A wind of change swept across the 1975 Tour de France. When the organizers introduced several innovations, they had no idea how lasting they would be. But time has proven them right. Three of those changes are now celebrating their 50th anniversary: the polka-dot jersey for the best climber, the white jersey for the best young rider, and the iconic finish of the final stage on the Champs-Élysées. These bold moves were part of an exceptional edition, which saw Bernard Thévenet become the first rider to defeat Eddy Merckx in the Tour. The official Tour website looks back at five decades of this history, in a four-part series.
Thévenet devours the Cannibal (IV/IV)
In 1975, Eddy Merckx once again dominated the start of the season. Wearing the rainbow jersey, he won Milan-Sanremo, the Amstel Gold Race, the Tour of Flanders, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, among others. At the start in Charleroi, the Molteni leader once again appeared as the overwhelming favorite for the Tour, aiming for a sixth title. The Cannibal had never been beaten on the Grande Boucle, but Bernard Thévenet, guided by Maurice De Muer -the new boss of the Peugeot team- was beginning to believe in his chances. Fifty years later, the man who ended the “Merckxism” recalls his 1975 Tour, the one where he tasted his first triumph. He would go on to claim a second victory two years later.
