling.