This video is......
.......Tragic. Tommy Simpson's last few meters on the Mont Ventoux:
The story of Tommy Simpson is probably the most told one in cycling. Tom Simpson was the greatest British cyclist of his age. He was the first to wear the yellow jersey in the 1962 Tour de France and the first Briton to win the World Championship Road Race (1965).
On Friday July 13 1967 there was the stage from Marseille (>40 deg) to the Carpentras. On the Mont Ventoux Tom had to catch the lead group after a tortuous stage held in caldron-like temperatures. He collapsed on the barren slopes just 1.5km before the top.
"Put me back on my bike," he gasped. A few yards further, he fell again. He appeared to be suffering from sunstroke but his situation was actually far more serious. Dr Dumas, the official Tour Doctor, was quickly on the scene and administered oxygen and artificial resuscitation. A helicopter carried the comatose cyclist to the hospital in Avignon where he died at 5.40 PM.
He died on that stage after consuming a cocktail of amphetamines designed to allow him to push his body through that extra effort. Unfortunately they may have ruined his ability to handle the heat and been responsible for his death. Barry Hoban was 'allowed' to win the 14th stage, which was to be the first of his eight stage wins, and the team vowed to carry on the race. It was the saddest year in cycling history, but the Tour was to go on, and new chapters written by British riders.
Years after Barry married Tom's widow Helen. The memorial of Tom Simpson, just 1.3 km to the summit, has been placed on 19... On July 13th 1997 Tommy's daughters Jane and Joanne, who succeeded cycling the Mt. Ventoux, placed a small plate on the memorial which says:
There is no mountain too high.
The story of Tommy Simpson is probably the most told one in cycling. Tom Simpson was the greatest British cyclist of his age. He was the first to wear the yellow jersey in the 1962 Tour de France and the first Briton to win the World Championship Road Race (1965).
On Friday July 13 1967 there was the stage from Marseille (>40 deg) to the Carpentras. On the Mont Ventoux Tom had to catch the lead group after a tortuous stage held in caldron-like temperatures. He collapsed on the barren slopes just 1.5km before the top.
"Put me back on my bike," he gasped. A few yards further, he fell again. He appeared to be suffering from sunstroke but his situation was actually far more serious. Dr Dumas, the official Tour Doctor, was quickly on the scene and administered oxygen and artificial resuscitation. A helicopter carried the comatose cyclist to the hospital in Avignon where he died at 5.40 PM.
He died on that stage after consuming a cocktail of amphetamines designed to allow him to push his body through that extra effort. Unfortunately they may have ruined his ability to handle the heat and been responsible for his death. Barry Hoban was 'allowed' to win the 14th stage, which was to be the first of his eight stage wins, and the team vowed to carry on the race. It was the saddest year in cycling history, but the Tour was to go on, and new chapters written by British riders.
Years after Barry married Tom's widow Helen. The memorial of Tom Simpson, just 1.3 km to the summit, has been placed on 19... On July 13th 1997 Tommy's daughters Jane and Joanne, who succeeded cycling the Mt. Ventoux, placed a small plate on the memorial which says:
There is no mountain too high.
posted by Chico Cyclist at 8:39 AM
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