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By Barry Boyce
CyclingRevealed Historian
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Thys Makes It Three
The Belgian teams easily controlled the early stages. Former Tour de France champion Philippe Thys (Bel) rode consistently in every breakaway group and took the overall lead on stage 2.
The main French challenge came from the "always angry' but very talented Henri Pelissier. Trailing in the General Classification, Pelissier began his comeback by winning stage 3 in Brest and stage 4 in Les Sables d'Olonne. Unfortunately for the talented Pelissier, his Tour hopes were set back when race officials assessed a time penalty for discarding a flat tire during stage 4. The rule's infraction was minor and the penalty was not significant, but the emotional Pelissier felt the penalty was not justified. He withdrew immediately.
The race was open for Thys. He gained a stage win in the Pyrenees and 2 more in the Alps. Philippe Thys rode into Paris to achieve his third Tour de France victory.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Stage 1 PARIS-LE HAVRE 388 km |
Louis Mottiat (Bel) |
Louis Mottiat (Bel) |
Stage 2 LE HAVRE-CHERBOURG 364 km |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Stage 3 CHERBOURG-BREST 405 km |
Henri Pelissier (Fra) |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Stage 4 BREST-L'SABLES D'OLONNE, 412 km |
Henri Pelissier (Fra) |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Stage 5 LES SABLES D'OLONNE-BAYONNE, 482 km |
Firmin Lambot (Bel) |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Stage 6 BAYONNE-LUCHON, 326 km |
Firmin Lambot (Bel) |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Stage 7 LUCHON-PERPIGNAN, 323 km |
Jean Rossius (Bel) |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Stage 8 PERPIGNAN-AIX EN PROVENCE , 325 km |
Louis Heusghem (Bel) |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Stage 9 AIX EN PROVENCE-NICE, 356 km |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Stage 10 NICE-GRENOBLE, 333 km |
Hector Heusghem (Bel) |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Stage 11 GRENOBLE-GEX, 362 km |
Leon Scieur (Bel) |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Stage 12 GEX-STRASBOURG, 354 km |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Stage 13 STRASBOURG-METZ, 300 km |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Stage 14 METZ-DUNKERQUE, 433 km |
Felix Goethals (Bel) |
Philippe Thys (Bel) |
Stage 15 DUNKERQUE-PARIS/Parc des Princes, 340 km |
Jean Rossius (Bel) |
 Philippe Thys (Bel)
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| TdF June 27-July 25, 1920 |
| 5,503 Km |
1. Philippe THYS (Bel) 228h36'13" |
2. Hector Heusghem (Bel) +57'21" |
3. Firmin Lambot (Bel) +1h39'35" |
Starters: 113 |
| Finishers: 22 |
Average Speed: 24.072 km/h |
TdF 1919
TdF 1921
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14th Tour de France 1920
