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1959 Tour de France

June 25 - July 18

Results, Photos and History

1958 Tour | 1960 Tour | Tour de France database | 1959 Tour quick facts | Final 1959 Tour General Classification | Stage results with runnning GC | The Story of the 1959 Tour de France |

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Quick Facts:

The 1959 Tour was ridden by national and regional teams. Amid a complex and sordid rivalry within the French teams, Federico Bahamontes became the first Spanish winner of the Tour. This was the last Tour for Both Jean Robic and Louison Bobet. Bobet retired at the summit of the Iseran in stage 18.

Number of stages	22
Number of riders starting	120
Number of riders finishing	65
Distance	4391 km
Average speed	35.474 km/hr

 

Top three finishers	1. Federico Bahamontes 2. Henry Anglade 3. Jacques Anquetil
Yellow jerseys	André Darrigade, Robert Cazala, Eddy Pauwels, Michel Vermeulin, Jos Hoevenaers, Eddy Pauwels, Federico Bahamontes
Best sprinter	André Darrigade
Best climber	Federico Bahamontes
Best team	Belgium

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Complete 1959 Tour de France Final General Classification

1	Federico Bahamontes (Spain)	123hr 46min 45sec
2	Henry Anglade (France-Centre-Midi)	@ 4min 1sec
3	Jacques Anquetil (France)	@ 5min 5sec
4	Roger Rivière (France)	@ 5min 17sec
5	François Mahé (France-West South-West)	@ 8min 22sec
6 (tie)	Ercole Baldini (Italy)	@ 10min 18sec
6 (tie)	Jean Andriaenssens (Belgium)	s.t.
8	Jos Hoevenaers (Belgium)	@ 11min 2sec
9	Gérard Saint (France-West South-West)	@ 17min 40sec
10	Jean Brankart (Belgium)	@ 20min 38sec
11	Eddy Pauwels (Belgium)	@ 22min 20sec
12	Charly Gaul (Holland-Lux)	@ 23min 59sec
13	Louis Bergaud (France-Centre-Midi)	@ 36min 54drv
14	Fernando Manzaneque (Spain)	@ 57min 29sec
15	Jean Dotto (France-Centre-Midi)	@ 1hr 4sec
16	André Darrigade (France)	@ 1hr 3min 1sec
17	Jozef Planckaert (Belgium)	@ 1hr 5min
18	Lothar Friedrich (Swiss-Germany)	@ 1hr 11min 51sec
19	Brian Robinson (International)	@ 1hr 12min 11sec
20	Michel Vermeulin (France-Paris North-East)	@ 1hr 16min 10sec
21	Rolf Graf (Swiss-Germany)	@ 1hr 19min 32sec
22	Michel Van Aerde (Belgium)	@ 1hr 19min 35sec
23	Armand Desmet (Belgium)	@ 1hr 23min 7sec
24	Joseph Thomin (France-West South-West)	@ 1hr 33min 34sec
25	Marcel Janssens (Belgium)	@ 1hr 40min 39sec
26	Marcel Queheille (France-West South-West)	@ 1hr 42min 22sec
27	Piet Damen (Holland-Lux)	@ 1hr 42min 26sec
28	Raphaël Géminiani (France)	@ 1hr 43min 57sec
29	Raymond Hoorelbeke (France-Paris North-East)	@ 1hr 44min 35sec
30	Michele Gismondi (Italy)	@ 1hr 45min 19sec
31	Fred De Bruyne (Belgium)	@ 1hr 48min 50sec
32	Robert Cazala (France)	@ 1hr 49min 59sec
33	Marcel Ernzer (Holland-Lux)	@ 1hr 50min 33sec
34	Jean Forestier (France-Centre-Midi)	@ 1hr 50min 45sec
35	Jean Graczyk (France)	@ 1hr 56min 50sec
36	Ernesto Bono (Italy)	@ 1hr 57min 48sec
37	Victor Sutton (International)	@ 1hr 58min 34sec
38	Aurelio Cestari (Italy)	@ 1hr 59min 31sec
39	Emmanuel Busto (France-Centre-Midi)	@ 1hr 59min 37sec
40	Julio San Emeterio (Spain)	@ 2hr 1min 51sec
41	Adolf Christian (International)	@ 2hr 6min 10sec
42	Nello Fabbri (Italy)	@ 2hr 7min 29sec
43	Carmelo Morales (Spain)	@ 2hr 8min 43sec
44	Fernand Picot (France-West South-West)	@ 2hr 11min 49sec
45	Aldo Bolzan (Holland-Lux)	@ 2hr 15min 20sec
46	Félix Lebuhotel (France-West South-West)	@ 2hr 17min 6sec
47	José Gomez Del Moral (Spain)	@ 2hr 19min 21sec
48	Valentin Huot (France-Centre-Midi)	@ 2hr 21min
49	Frans Reitz (Swiss-Germany)	@ 2hr 22min 22sec
50	Jaap Kersten (Holland-Lux)	@ 2hr 24min 38sec
51	Marcel Rohrbach (France-Centre-Midi)	@ 2hr 25min 13sec
52	Arigo Padovan (Italy)	@ 2hr 25min 48sec
53	Martin Van Geneugden (Belgium)	@ 2hr 26min 21sec
54	Edouard Delberghe (France-Paris North-East)	@ 2hr 26min 32sec
55	Ernst Traxel (Swiss-Germany)	@ 2hr 33min 18sec
56	Joseph Groussard (France-West South-West)	@ 2hr 33min 36sec
57	Waldemaro Bartolozzi (Italy)	@ 2hr 35min 7sec
58	Juan Campillo (Spain)	@ 2hr 35min 9sec
59	Louis Rostollan (France-Centre-Midi)	@ 2hr 38min 40sec
60	Pierino Baffi (Italy)	@ 2hr 44min 8sec
61	Camille Buysse (Belgium)	@ 2hr 46min 36sec
62	Tino Sabbadini (France-West South-West)	@ 2hr 53min 15sec
63	Max Bleneau (France-West South-West)	@ 2hr 54min 28sec
64	Dino Bruni (Italy)	@ 3hr 5min 13sec
65	Louis Bisilliat (France-Centre-Midi)	@ 3hr 12min 35sec

