The Tour de France 2026 will see its 27th Grand Départ outside France on July 4. But a century ago, the race had already broken new ground when it started in Évian for the first time, far from the Paris headquarters of its organizing newspaper, L’Auto. Among the other notable anniversaries in the Tour’s history, years ending in 6 saw Roger Walkowiak’s unlikely victory in 1956, the heroic conclusion of Raymond Poulidor’s 14th and final participation at the age of 40 in 1976, and the passing of the torch from five-time French winner Bernard Hinault to his La Vie Claire teammate Greg LeMond, who became the first American winner in 1986. Four highlights to discover in captioned slideshows while awaiting the Grand Départ in Barcelona…
Edition : 73rd
Dates : 4 – 27 july 1986
Stages : 23
Distance : 4 094 kilometers between Boulogne-Billancourt and Paris
Country crossed : France
Starters / Finishers : 210 / 132
Average speed : 37,020 km/h
Podium :
1.Greg LeMond (USA / La Vie Claire-Radar)
2.Bernard Hinault (FRA / La Vie Claire-Radar)
3.Urs Zimmermann (CHE / Carrera-Inoxpran)
Points classification: Eric Vanderaerden (BEL / Panasonic-Raleigh)
Moutains classification: Bernard Hinault (FRA / La Vie Claire-Radar)
Young rider classification: Andrew Hampsten (USA / La Vie Claire-Radar)
Most combative rider: Bernard Hinault (FRA / La Vie Claire-Radar)
Team classification: La Vie claire-Radar
Yellow Jerseys: Greg LeMond (7), Bernard Hinault (5), Jorgen Vagn Pedersen (5), Thierry Marie, Johan van der Velde (2), Alex Stieda, Dominique Gaigne (1)
Stage winners: Bernard Hinault, Guido Bontempi (3), Thierry Marie, Pol Verschuere, Système U, Davis Phinney, Pello Ruiz Cabestany, Johan van der Velde, Ludo Peeters, Eddy Planckaert, José Angel Sarrapio, Rudy Dhaenens, Pedro Delgado, Greg LeMond, Niki Ruttimann, Frank Hoste, Jean-François Bernard, Eduardo Chozas, Julian Gorospe, Erich Maechler(1)
