1910 Tour de France
The Tour de France in 1910 lasted from July 3 to 31. The number of stages was increased from 14 to 15, of which 13 were identical with those of the previous year.
Race course
In contrast to previous years, there was a significant change: the first time the passes of the Pyrenees were overcome. A year earlier the reporter Alphonse stone had been sent in this time still wild area to explore forest and mountain roads that were passable even with bicycles. Due to its favorable report from the Col de Portet- d'Aspet, the Col de Peyresourde, the Col d' Aspin, the Col du Tourmalet and the Aubisque Col d' were added to the program. The roads were mostly unpaved and the driver had to push her wheel partially. As the later stage winner Octave Lapize the Col d' Aubisque crossed, he was not to speak particularly well to the organizations and cursed exhausted: " You damned murderer " Gustave Garrigou received a special bonus of 100 francs, because he had conquered the Tourmalet, without from the bike dismount.
Another innovation was the broom wagon, which collected the retired driver and drove to the finish. 69 of 110 drivers had to take this "service" to complete. 41 riders crossed the finish line. The race was marked by the battle between last year's winner François Faber and Octave Lapize, the celebrated three or four stage wins. Faber led from the 2nd to the 12th stage of the overall standings, but then benefited from some Lapize fall of his rival and eventually decided the tour for yourself.
Overshadowed the tour was also of the death of the French racer Adolphe Helière, who drowned during a rest day on the Côte d' Azur while bathing.