British Cyclists: Tour De France Online Trivia | Sports

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was the first year in which a British cyclist took part in Le Tour?

Answer: 1937

Two British riders rode the 1937 Tour - Bill Burl and Charles Holland. Together with Pierre Gachon (a French Canadian), they rode as the British Empire team. Gachon retired on stage 1, and Burl was disqualified after stage 2 for falling too far behind. Holland, however, battled alone for over 2000 miles until he succumbed to mechanical trouble and was forced to abandon. Nevertheless, his attitude and efforts won him many admirers in France.

2. Their was British participation in Le Tour in 1955 with the British-based Hercules team. Of the team, which two made it to Paris?

Answer: Brian Robinson and Tony Hoar

Brian Robinson was the star of the Hercules team. In the 1955 season he was 4th in La Fl�che Wallonne, 8th in the Paris-Nice, and led the Tour of the Six Provinces until stage 6. In Le Tour, Robinson finished a credible 29th. Tony Hoar battled his way to Paris and finished as the Lanterne Rouge.

3. Who was the first British rider to wear the famous Maillot Jaune?

Answer: Tom Simpson

Tommy Simpson became the first cyclist to wear the yellow jersey in 1962, after the 12th stage. The 13th stage was a time trial, in which Simpson lost over 5 minutes to the stage winner. Simpson, noted for his time trialing skills, later blamed his poor performance on his team manager's decision to change the gear sizes on his bicycle.

4. Which British rider was the first to win five stages of the Le Tour?

Answer: Barry Hoban

Barry Hoban, whose professional career spanned three decades, won 8 stages between 1967 and 1975. Hoban married Tom Simpson's widow.

5. After Tom Simpson's death in in the 1967 Tour, the peloton decided that as a mark of respect, a British rider would win the next day's stage. Which rider won the stage?

Answer: Barry Hoban

There is conjecture as to who was picked to win this stage. Some maintain that it was Simpson's close friend Alan Ramsbottom whom the peloton thought should be given the stage, but in his autobiography, Hoban claims that near the line, all of a sudden the British team were behind him, and "the decision had been made" as to who was going to win that day's stage.

6. Tommy Simpson, Britain's most successful cyclist on the continent, tragically died during a climb on the 1967 Tour. Where was it?

Answer: Mont Ventoux

Tommy Simpson changed the ways in which continental Europeans viewed anglophone cyclists. Born in 1937 in a mining village in North East England, Simpson won a bronze medal as 19-year old at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics in the 4000m team pursuit, although he blamed himself for the team not winning gold.

He moved to the continent in 1959 and proceeded to win the Tour of Flanders, Milan-San Remo, Paris-Nice, Bourdeaux-Paris, and Tour of Lombardy. In 1965, he became the only male British cyclist to win the world championships.

His death on the Ventoux has caused much debate, which rumbles on to this day. What is known is that whilst trying to break the other riders on a baking hot day, he had drunk a quantity of alcohol, and had been previously suffering from a diarrhea and a stomach upset the previous few days. Amphetamines were also found in his person.

His last words were thought to be, "Put me back on my bike", although today it is thought his last words were "on, on, on", when asked by a team mechanic if he wanted to continue.

7. Chris Boardman revolutionised British cycling in the 1990s. He rode Le Tour several times, but when did gain his first stage victory?

Answer: 1994

Chris Boardman won the 1992 Olympic 4000m Pursuit using a new type of bike. He set a world record using the bike, but it was subsequently banned. Undeterred, Boardman set a world 1-hour record on a more tradditional bike. In professional road racing, he was known for his time trialing skills, but found stage racing difficult due to low hormone levels.

8. The mountains is often where Le Tour is won and lost. Although not traditionally associated with success in dancing uphill, one British cyclist won the King of the Mountains. Who was he?

Answer: Robert Millar

Robert Millar, a Scot from the Gorbals area of Glasgow, was the only rival to Tommy Simpson as the most successful British rider on the continent. He rode in the 1980s and 1990s. He won the Tour de France KOM in 1984. During his career, he also finished second in the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana, after a concerted effort by the peleton for a home winner.

He won the Tour of Britain in 1989 and the Dauphine Libere in 1990. He also won the King of the Mountains in the 1987 Giro d'Italia and 3 stages of Le Tour de France.

He is no relation to David Millar.

9. What is the highest position a British rider finished in the overall classification during the 1980s and 1990s?

Answer: 4th

Robert Millar finished 4th in the 1984 race.

10. In 2008, which British cyclist made history by winning four stages?

Answer: Mark Cavendish

Mark Cavendish, a sprinter from the Isle of Man, won 4 stages, including 2 on consecutive days. He was the only member of the British track cycling team not to win a medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Source: Author goldenboy100

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

British Cyclists: Tour De France Quiz

Although Britain has been on top of the world in track cycling, they have not been so successful in road cycling. This quiz looks at the efforts and achievements of Britain's participants in the world's greatest cycling road race.

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