Final Team General Classification

1	Belgium	372hr 2min 13sec
2	France	372hr 33min 38sec
3	France-Centre-Midi	373hr 1min 14sec
4	France-West South-West	373hr 19min 51sec
5	Spain	374hr 19min 35sec
6	Italy	375hr 13min 40sec
7	Holland-Luxembourg	375hr 17min 13sec
8	Switzerland-Germany	376hr 14min
9	International	376hr 37min 10sec
10	France-Paris North-East	376hr 47min 32sec

Climbers' Competition:

1. Federico Bahamontes (Spain): 73 points
2. Charly Gaul (Holland-Lux): 68
3. Gérard Saint (France-West South-West): 65

Points (Sprinter) Competition:

1	André Darrigade	613 points
2	Gérard Saint	524
3	Jacques Anquetil	503
4 (tie)	Charly Gaul	425
4 (tie)	Federico Bahamontes	425
6	Rolf Graf	394
7	Roger Rivière	390
8	Jos Hoevenaers	387
9	Henry Anglade	383
10	Michel Van Aerde	366
11	Ercole Baldini	315
12	Brian Robinson	314
13	Dino Bruni	301
14	Martin Van Geneugden	296
15	Arigo Padovan	273
16	Jean Graczyk	266
17	François Mahé	247
18	Michel Vermeulin	227
19	Jean Brankart	218
20	Jean Andriaenssens	208

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Stage Results with Running GC:

Stage 1: Thursday, June 25, Mulhouse - Metz, 238 km

1. André Darrigade: 5hr 33min 45sec
2. Daan De Groot s.t.
3. Orphée Meneghini s.t.
4. Pierino Baffi s.t.
5. Jos Hoevenaers s.t.
6. Piet Van Est s.t.
7. Jaap Kersten s.t.
8. Jean Graczyk s.t.
9. Nello Fabbri s.t.
10. Abraham Kool s.t.

GC after Stage 1:

1. André Darrigade: 5hr 33min 45sec
2. Daan De Groot @ 30sec
3. Orphée Meneghini @ 1min
4. Pierino Baffi s.t.
5. Jos Hoevenaers s.t.
6. Piet Van Est s.t.
7. Jaap Kersten s.t.
8. Jean Graczyk s.t.
9. Nello Fabbri s.t.
10. Abrahman Kool s.t.

Stage 2: Friday, June 26, Metz - Namur, 240 km

1. Vito Favero: 6hr 25min 2sec
2. Jean Gainche s.t.
3. Michel Dejouhannet s.t.
4. Roger Rivière s.t.
5. Martin Van Geneugden s.t.
6. Brian Robinson s.t.
7. Jacques Anquetil s.t.
8. Ercole Baldini s.t.
9. Federico Bahamontes s.t.
10. Seamus Elliott s.t.

GC after Stage 2:

1. André Darrigade: 11hr 58min
2. Daan De Groot 2 31sec
3. Federico Bahamontes @ 47sec
4. Jean Graczyk @ 1min 1sec
5. Nello Fabbri s.t.
6. Bernard Gauthier s.t.
7. Piet Van Est @ 1min 6sec
8. Fred De Bruyne s.t.
9. Rolf Graf s.t.
10. Louis Bergaud s.t.

Stage 3: Saturday, June 27, Namur - Roubaix: 217 km

1. Robert Cazala: 6hr 11min 4sec
2. Jean-Claude Annaert s.t.
3. Max Schellemberg s.t.
4. Fernand Picot s.t.
5. Jean Stablinski s.t.
6. Armand Desmet s.t.
7. Antonio Baptista s.t.
8. Michel Vermeulin s.t.
9. Bernard Gauthier s.t.
10. Eddy Pauwels s.t.

GC after Stage 3:

1. Robert Cazala: 18hr 9min 38sec
2. Bernard Gauthier @ 27sec
3. Michel Vermeulin @ 1min 42sec
4. Jean-Claude Annaert @ 1mn 45sec
5. Fernand Picot @ 1min 56sec
6. Max Schellemberg s.t.
7. Armand Desmet @ 2min 1sec
8. Eddy Pauwels @ 2min 15sec
9. Jean Stablinski @ 2min 28sec
10. Antonio Baptista @ 3min 27sec

Stage 4: Sunday, June 28, Roubaix - Rouen, 230 km

1. Dino Bruni: 6hr 10min 36sec
2. Michel Van Aerde s.t.
3. Arigo Padovan @ 6sec
4. Roberto Falaschi s.t.
5. Armand Desmet s.t.
6. Gerrit Voorting s.t.
7. Piet Van Est s.t.
8. Michel Dejouhannet s.t.
9. André Darrigade s.t.
10. Juan Campillo s.t.

GC after Stage 4:

1. Robert Cazala: 24hr 50min 20sec
2. Bernard Gauthier @ 27sec
3. Michel Vermeulin @ 1min 42sec
4. Jean-Claude Annaert @ 1min 45sec
5. Fernand Picot @ 1min 56sec
6. Mac Schellemberg s.t.
7. Armand Desmet @ 2min 1sec
8. Eddy Pauwels @ 2min 15sec
9. Jean Stablinski @ 2mn 28sec
10. Antonio Baptista @ 3min 27sec

Stage 5: Monday, June 29, Rouen - Rennes, 286 km

1. Jean Graczyk: 8hr 6min 36sec
2. André Darrigade s.t.
3. Vito Favero s.t.
4. Jos Hoevenaers s.t.
5. Pierino Baffi s.t.
6. Piet De Jongh s.t.
7. Francis Pipelin s.t.
8. Jésus Galdeano s.t.
9. René Privat s.t.
10. Pierre Everaert s.t.

