More than a myth, a legend. The Tour de France 1964 and its epic duel between Raymond Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor marked more than a generation. Beaten once more, Raymond Poulidor said at the end of the race: "I am happy, I am very happy". And this is the big difference between Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor according to Christian Laborde, author of "Duel on the volcano", Editions Albin Michel. "Jacques Anquetil is happy when he wins, Raymond Poulidor is happy when he pedals".
And this sports rivalry between the two men reached its peak on the slopes of the Puy de Dome July 12, 1964. Invited debrief Christophe Hondelatte who dedicated one of his stories to the myth Raymond Poulidor, Europe 1, Christian Laborde has plunged into the live conditions to tell the last kilometers of this stage. "They are there, side by side and it is Anquetil who leads the dance.In this climb, there are tactical errors.When it is Raymond Poulidor to attack, who do we see? Julio Jiménez and Féderico Bahamontes Two Spaniards And there, Anquetil rubs his hands Why ... Because the two Spaniards will go take the bonus points by winning at the top, points that will escape Raymond Poulidor.
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Then, the idea of Anquetil will be to hold to the maximum. The Spanish are gone and Raymond Poulidor is not with them ", summarizes the specialist." It's his mistake, he stays with Anquetil and Anquetil will do everything to hold the wheel of Poulidor. And he will hold! Not up to 1 km but up to 900m from the summit. And there, Jacques Anquetil weakens. Raymond comes off, we get to the top and there are only 14 seconds that will separate them.
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Heard on europe1:
It's a very nice duel with both France side by side. It's an absolute classicism. Unity of place, unity of action, finally it's great
"This is a very nice duel with the two France side by side (that of the city embodied by Anquetil and that of the campaign by Poulidor, ed.) It is an absolute classicism.Unit unit, unit of action, finally it's great, "says Christian Laborde. "We are at the puy de Dome, it is a question of climbing a volcano, then there is the road, it is a spiral, there is the slope which is terrible.That day, it is necessary to know that all the France has made an appointment in the laces of the puy de Dome.We have a unique place with the public present and then two champions that a few seconds separate and will be explained in a fabulous duel.When we talk about the word ' duel, we always have this image between Anquetil and Poulidor, let's not forget that they ride side by side and that their shoulders touch each other at a given moment. "
The final result is up to the duel that these two great champions gave themselves on July 12th. On arrival in Paris, they are separated in the standings by 55 seconds ... 539 meters! A podium that will delight "Poupou", despite everything. "Look at Raymond Poulidor's smile on the archival footage, and in 1964 we are much more unhappy than him when he lost the Tour de France, my father was unhappy, Raymond Poulidor, no, I think there was a happiness at home to be a champion, to do the Tour de France, to compete in cycling races and all that was what it was his philosophy. "