Grand Prix du Midi Libre

Last updated
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
Discipline Road
Type Stage race
Organiser Midi Libre
History
First edition1949 (1949)
Editions55
Final edition2004
First winnerFlag of France.svg Henri Massal (FRA)
Most winsFlag of France.svg Jean-René Bernaudeau (FRA) (4 wins)
Final winnerFlag of France.svg 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

YearCountryRiderTeam
1949Flag of France.svg  France Henri Massal
1950Flag of France.svg  France Antonin Rolland
1951Flag of France.svg  France Raphaël Geminiani
1952Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Siro Bianchi
1953Flag of France.svg  France Pierre Nardi
1954Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain Jesús Martínez
1955Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain Miguel Poblet
1956Flag of France.svg  France Antonin Rolland
1957Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Jempy Schmitz
1958Flag of France.svg  France Francis Pipelin
1959Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Jean Brankart
1960Flag of France.svg  France Valentin Huot
1961Flag of France.svg  France Joseph Groussard
1962Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Mies Stolker
1963Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain Fernando Manzaneque
1964Flag of France.svg  France André Foucher
1965Flag of France.svg  France André Foucher
1966Flag of France.svg  France Jean-Claude Theillière
1967Flag of France.svg  France Michel Grain
1969Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg  Spain Luis Ocaña
1970Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Walter Ricci
1971Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Eddy Merckx
1972Flag of France.svg  France Cyrille Guimard
1973Flag of France.svg  France Raymond Poulidor
1974Flag of France.svg  France Jean-Pierre Danguillaume
1975Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Francesco Moser
1976Flag of France.svg  France Alain Meslet
1977Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Wladimiro Panizza
1978Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Claudio Bortolotto
1979Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Giuseppe Saronni
1980Flag of France.svg  France Jean-René Bernaudeau
1981Flag of France.svg  France Jean-René Bernaudeau
1982Flag of France.svg  France Jean-René Bernaudeau
1983Flag of France.svg  France Jean-René Bernaudeau
1984Flag of France.svg  France Dominique Garde
1985Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Silvano Contini
1986Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Claude Criquielion
1987Flag of France.svg  France Patrice Esnault
1988Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Claude Criquielion
1989Flag of France.svg  France Jérôme Simon
1990Flag of France.svg  France Gérard Rué
1991Flag of France.svg  France Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle
1992Flag of France.svg  France Luc Leblanc
1993Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Maurizio Fondriest
1994Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Ján Svorada
1995Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Miguel Induráin
1996Flag of France.svg  France Laurent Jalabert
1997Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Alberto Elli
1998Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Laurent Dufaux
1999Flag of France.svg  France Benoît Salmon
2000Flag of France.svg  France Didier Rous
2001Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Iban Mayo
2002Result Void [1] [2]
2003No race
2004Flag of France.svg  France Christophe Moreau

References

  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 ]