The Tour is in Saint-Etienne in central France. Start of a stage that will take the riders to Mende. Strong heat expected once again. Saint-Etienne, a regular at the Tour de France stages. No wonder for this historic city of the cycle industry in France. Despite the decline in the 1970s, many companies have recently launched themselves to perpetuate the “made in Saint-Etienne” bicycle.
from our special correspondent,
The bike here in Saint-Etienne, it marks with a hot iron. Stéphanois Aurélien Bonnet has been working in the sector since his youngest years. He is the technical director ofEasy Design Technology, manufacturer of electric scooters. A revival for the cycle industry. About 85% of the bike is made in Saint-Etienne or in the region, he explains, “ it’s really a very personal choice to do everything locally… it allows me to secure my supplies too”.
It was in Saint-Etienne that the first French bicycle was made. At the start of the 20th century, the cycle industry was booming. And yet an event on the Tour de France 1904 will put St Etienne on the sidelines. A quick look in the rear view mirror with Pascal Charroin, sports history researcher: ” Five-six breakaways, including Maurice Garin (winner of the Tour in the first round in 1903 and of Italian origin, editor’s note)… and then a certain Alfred Faure, a cyclist from Saint-Etienne escapes… and at the bottom of the Col du Grand -Bois in Saint-Etienne, the Stéphanois -very chauvinistic- know that there are six breakaways and begin to rock the breakaway riders with Alfred Faure…”
As a result, the city will be banned from the Tour for 45 years. Before a comeback by being a stage city 24 times.