#roger lapebie

[classicvintagecycling]

Tour de France, 1937, passing the Arbois Vineyard in Franche-Comte.

1937 was the first Tour in which derailleurs were permitted. The eventual winner, Roger Lapébie, is the first rider to complete the race using a modern (Osgear) derailleur.

[une-passion-francaise]

The winner of the 1937 TdF Roger Lapébie and Raymond in a nice suit & hat 😌

[rollersinstinct]

Despite undergoing surgery for a lumbar hernia just a month prior to the race, Roger Lapebie, right, won the 1937 Tour de France albeit under considerable controversy. Among the complaints were Lapebie passing a set of railroad tracks whilst his pursuers were held back by a passing train, which the Belgians saw as one of a series of handicaps against their team and star rider Sylvère Maes. The Roger Viollet photo was published in MONOVISIONS’ look back at the race’s history.