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Quiz about Tour de France Firsts
Quiz about Tour de France Firsts

Tour de France Firsts Trivia Quiz


Until 2005, the Tour the France has been won by 10 different nationalities apart from the French. In this quiz you won't get the obvious questions, but rather who the first winner for every country was. Test your knowledge!

A multiple-choice quiz by jaydel. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
jaydel
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
222,116
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
585
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Question 1 of 10
1. The first six editions of the Tour de France were won by Frenchmen. Then came the smallest countries to have ever celebrated in this event. Luxembourg: What was the name of the winner in 1909? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. From 1914 to 1918, Europe was the scene of 'The Great War'. Around that tragic piece of history, four Belgian riders won 'La Grande Boucle' seven times in total from 1912 to 1914 and from 1919 to 1923. Who was the first of that quartet? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Rodolfo Muller was an Italian who participated in the first Tour. He finished a credible fourth. But it took until 1924 before an Italian claimed the ultimate success. Who was that man? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Switzerland was the fifth country to celebrate a Tour winning citizen. Who was victorious in 1950? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Going down south to get the sixth nationality, the year was 1959 and a Spaniard reigned supreme. His way of doing it earned him his nickname. What was his real name? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Until 1968, all winners bordered France, but then it was two bordercrossings from France to find the next winner. For a few years, Dutch riders had started to perform better and better. It was no surprise that in 1968 this Dutchman created a little sporting history for his country. What was his name? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Until the '80s, success in the Tour was a continental European affair. But in the mid-80s, that changed as suddenly a Yank reigned supreme. What was the name of the man who would win this race three times? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. One year after the first American victory, it was another English speaking rider won the Tour. He came from the Republic of Ireland. What was his name? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. 1996 was the ninth foreign country (from the French perspective) to win the race. He represented Denmark and was part of a strong German team, as it delivered the runner-up as well. What was the name of the Dane who set his countrymen on fire? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Take a map of Europe and color it with the countries that have delivered the winner since 1903. Little by little the blanks disappear. First it was France, then Luxembourg, Belgium, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands. Germany was a blind spot, but then came the year 1997 and it disappeared forever. Who was responsible for that? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The first six editions of the Tour de France were won by Frenchmen. Then came the smallest countries to have ever celebrated in this event. Luxembourg: What was the name of the winner in 1909?

Answer: François Faber

Despite the fact that Luxembourg is so small even for European standards, it had three winners in the 20th century for this event, more than the Anericans for example. Faber was the first of them at the tender age of 22. Nicolas Frantz was victorious in 1927 and 1928, and Charly Gaul (nicknamed Angel Of The High Mountains) won it in the 50s. Gustave Garrigou was a Frenchman.
2. From 1914 to 1918, Europe was the scene of 'The Great War'. Around that tragic piece of history, four Belgian riders won 'La Grande Boucle' seven times in total from 1912 to 1914 and from 1919 to 1923. Who was the first of that quartet?

Answer: Odile Defray

Odile Defray and Leon Scieur were the ones who won La Grande Boucle only once. Defray in 1912 and Scieur in 1921. Firmin Lambot struck in 1919 and 1922 whereas Philippe Thys was victorious in 1913, 1914, and 1920.
3. Rodolfo Muller was an Italian who participated in the first Tour. He finished a credible fourth. But it took until 1924 before an Italian claimed the ultimate success. Who was that man?

Answer: Ottavio Bottechia

It was a first of a consecutive double. Bartali won the Tour in 1938 and 10 years later in 1948. Fausto Coppi was the best in 1949 and 1952. Bottechia did not enjoy his victory for a long time. In 1927, he was killed by fascists during a training ride.
4. Switzerland was the fifth country to celebrate a Tour winning citizen. Who was victorious in 1950?

Answer: Ferdi Kubler

Kubler needed more than 145 hours to complete victory, but that was more than nine minutes faster than runner-up Stan Ockers from Belgium. Hugo Koblet won it for the Swiss a year later. Alex Zülle is from recent years. He was a challenger but never won the Tour. Louison Bobet was a French rider who was the first to win the Tour three times in a row.
5. Going down south to get the sixth nationality, the year was 1959 and a Spaniard reigned supreme. His way of doing it earned him his nickname. What was his real name?

Answer: Federico Bahamontes

He was called the Eagle of Toledo. He loved climbing but rumour had it he dreaded descending. Still he won it in 1959, was a runner-up in 1963, and a number three in 1964.
6. Until 1968, all winners bordered France, but then it was two bordercrossings from France to find the next winner. For a few years, Dutch riders had started to perform better and better. It was no surprise that in 1968 this Dutchman created a little sporting history for his country. What was his name?

Answer: Jan Janssen

After he had lost the Tour in 1966 to Lucien Aimar by just over a minute, Jan Janssen beat Belgian Herman van Springel by winning the last stage, a time trial. After that, Van Springel was a mere 38 seconds behind. Joop Zoetemelk won the Tour in 1980 before compatriot Hennie Kuiper. Wim van Est was the first Dutchman to wear the yellow jersey.
7. Until the '80s, success in the Tour was a continental European affair. But in the mid-80s, that changed as suddenly a Yank reigned supreme. What was the name of the man who would win this race three times?

Answer: Greg Lemond

So Americans have won the Tour 10 times with Armstrong's 2005 win. After all, Armstrong won it an unprecedented seven times in a row, whereas Lemond was victorious in 1986, 1989, and 1990.
8. One year after the first American victory, it was another English speaking rider won the Tour. He came from the Republic of Ireland. What was his name?

Answer: Stephen Roche

1987 was a great year for the Irishman. Not only did he win the Tour de France, he was also victorious in the Giro (Tour of Italy) and the World Championship road race. Sean Kelly was another great Irishman, he developed from a sprinter into an all-rounder, and finally won one of the three big races (Tour de France, Tour of Italy and Tour of Spain), the Tour de France. Sean Yates was an Englishman and Phil Anderson was the pioneer of the Australian contingent.
9. 1996 was the ninth foreign country (from the French perspective) to win the race. He represented Denmark and was part of a strong German team, as it delivered the runner-up as well. What was the name of the Dane who set his countrymen on fire?

Answer: Bjarne Riis

After he came third in the Tour of 1995, Riis claimed glory in the 1996 edition of this event. Jan Ullrich stayed just 1.41 minutes. The next year would be his. Riis himself retired and later became teammanager of team CSC, with its base in Denmark.
10. Take a map of Europe and color it with the countries that have delivered the winner since 1903. Little by little the blanks disappear. First it was France, then Luxembourg, Belgium, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands. Germany was a blind spot, but then came the year 1997 and it disappeared forever. Who was responsible for that?

Answer: Jan Ullrich

He did that with the biggest margin since 1984, when Laurent Fignon put Bernard Hinault 10 minutes 32 seconds behind. The difference between Ullrich and Virenque was 9 minutes and 9 seconds. Maybe Ullrich could have had a string of wins if it weren't for a certain Lance Armstrong from 1999 on.
Source: Author jaydel

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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