GC after stage 5:

1. Robert Cazala: 32hr 59min 14sec
2. Bernard Gauthier @ 27sec
3. Michel Vermeulin @ 1min 42sec
4. Jean-Claude Annaert 2 1min 45sec
5. Fernand Picot @ 1min 56sec
6. Max Schellemberg s.t.
7. Armand Desmet @ 2min 1sec
8. Eddy Pauwels @ 2min 15sec
9. Jean Stablinski @ 2mn 28sec
10. Antonio Baptista @ 3min 27sec

Stage 6: Tuesday, June 30, Blain - Nantes 43.5 km Individual Time Trial

1. Roger Rivière: 56min 46sec
2. Ercole Baldini @ 23sec
3. Jacques Anquetil @ 58sec
4. Rolf Graf @ 1min 5sec
5. Gérard Saint @ 1min 12sec
6. Charly Gaul @ 1min 36sec
7. Jean Brankart @ 2min 1sec
8. Henry Anglade @ 2min 11sec
9. Ernesto Bono @ 2min 57sec
10. Federico Bahamontes @ 2min 58sec

GC after Stage 6:

1. Robert Cazala: 33hr 59min 45sec
2. Bernard Gauthier @ 1min 27sec
3. Jean-Claude Annaert @ 2min 11sec
4. Michel Vermeulin @ 2min 12sec
5. Armand Desmet @ 3min 29sec
6. Max Schellemberg @ 4min 2sec
7. Eddy Pauwels @ 4min 23sec
8. Fernand Picot s.t.
9. Jean Stablinski @ 6min 26sec
10. Antonio Baptista @ 7min 4sec

Stage 7: Wednesday, July 1, Nantes - La Rochelle, 190 km

1. Roger Hassenforder: 4hr 22min 44sec
2. Martin Van Geneugden s.t.
3. Tino Sabbadini s.t.
4. Gerrit Voorting s.t.
5. Pierino Baffi s.t.
6. Brian Robinson s.t.
7. Jan Adriaenssens s.t.
8. Max Bleneau s.t.
9. Jaap Kersten s.t.
10. Arne Jonsson s.t.

GC after Stage 7:

1. Robert Cazala: 38hr 27min 17sec
2. Bernard Gauthier @ 1min 27sec
3. Jean-Claude Annaert @ 2min 11sec
4. Michel Vermeulin @ 2min 12sec
5. Armand Desmet @ 3min 29sec
6. Max Schellemberg @ 4min 2sec
7. Eddy Pauwels @ 4min 23sec
8. Fernand Picot s.t.
9. Jean Stablinski @ 6min 26sec
10. Henry Anglade @ 6min 45sec

Stage 8: Thursday, July 2, La Rochelle - Bordeaux, 201 km

1. Michel Dejouhannet: 4hr 53min 16sec
2. Jean Stablinski s.t.
3. Seamus Elliott s.t.
4. Jean Forestier s.t.
5. Martin Van Den Borgh s.t.
6. Fernando Manzaneque s.t.
7. Jan Adriaenssens s.t.
8. Albert Bouvet s.t.
9. Stéphan Lach s.t.
10. Tino Sabbadini @ 1min 27sec

GC after stage 8:

1. Robert Cazala: 43hr 22min 4sec
2. Bernard Gauthier @ 1min 27sec
3. Jean-Claude Annaert @ 2min 11sec
4. Michel Vermeulin @ 2min 12sec
5. Armand Desmet 2 3min 29sec
6. Max Shellemberg @ 4min 2sec
7. Eddy Pauwels @ 4min 23sec
8. Fernand Picot s.t.
9. Jean Stablinski @ 4min 25sec
10. Henry Anglade @ 6min 45sec

Stage 9: Friday, July 3, Bordeaux - Bayonne, 207 km

1. Marcel Queheille: 5hr 19min 17sec
2. Fernando Manzaneque @ 1min 27sec
3. Nello Fabbri s.t.
4. Jos Hoevenaers s.t.
5. Jean Graczyk s.t.
6. Henry Anglade s.t.
7. Jacques Anquetil s.t.
8. Michel Van Aerde s.t.
9. Federico Bahamontes s.t.
10. Roger Rivière s.t.

GC after Stage 9:

1. Eddy Pauwels: 48hr 48min 27sec
2. Robert Cazala @ 1min 46sec
3. Henry Anglade @ 2min 22sec
4. Bernard Gauthier @ 3min 13sec
5. Jan Adrianssens @ 3min 22sec
6. Jos Hoevenaers @ 3min 32sec
7. Roger Rivière @ 3min 38sec
8. Jean-Claude Annaert @ 3min 57sec
9. Michel Vermeulin @ 3min 58sec
10. Pierino Baffi @ 4min 21sec

Stage 10: Sunday, July 5, Bayonne - Bagnères de Bigorre, 235 km

Major ascent: Tourmalet

1. Marcel Janssens: 6hr 23min 33sec
2. René Privat s.t.
3. François Mahé s.t.
4. Michel Vermeulin s.t.
5. Armand Desmet s.t.
6. Gérard Saint @ 1mn 56sec
7. Jos Hoevenaers @ 2min 48sec
8. Ernesto Bono @ 4min 44sec
9. René Marigil @ 4min 45sec
10. Bernard Gauthier @ 7min 35sec

GC after Stage 10:

1. Michel Vermeulin: 55hr 15min 58sec
2. Armand Desmet @ 1min 17sec
3. Jos Hoevenaers @ 2min 22sec
4. Marcel Janssens @ 6min 47sec
5. Bernard Gauthier @ 6min 50sec
6. Ernesto Bono @ 9min 36sec
7. Gérard Saint @ 10min 18sec
8. Eddy Pauwels @ 10min 52sec
9. Henry Anglade @ 10min 57sec
10. François Mahé @ 11min 24sec

Stage 11: Monday, July 6, Bagnères de Bigorre - St. Gaudens, 119 km

Major ascents: Aspin, Peyresourde

1. André Darrigade: 3hr 19min
2. Gérard Saint s.t.
3. Louison Bobet s.t.
4. Jacques Anquetil s.t.
5. Michel Vermeulin s.t.
6. Jos Hoevenaers s.t.
7. Rolf Graf s.t.
8. Armand Desmet s.t.
9. Raymond Hoorelbeke s.t.
10. Valentin Huot s.t.

