July 26, 1953 – Across the pond of the Atlantic there was the annual Tour de France bicycle race. The Tour is a big event in France drawing huge crowds and interest from around the world, as cyclists take on the rigors of a course through multiple-stages that take weeks to complete.
There are 21 stages altogether, each taking a day, with the total extent of the race taking 23 days, including the Bastille Day holiday. In this edition of the cycling marathon, Louison Bobet of France won his first of 3 consecutive Tour general classification events.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network

December 14, 1947: No One Could Catch The Babe!
With all of the hype now delivered and the big day finally arriving, we’ll

The Inspiring Story of Tom “The Bomb” Dempsey
Former NFL kicker Tom Dempsey became a household name when he kicked a 63-yard

December 13, 1947: Get There Early!
With the NFL Western Division title on the line, both the Bears and the

Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears Rivalry of the 1970s
Pro football’s longest-enduring rivalry naturally involves two of its oldest teams, the Green Bay

December 10, 1947: The Big Sneeze
As you may recall from our previous episode in this new mini-series that chronicles

Roll With The “R” – R.I.P. Razor Ramon
This summer I was totally enthralled by the audiobook BLOOD, SWEAT & CHROME by Kyle Buchanan. The

December 7, 1947: The Jekyll and Hyde of the NFL (Chicago Cardinals)
As we kick off our bonus coverage of the 1947 Chicago Cardinals championship run,

Bears vs. Cardinals: The NFL’s Oldest Rivalry Book Preview
In this episode of “When Football Was Football’” Joe Ziemba previews his latest book,