1954 Tour de France
The 41st Tour de France took place July 8 - August 1, 1954 instead and led to 23 stages over 4669 km. For the first time the start of the tour did not take place in France: The 110 participants started in Amsterdam, of which 69 arrived in Paris. Italy did not provide team after there had been disagreements with the tour guide.
Race course
The first stage was won by Dutchman Wout Wagtmans and took over the yellow jersey. After a stage victory on the second stage and a good team time trial last year's winner Louison Bobet was able to take the overall lead.
However, Wagtmans the guide brought back again as he crossed the finish line of Stage 8 with a breakaway group. But already on the first mountain stage in the Pyrenees, he lost the yellow jersey to the unknown Bauvin Gilbert, who had two days later pass it on to his French compatriot Bobet.
As in the previous year Bobet attacked on Col d'Izoard and won after a solo flight. He laid the foundation for his Tour victory, he made clear his second tour Success in series with the victory in the time trial.
Although the Swiss team to Ferdy Kübler, Hugo Koblet and Fritz Schär Bobet put under pressure and at the end of the tour behind Bobet occupied the other two podium places, testifies the lead of more than a quarter of an hour for the dominance Bobets, even if the co-favorites Koblet and Jean Robic had to give up after falls.
Kübler, second overall as well as two-time stage winner, won the green jersey. The mountains classification secured the Spanish climber Federico Bahamontes.