GC after stage 11:

1. Michel Vermeulin: 58hr 35min 28sec
2. Armand Desmet @ 1min 17sec
3. Jos Hoevenaers @ 2min 22sec
4. Gérard Saint @ 9min 48sec
5. Henry Anglade @ 10min 57sec
6. François Mahé @ 11min 24sec
7. Roger Rivière @ 12min 13sec
8. Ercole Baldini @ 13min 4sec
9. Federico Bahamontes @ 13min 18sec
10. Charly Gaul @ 13min 25sec

Stage 12: Tuesday, July 7, St. Gaudens - Albi, 184 km

1. Rolf Graf: 4hr 25min 36sec
2. Michel Vermeulin s.t.
3. Seamus Elliott @ 46sec
4. André Darrigade @ 56sec
5. Tino Sabbadini s.t.
6. Joseph Groussard s.t.
7. Emmanuel Plattner s.t.
8. Jean Gainche s.t.
9. Michel Van Aerde s.t.
10. Brian Robinson s.t.
11. Adolf Christian s.t.
12. Abraham Kool s.t.

GC after Stage 12:

1. Michel Vermeulin: 63hr 34sec
2. Armand Desmet @ 2min 43sec
3. Jos Hoevenaers @ 3min 48sec
4. Gérard Saint @ 11min 14sec
5. Henry Anglade @ 12min 23sec
6. François Mahé 2 12min 50sec
7. Roger Rivière @ 13min 39sec
8. Ercole Baldini @ 14min 30sec
9. Federico Bahamontes @ 14min 44sec
10. Charly Gaul @ 14min 51sec

Stage 13: Wednesday, July 8, Albi - Aurillac, 219 km

Major ascent: Montsalvy

1. Henry Anglade: 6hr 12min 19sec
2. Jacques Anquetil s.t.
3. Federico Bahamontes s.t.
4. Brian Robinson s.t.
5. Jan Adriaenssens @ 5sec
6. François Mahé s.t.
7. Ercole Baldini @ 10sec
8. Jos Hoevenaers @ 3min 52sec
9. Fernando Manzaneque s.t.
10. Louis Bergaud s.t.
11. Eddy Pauwels s.t.
12. Roger Rivière s.t.
13. Jean Brankart s.t.
14. Jean Dotto @ 11min 4sec
15. Emmauel Busto @ 13min 39sec
16. Charly Gaul @ 20min 40sec
17. Louison Bobet @ 20min 40sec
18. René Privat @ 20min 40sec
19. Jozef Planckaert s.t.
20. André Darrigade @ 22min 39sec

GC after Stage 13:

1. Jos Hoevenaers: 69hr 20min 33sec
2. Henry Anglade @ 3min 43sec
3. François Mahé @ 5min 15sec
4. Ercole Baldini @ 7min
5. Federico Bahamontes @ 7min 4sec
6. Jacques Anquetil @ 7min 27sec
7. Jan Adriaenssens @ 7min 58sec
8. Roger Rivière @ 9min 51sec
9. Brian Robinson @ 12min 5sec
10. Eddy Pauwels @ 12min1 3sec

Stage 14: Thursday, July 9, Aurillac - Clermont Ferrand, 231 km

Major ascents: Puy Mary (Pas de Pérol), La Roche Vendeix, Diane

1. André Le Dissez: 7hr 3min 31sec
2. Gérard Saint @ 14sec
3. Fernand Picot @ 3min 2sec
4. Michel Van Aerde s.t.
5. Raphaël Géminiani s.t.
6. Marcel Queheille s.t.
7. Emmanuel Busto s.t.
8. Jean Forestier @ 3min 4sec
9. Eddy Pauwels @ 3min 8sec
10. Stéphan Lach @ 4min 44sec
11. Jozef Planckaert @ 10min 7sec
12. Aurelio Cestari @ 14min 15sec

GC after Stage 14:

1. Jos Hoevenaers: 76hr 39min 16sec
2. Eddy Pauwels @ 9sec
3. Henry Anglade @ 3min 43sec
4. François Mahé @ 5min 15sec
5. Ercole Baldini @ 7min
6. Federico Bahamontes @ 7min 4sec
7. Jacques Anquetil @ 7min 27sec
8. Jan Adriaenssens @ 7min 58sec
9. Roger Rivière @ 9min 51sec
10. Michle Vermeulin @ 14min 41sec

Stage 15: Friday, July 10, Clermont Ferrand - Puy de Dôme 12.5 km Individual Time Trial

Major ascent: Puy de Dôme

1. Federico Bahamontes: 36min 15sec
2. Charly Gaul @ 1min 26sec
3. Henry Anglade @ 3min
4. Roger Rivière @ 3min 37sec
5. Jacques Anquetil @ 3min 41sec
6. Jean Brankart @ 3min 59sec
7. Gérard Saint @ 4min 1sec
8. Valentin Huot @ 4in 17sec
9. François Mahé @ 4min 35sec
10. Jan Adriaenssens @ 4min 40sec

