1953 Tour de France
The 40th Tour de France led from 3 to 26 July 1953 22 stages over 4479 km. Last year's winner, Fausto Coppi was unable to participate due to injury. The Swiss Hugo Koblet winner from 1951, resigned during the tour made after a fall. It was attended by 119 racers participated in the tour, of which 76 were classified.
Race course
The Swiss Fritz Schär won the first two stages and wore the yellow jersey for a few days. On the fifth stage of the represented in a breakaway group Roger Hassenforder took the lead before again archipelago was allowed to wear the jersey for two more days. At the end of the tour Schär was delighted to receive the green jersey, which was awarded for the first time.
On the eleventh stage of the Tour winner won in 1947, Jean Robic, after he had crossed all mountains of the day as the first and took the lead in the overall standings. For the first time he was allowed to carry the yellow jersey the following day, when he won in 1947, he had taken the lead on the last day. But on the next stage Robic crashed and had to watch as the French national team attack. His team " France -West" could not support him enough and Robic consisted over 20 minutes behind.
On the 18th stage to Briançon Louison Bobet attacked on Col d' Izoard and came after a solo flight with about five minutes to the finish. On the descent of the Izoard Robic still took to a 10 -kg bottle of water, but could not catch his compatriot Bobet. Bobet thus assumed the overall lead, which he consolidated two days later with a win in the individual time trial. In his sixth participation Bobet could celebrate the first Tour victory. Second was the Frenchman Jean Malléjac, he had worn the yellow jersey for five days before Bobet attack.