1962 Tour De France Map, Unis Sport, Esso, L'Itinéraire (Linen Backed)

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Date: 1962
Size: 19 x 26 inches

I occasionally buy posters just because they appeal to my quirky side (the … Read more Date: 1962
Size: 19 x 26 inches

I occasionally buy posters just because they appeal to my quirky side (the largest side of my personality) - like this one. I've always been fascinated by the idea of the Tour de France: kind of like a bunch of modern gladiators on two wheels. Endurance, bad weather, the Pyrenees ... what more could a mad cyclist wish for?

The Tour de France is an annual multiple stage bicycle race primarily held in France. First organized in 1903 to increase paper sales for the magazine L'Auto, the race has been held annually since its first edition in 1903 except when it was stopped for the two World Wars. As the Tour gained prominence and popularity the race was lengthened and its reach began to extend around the globe. Participation expanded from a primarily French field, as riders from all over the world began to participate in the race each year.

Traditionally, the race is held primarily in the month of July. While the route changes each year, the format of the race stays the same with the appearance of time trials, the passage through the Alps, to finish on the Champs Elysees in Paris. The modern editions of the Tour de France consist of 21 day-long segments (stages) over a 23-day period and cover around 3,500 kilometres (2,200 mi). The race alternates between clockwise and counterclockwise circuits of France.

A perfect gift for a cyclist or anyone who likes mid-century art. Linen-backed. See less