GC after Stage 15:

1. Jos Hoevenaers: 77hr 21min 31sec
2. Federico Bahamontes 2 4sec
3. Eddy Pauwels @ 40sec
4. Henry Anglade @ 43sec
5. François Mahé @ 3min 50sec
6. Jacques Anquetil @ 5min 8sec
7. Jan Adriaenssens @ 6min 38sec
8. Ercole Baldini @ 7min 19sec
9. Roger Rivière @ 7min 28sec
10. Michel Vermeulin @ 15min 3sec

Stage 16: Saturday, July 11, Clermont Ferrand - St. Etienne, 210 km

1. Dino Bruni: 6hr 25min 29sec
2. Rolf Graf s.t.
3. Eddy Pauwels s.t.
4. Martin Van Geneugden @ 36sec
5. André Darrigade s.t.
6. Joseph Thomin s.t.
7. Gérard Saint s.t.
8. Marcel Rohrbach s.t.
9. Michele Gismondi @ 46sec
10. Félix Lebuhotel s.t.

GC after Stage 16:

1. Eddy Pauwels: 83hr 47min 40sec
2. Jose Hoevenaers @ 6sec
3. Federico Bahamontes @ 10sec
4. Henry Anglade @ 49sec
5. François Mahé @ 3min 56sec
6. Jacques Anquetil @ 5min1 4sec
7. Jan Adriaenssens @ 6min 44sec
8. Ercole Baldini @ 7min 25sec
9. Roger Rivière @ 7min34sec
10. Michel Vermeulin @ 15min 9sec

Stage 17: Monday, July 13, St. Etienne - Grenoble, 197 km

Maor ascents: Grand Bois, Romevere

1. Charly Gaul: 5hr 37min 16sec
2. Federico Bahamontes s.t.
3. Jean Graczyk @ 3min 33sec
4. André Darrigade @ 3min 42sec
5. Piet Damen s.t.
6. Michel Van Aerde s.t.
7. Arigo Padovan s.t.
8. Joseph Thomin s.t.
9. Joseph Groussard s.t.
10. Marcel Ernzer s.t.
11. Brian Robinson s.t.
12. Armand Desmet s.t.

GC after Stage 17:

1. Federico Bahamontes: 89hr 24min 36sec
2. Eddy Pauwels @ 4mn 2sec
3. Jos Hoevenaers @ 4min 8sec
4. Henry Anglade @ 4min 51sec
5. François Mahé @ 7min 58sec
6. Jacques Anquetil @ 9min 16sec
7. Jan Adriaenssens @ 10min 46sec
8. Ercole Baldini @ 11min 27sec
9. Roger Rivière @ 11min 36sec
10. Michel Vermeulin @ 19min 11sec

Stage 18: Tuesday, July 14, Grenoble - St. Vincent d'Aoste, 243 km

Major ascents: Galibier, Iseran, Petit St. Bernard

1. Ercole Baldini: 7hr 48min 43sec
2. Charly Gaul s.t.
3. Gérard Saint s.t.
4. Henry Anglade s.t.
5. Michele Gismondi s.t.
6. Adolf Christian s.t.
7. Brian Robinson @ 47sec
8. Jacques Anquetil s.t.
9. Jean Brankart s.t.
10. Roger Rivière s.t.

GC after stage 18:

1. Federico Bahamontes: 97hr 14min 6sec
2. Henry Anglade @ 4min4sec
3. François Mahé @ 7min 58sec
4. Jacques Anquetil @ 9min 16sec
5. Ercole Baldini @ 9min 40sec
6. Jos Hoevenaers @ 10min 30sec
7. Jan Adriaenssens @ 10min 46sec
8. Roger Rivière @ 11min 36sec
9. Eddy Pauwels @ 19min 4sec
10. Charly Gaul @ 21min 26sec

Stage 19: Wednesday, July 15, St. Vincent d'Aoste - Annecy, 251 km

Major ascents: Grand St. Bernard, Forclaz, Montets, Forclaz

1. Rolf Graf: 8hr 33min 31sec
2. Gérard Saint @ 4min 15sec
3. Charly Gaul @ 4min 54sec
4. Federico Bahamontes s.t.
5. Jean Brankart @ 5min 52sec
6. Piet Damen s.t.
7. Eddy Pauwels s.t.
8. Jos Hoevenaers s.t.
9. François Mahé s.t.
10. Jacques Anquetil s.t.

GC after Stage 19:

1. Federico Bahamontes: 105hr 52min 31sec
2. Henry Anglade @ 5min 40sec
3. François Mahé @ 8min 56sec
4. Jacques Anquetil @ 10min 14sec
5. Ercole Baldini @ 11min 16sec
6. Jos Hoevenaers @ 11min 28sec
7. Jan Adriaenssens @ 11min 44sec
8. Roger Rivière @ 12mn 34sec
9. Eddy Pauwels @ 20min 2sec
10. Gérard Saint @ 20min 19sec
11. Charly Gaul @ 21min 26sec

Stage 20: Thursday, July 16, Annecy - Chalon sur Saône, 202 km

1. Brian Robinson: 5hr 52min 21sec
2. Arigo Padovan @ 20min 6sec
3. André Darrigade s.t.
4. Robert Cazala s.t.
5. Martin Van Geneugden s.t.
6. Félix Lebuhotel s.t.
7. Michel Van Aerde s.t.
8. Jacques Anquetil s.t.
9. Camille Buysse s.t.
10. Piet Damen s.t.

