1975, it was a surprising year.
I started cycling that year, but didn't know there were surprises.
I would know them some years later.
Tour de France
While Eddy Merckx was climbing Puy de Dome with other cyclists, he was punched on the stomach by one of thousands spectators.
It was a real hard blow, devastating blow.
We might say his decline started by it.
When I saw this pic, 1983 I think, I was surprised indeed.
the fabulous world of cycling by Aldo Tonnoir and Eddy Merckx
Giro d'Italia
I didn't know a word "summit finish".
When I bought Kennedy Brothers booklet
Giro 1975, which I don't have now,
I was surprised again.
A pic showed how hard Grand Tour was.
One glance was enough.
The last stage finish was the summit of Passo dell Stelvio.
Ordinary Gran Tours' last stage is just a lap of honor.
But Giro 1975, the cyclists, and hard-core fans too, had to climb the mighty pass!
And it was covered with snow.
Years later, I bought
La Veridique Histoire des Geants de la Route, by Jean Durry.
I found the same pic.
Graham Watson would take the same pic.
Yep, this is the
real summit finish.
