1973 Tour de France
The 60th Tour de France took place from June 30th to July 22, 1973, led to 20 stages over 4140 km. Four-time winners Eddy Merckx had not gone to the start, was considered a favorite Luis Ocaña Pernia, who was forced to retire in the previous two years after falls. It was attended by 132 racers participated in the tour, of which 87 were classified.
Race course
The prologue was won by Dutchman Joop Zoetemelk with less than a second ahead of Raymond Poulidor. The Frenchman, who was never allowed to wear the yellow jersey throughout his career, the jersey as never before came so close to this time.
By winning the seventh stage after Gaillard Luis Ocaña Pernia took over the yellow jersey after a solo flight. The next day, Ocaña put together with the Spaniard José Manuel Fuente from the stage to Les Orres. Already on Col du Galibier, the two all the other favorites were suspended, the goal is Ocaña had deposed by Fuente and pulled out a lead of seven minutes on Bernard Thévenet and over 20 minutes on Zoetemelk, Van Springel, Van Impe and Poulidor. Ocañas lead in the overall standings was now unchallenged, in Paris, he had only a further stage wins in the Pyrenees, the Alps and in the final individual time trial 15 minutes ahead of second-placed Thévenet, the two stage wins.
On the 13th stage to Luchon crashed Poulidor, on a similar stage, was overthrown and excreted in the 1971 Ocaña. Poulidor was like two years ago admitted the Spaniard after his fall to the same hospital, supposedly he had even the same bed.
At the end of Ocaña was able to achieve a significant Tour victory after six stage victories. He rode in the Tour de France for the first time a wheel with a titanium frame, which had previously been found only as a material in the space and aircraft technology use. The mountain competition was won by Pedro Torres, in the point standings, put Herman Van Springel, the beginning of the tour for a short time had the yellow jersey by.