GC after Stage 20:

1. Federico Bahamontes: 112hr 4min 58sec
2. Henry Anglade @ 5min 40sec
3. François Mahé @ 8min 56sec
4. Jacques Anquetil @ 10min 14sec
5. Ercole Baldini @ 11min 16sec
6. Jos Hoevenaers @ 11min 28sec
7. Jan Adriaenssens @ 11min 44sec
8. Roger Rivière @ 12min 34sec
9. Eddy Pauwels @ 20min 2sec
10. Gérard Saint @ 20min 19sec

Stage 21: Friday, July 17, Seurre - Dijon 69.2 km Individual Time Trial

1. Roger Rivière: 1hr 39min 38sec
2. Jacques Anquetil @ 1min 38sec
3. Gérard Saint @ 3min 38sec
4. Jean Brankart @ 3min 57sec
5. Henry Anglade @ 4min 38sec
6. Jan Adriaenssens @ 4min 51sec
7. Ercole Baldini @ 5min 19sec
8. François Mahé @ 5min 43sec
9. Jos Hoevenaers @ 5min 51sec
10. Fred De Bruyne @ 5min 55sec

GC after stage 21:

1. Federico Bahamontes: 113hr 50min 53sec
2. Henry Anglade @ 4min 1sec
3. Jacques Anquetil @ 5min 5sec
4. Roger Rivière @ 5min 17sec
5. François Mahé @ 8min 22sec
6. Ercole Baldini @ 10min 18sec
7. Jan Adriaenssens s.t.
8. Jos Hoevenaers @ 11min 2sec
9. Gérard Saint @ 17min 40sec
10. Jean Brankart @ 20min 38sec

Stage 22 (Final Stage): Saturday, July 18, Dijon - Paris, 331 km

1. Joseph Groussard: 9hr 55min 52sec
2. Arigo Padovan s.t.
3. Dino Bruni s.t.
4. Jos Hoevenaers s.t.
5. André Darrigade s.t.
6. Michel Van Aerde s.t.
7. Martin Van Geneugden s.t.
8. Marcel Ernzer s.t.
9. Camille Buysse s.t.
10. Fernand Picot s.t.

Final 1959 Tour de France General Classification

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The Story of the 1959 Tour de France:

This excerpt is from "The Story of the Tour de France", Volumes 1. If you enjoy it we hope you will consider purchasing the book, either print or electronic. The Amazon link here will make either purchase easy.

Oh, this one is interesting. In 1958 the French had been vexed with both the consequences of their team selection and the poor health of their protected riders, Anquetil and Bobet. This year the French would ride poorly, even displaying a willingness to lose rather than let the wrong Frenchman win.

The 1959 Tour, at 4,358 kilometers and 22 stages was about the usual length for a Tour of that era. It was counter-clockwise, Pyrenees first, Central Massif, then Alps.

Let's look at the important teams because in this Tour personalities reign supreme.

France: Jacques Anquetil, Louison Bobet, Robert Cazala, Raphaël Géminiani (impossible to leave off the team after his 1958 performance), André Darrigade, René Privat and Roger Rivière were the backbone of the 12-man French effort.

A month before the start of the Tour Anquetil had suffered a crushing loss in the Giro. He had been trading the leader's Pink Jersey with Charly Gaul throughout much of the Giro and was in the lead going into the penultimate stage. That day included the Grand St. Bernard, the Forclaz and the Petit St. Bernard climbs. As in the 1956 Giro and the 1958 Tour, Gaul unleashed a magnificent 1-stage effort that put the race in his hands. This time Gaul's superb climbing over a stage that took 9½ hours to complete left Anquetil almost 10 minutes behind. Gaul won the Giro with a 6 minute, 12 second final lead over Anquetil.

Roger Rivière was a second year pro who had no prestigious stage race wins. He was, however, 2-time World Professional Pursuit Champion and had, that previous September, eclipsed Anquetil's World Hour Record. Team manager Marcel Bidot faced the same problem that had confounded Alfredo Binda almost a decade before. How to get 2 strong, ambitious personalities to work together for a common goal? Or, as Binda had put it, put a dog and a cat in a sack? Anquetil announced that he was riding for his own victory. How they came to work together reflects badly on both Anquetil and Rivière. And Louison Bobet? He had designs, however unrealistic, on being the first man to win the Tour 4 times.

Spain: Federico Bahamontes had, like his countrymen, been concerned almost entirely with the King of the Mountains (KOM) competition. We've seen that he was, after Gaul, the finest climber alive. Yet his performances were crippled because he was a terrible descender. Bahamontes's obsession with the KOM meant that he was be willing to lose time the whole Tour as long as he was the first to the top of each rated climb. He didn't worry about being caught on the descent or time losses in general throughout a Tour.

In 1959, Bahamontes was signed to ride on the Ticofilina-Coppi team. The great campionissimo convinced Bahamontes to consider himself a contender for General Classification victory rather than just going for the King of the Mountains. Somehow, Coppi got through to the erratic Bahamontes. For the first time in 5 attempts this new Bahamontes approached the Tour with an eye towards the Yellow Jersey in Paris.

Holland-Luxembourg: As usual Charly Gaul was placed on a mixed team of Dutchmen and Luxembourgers that ensured that he was on his own and would get little support. Gaul was the reigning Giro winner and had to be considered an extremely formidable challenger. He was a bomb that could go off on any mountain and when he was on form, there was no defense against him.

Italy: 1958's standout Italians Nencini and Favero didn't come. Ercole Baldini, winner of the 1958 Giro was the best of a middling Italian team. Baldini's questionable climbing in a race that would surely feature a shootout between Gaul, Bahamontes and Anquetil made a win for the Italians unlikely.

Belgium: A solid team with proven Tour hard-men: Jan Adriaenssens, Jean Brankart, Jos Hoevenaers, Eddy Pauwels and Jozef Planckaert. Adriaenssens had worn Yellow and placed fourth the year before.

The devil in the details of the lineups was the selection of the regional French teams. Henry Anglade was a capable but not terribly well liked racer. He was easy to leave off the national team. This was to his liking because of the probable instability of a French team that had so many stars and so many egos. It had been years since Manager Bidot had been able to bind (by written contract!) his team to ride for a Bobet who was at one time the finest living stage racer. Prophetically, Anglade was on the Center-Midi team as Géminiani had been the year before.

