1963 Tour de France
The 50th Tour de France took place from 23 June to 14 July 1963 and listed 21 stages over 4137 km. It was attended by 130 racers participated in the tour, of which 76 were classified.
Race course
Eddy Pauwels and Seamus Elliott can wear on the first and third stage respectively for a few days the yellow jersey after their stage victories. After the first individual time trial, won the Jacques Anquetil, Gilbert Desmet took over the overall lead and was able to defend during the Pyrenees.
On the Alpine stage to Grenoble Federico Bahamontes won after a solo flight, the next day he took over the yellow jersey after he had made good time again to Desmet. Last year's winner Anquetil, who won not only the first time trial, but also a stage in the Pyrenees, also won on the 17th stage to Chamonix and took with it the yellow jersey. Here his bicycle, the Frenchman exchanged for a fake technical fault at the foot of the last ascent to a lighter wheel and was able to follow the otherwise superior climber Bahamontes. Raphaël Géminiani who had participated themselves in the Tour de France as late as 1958 and was driven against Bahamontes proved with this move his skills as athletic director Anquetil.
After his win in the second individual time trial on the 19th stage, Anquetil was the fourth Tour victory no longer take. While in 1963 only 79 km Anquetil special discipline, the ITT, were back down (1962 there were 129.5 km ) was the Frenchman to win his third tour in a row. Federico Bahamontes was second in the overall standings at the end and also won the mountain classification with a clear lead from the Frenchman Raymond Poulidor. At the finish in Paris Poulidor was booed after his eighth place with over 16 minutes behind, Anquetil, however, was considered at the Parc des Princes with much applause.
Rik Van Looy The Belgian also won the green jersey after four stage wins.