Grand Prix du Midi Libre

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Grand Prix du Midi Libre
Race details
DateBefore Tour de France
RegionSouth France
English nameGrand Prix du Midi Libre
Local name(s)Grand Prix du Midi Libre (in French)
Nickname(s)Midi Libre
DisciplineRoad
TypeStage race
OrganiserMidi Libre
History
First edition1949 (1949)
Editions55
Final edition2004
First winner Henri Massal (FRA)
Most wins Jean-René Bernaudeau (FRA) (4 wins)
Final winner Christophe Moreau (FRA) (2004)

The Grand Prix du Midi Libre (referred to as just Midi Libre) was a multiple-stage road cycling course in the south of France. The race, named after the newspaper that organized it, was first organized in 1949 and was an important preparation courses for the Tour de France. Because of the hills in southern France, a climber usually won but sometimes the decision was made in a flat stage.

In 2003 the course was not organized, due to financial problems. One year later it returned, named Tour du Languedoc-Roussillon, but this turned out to be a one-time comeback.

Winners

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Year Country Rider Team
1949  France Henri Massal
1950  France Antonin Rolland
1951  France Raphaël Geminiani
1952  Italy Siro Bianchi
1953  France Pierre Nardi
1954  Spain Jesús Martínez
1955  Spain Miguel Poblet
1956  France Antonin Rolland
1957  Luxembourg Jempy Schmitz
1958  France Francis Pipelin
1959  Belgium Jean Brankart
1960  France Valentin Huot
1961  France Joseph Groussard
1962  Netherlands Mies Stolker
1963  Spain Fernando Manzaneque
1964  France André Foucher
1965  France André Foucher
1966  France Jean-Claude Theillière
1967  France Michel Grain
1969  Spain Luis Ocaña
1970  Italy Walter Ricci
1971  Belgium Eddy Merckx
1972  France Cyrille Guimard
1973  France Raymond Poulidor
1974  France Jean-Pierre Danguillaume
1975  Italy Francesco Moser
1976  France Alain Meslet
1977  Italy Wladimiro Panizza
1978  Italy Claudio Bortolotto
1979  Italy Giuseppe Saronni
1980  France Jean-René Bernaudeau
1981  France Jean-René Bernaudeau
1982  France Jean-René Bernaudeau
1983  France Jean-René Bernaudeau
1984  France Dominique Garde
1985  Italy Silvano Contini
1986  Belgium Claude Criquielion
1987  France Patrice Esnault
1988  Belgium Claude Criquielion
1989  France Jérôme Simon
1990  France Gérard Rué
1991  France Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle
1992  France Luc Leblanc
1993  Italy Maurizio Fondriest
1994  Slovakia Ján Svorada
1995  Spain Miguel Induráin
1996  France Laurent Jalabert
1997  Italy Alberto Elli
1998   Switzerland Laurent Dufaux
1999  France Benoît Salmon
2000  France Didier Rous
2001  Spain Iban Mayo
2002 Result Void[1][2]
2003 No race
2004  France Christophe Moreau

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Lance Armstrong: Governing body strips American of Tour wins". BBC News. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Union Cycliste Internationale".[permanent dead link]