The Tour started off well enough for the French (by this I mean the national team). For the fourth year in a row André Darrigade won the first stage and the first Yellow Jersey. Things kept going very well for them in the third stage, 217 kilometers from Namur in Belgium to Roubaix. A 10-man break finished with a lead of almost 11 minutes. French team rider Robert Cazala won the sprint and the overall lead. He had a slim 27-second margin over Center-Midi rider Bernard Gauthier.

Rivière fired the first shot in the battle for dominance of the French team in the stage 6 time trial. Rivière won the 43.5-kilometer test that went from Blain to Nantes on France's west coast. Baldini finished 21 seconds behind and Anquetil was almost an entire minute slower. Cazala did well enough in the time trial to enlarge his lead over Gauthier to 1 minute, 27 seconds. Marguerite Lazell writes that Cazala and Bobet were roommates and that Bobet was pleased and untroubled that for now Cazala was keeping the Yellow Jersey in French hands pending Bobet's taking it at an opportune time.

The next day Anglade was in a 12-man break that beat the peloton by almost 5 minutes. It was early days, but Anglade was now the best-placed rider who was not in the stage 3 break, but he was still 6 minutes, 45 seconds behind Cazala.

Stage 9, 207 kilometers from Bordeaux to Bayonne, scrambled the eggs. The Belgians dropped the hammer and the chase was on. Most of the French team went after them but Cazala didn't make it into this important move and finished 74th. Belgian Eddy Pauwels was the new leader. The Tour was now at the foot of the Pyrenees.

The General Classification stood thus:

1. Eddy Pauwels

2. Robert Cazala @ 1 minute 46 seconds

3. Henry Anglade @ 2 minutes 22 seconds

4. Bernard Gauthier @ 3 minutes 13 seconds

5. Jan Adriaenssens @ 3 minutes 22 seconds

6. Jos Hoevenaers @ 3 minutes 32 seconds

7. Roger Rivière @ 3 minutes 38 seconds

With the exception of Cazala, Belgians and regional riders were dominating, occupying the top 6 places.

Pauwels couldn't hope to keep the lead. The next day's trip over the Tourmalet stripped him of the Yellow Jersey when he finished twenty-eighth, almost 15 minutes behind the lead group of 4. A regional rider in the break, Michel Vermeulin, was now the new leader.

The next day, stage 11, went over the Aspin and the Peyresourde. The top riders stayed together leaving the basic standings in place. The race then had a transitional day before the hilly country of the Central Massif.

Stage 13 changed the race. Anglade won the stage (beating Anquetil by a half-wheel) in a break that was initiated by Baldini. Anquetil, Bahamontes, Robinson, Adriaenssens and Mahé were in this very important move. A look at the new General Classification shows how serious this particular escape had been.

1. Jos Hoevenaers

2. Henry Anglade @ 3 minutes 43 seconds

3. François Mahé @ 5 minutes 15 seconds

4. Ercole Baldini @ 7 minutes

5. Federico Bahamontes @ 7 minutes 4 seconds

6. Jacques Anquetil @ 7 minutes 27 seconds

7. Jan Adriaenssens @ 7 minutes 58 seconds

8. Roger Rivière @ 9 minutes 51 seconds

It was becoming clear that Anglade was far more than pack fill. He had almost always been in the right place at the right time. Again, a regional rider was a real threat to win the Tour. In addition, Bahamontes had not let himself bleed big chunks of time during the stages leading to the mountains. He was actually ahead of the two French big men, Anquetil and Rivière. By making it into the stage 13 break Anquetil was 2½ minutes ahead of his rival Rivière. This stage was tough enough and ridden fast enough that 8 riders were eliminated for finishing outside the time limit. And what about our time bomb, Charly Gaul? This was a very hot day. At the descent of the day's major climb, the Montsalvy, Gaul stopped to put his head in a fountain. He and Bobet both lost 20 minutes that day.

Again the 1959 Tour was turned upside down. This time it was the Puy de Dôme 12.5-kilometer hill-climb time trial. This time Bahamontes was the best climber, beating Gaul by 1 minute, 26 seconds and Anglade by 3 minutes. Hoevenaers kept the lead but things were close:

1. Jos Hoevenaers

2. Federico Bahamontes @ 4 seconds

3. Eddy Pauwels @ 40 seconds

4. Henry Anglade @ 43 seconds

5. François Mahé @ 3 minutes 50 seconds

6. Jacques Anquetil @ 5 minutes 8 seconds

By getting into a break the day before, Pauwels had again lifted himself to a very high placing. Gaul was in a distant fifteenth place, over 23 minutes behind Hoevenaers. In the sixteenth stage Pauwels did it again. He slipped into the winning break and was again in Yellow by 6 seconds.

Stage 15: Federico Bahamontes riding in his upright style.

The final showdown of the race would be in the Alps. Stage 17, from St. Etienne to Grenoble had a pair of category 2 climbs. Bahamontes and Gaul separated themselves from the pack and won by 3½ minutes. Gaul got the stage win, Bahamontes got the Yellow Jersey.

Stage 17: The 2 greatest climbers of their time, and perhaps of all time, Bahamontes and Gaul, away. Gaul will win the stage and Bahamontes will take the Yellow Jersey..

The next day determined the outcome of the Tour. The famous stage 18 of the 1959 Tour was 243 kilometers long, going from Le Lauteret to St. Vincent d'Aosta in Italy. The climbing was brutal: the Galibier was at almost the start of the stage (kilometer 7). Then came the Iseran at kilometer 114 and finally the Petit Saint-Bernard at kilometer 186. The Spanish team was very tired and vulnerable, having expended a lot of energy defending and helping Bahamontes the day before. It was expected that the French team would attack that day, using its very great collective strength.

The accounts of the exact chronology of this important stage differ, but there is agreement on the major points in the action. Almost from the gun Gaul attacked and was first over the Galibier. The old warhorses Jean Robic and Bobet were almost immediately dropped. On the descent of the Galibier Anglade crashed twice. Before the beginning of the Iseran climb, two riders escaped, Michele Gismondi and Adolf Christian. They got to the top of the Iseran over 5 minutes ahead of Gaul and Bahamontes. Bobet, in great distress, abandoned the Tour having made it a point of honor to make it to the top of the Iseran. Both Bahamontes and Gaul had mechanical trouble on the way down the Iseran and lost contact with the Anquetil/Rivière group they had been in.

At this point it could have been expected that such fine, powerful riders as Anquetil and Rivière would really take advantage of the situation and redouble their efforts, making it difficult if not impossible for Bahamontes and Gaul to regain contact. But, because each was afraid of assisting the other, they let Bahamontes and Gaul get back on.

The main contenders then negotiated the climb of the Petit St. Bernard together. On the descent, now wet and dangerous, several riders including Anglade, Baldini and and Gaul detached themselves from the leaders. Bahamontes, who had been part of the Baldini/Gaul/Anglade group let them go ahead and was caught by the Anquetil/Rivière chasers. This chase group now started to work hard to catch the leaders. Why did they suddenly find the energy and motivation to work together and shut down the gap when they now had the Yellow Jersey with them, a Yellow Jersey from Spain? The consensus is that Rivière and Anquetil could not tolerate the idea of a regional rider winning the Tour. They would prefer the Spaniard Bahamontes win the Tour, rather than the difficult upstart Anglade.

Stage 18 results:

First, Ercole Baldini, followed at the same time by Gaul, Gérard Saint, Anglade, Michele Gismondi, Adolf Christian.

Then, at 47 seconds: Brian Robinson, Anquetil, Brankart, Rivière, Adriaenssens, Mahé, Michel Van Aerde, Bahamontes, José Gomez Moral.

This stage needs a bit more explanation. Anquetil was always aware of the relative value of French riders on the post-Tour Criterium circuit. Back then this is where famous riders made their real income by earning appearance money for these local races. Another Frenchman stealing their glory would lessen their own worth in this marketplace.

The 1959 Tour had a further complication that created loyalties and alliances that were not visible on the surface. There were two major agents representing the riders involved here. Daniel Dousset represented Anquetil, Rivière and Bahamontes while Piel Poulidor represented Anglade. Each agent wanted to have the most popular, capable and desirable riders. The better the riders in the agent's stable, the more leverage he had and therefore the higher prices he could charge for all of his riders. It was to the advantage of Anquetil and Rivière to advance Bahamontes and give their agent Dousset more power and deny Piel Poulidor the advantage of representing Anglade as a Tour winner. In effect a given agent's riders formed a quiet, hidden team within the race. This system withered in the 1980s as rider's salaries as well as their individual power rose within cycling.

In future Tours we will again see an out-of-contention Anquetil work to deprive a fellow countryman of a Tour win to preserve his own position as the finest active French rider. Anquetil never understood why he was never loved by his fellow countrymen. It was more than his passionless riding: he was the original dog in a manger. The great Tour writer Pierre Chany angrily called this stage a "giant turnip".

The General Classification after stage 18:

1. Federico Bahamontes

2. Henry Anglade @ 4 minutes 4 seconds

3. François Mahé @ 7 minutes 58 seconds

4. Jacques Anquetil @ 9 minutes 16 seconds

5. Ercole Baldini @ 9 minutes 40 seconds

6. Jos Hoevenaers @ 10 minutes 30 seconds

7. Jan Adriaenssens @ 10 minutes 46 seconds

8. Roger Rivière @ 11 minutes 36 seconds

The next day, the last one in the Alps, cost Anglade another minute, making it even more difficult for him to use his final opportunity to win the Tour, the stage 21 time trial. During stage 20, another chapter writ large on Tour history came to a close. Jean Robic, "Old Leatherhead" was eliminated for failing to make the time cutoff. The colorful, talented Robic, winner of the first post-war Tour had failed to finish the Tour in his last 4 attempts (1953, '54, '55, '59). I would have liked the tough bird to have a nicer end to his career. After retiring from racing he couldn't find a comfortable place in the world. A lonely, divorced man, he died in 1980 in a car crash.

The era's great men of the clock, Rivière and Anquetil handily beat the rest of the field in the stage 21 time trial. Rivière bested Anquetil over the 69.2-kilometer course by 1 minute, 38 seconds. More importantly, Anglade could not come close to beating Bahamontes by the 5 minutes, 40 seconds he needed. Bahamontes's lead was safe, and he became the first Spaniard to win the Tour de France. When the Tour arrived in the Parc des Princes velodrome in Paris for the Tour's final meters the riders were greeted by derisive whistles. They knew exactly what Rivière and Anquetil had done and unlike 1956, the heckling was well deserved. Later, Anquetil showed his contempt for the fans by naming his new boat "Whistles 59".

Final 1959 Tour de France General Classification:

1. Federico Bahamontes (Spain): 123 hours 46 minutes 45 seconds

2. Henry Anglade (France Center-Midi) @ 4 minutes 1 second

3. Jacques Anquetil (France) @ 5 minutes 5 seconds

4. Roger Rivière (France) @ 5 minutes 17 seconds

5. Francois Mahé (France West-South-West) @ 8 minutes 22 seconds

and the erratic Charly Gaul, twelfth @ 23 minutes 59 seconds

1. André Darrigade (France): 613 points

2. Gérard Saint (France West-South-West): 524 points

3. Jacques Anquetil (France): 503 points

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