The Tour de France once allowed riders to drink wine during races
Early Tour de France cyclists frequently consumed wine, beer, and champagne during stages to numb pain and stay hydrated before modern sports science transformed professional athletic nutrition.
In the early 20th century, Tour de France competitors viewed alcohol as a vital performance enhancer rather than a hindrance. Riders routinely stopped at local taverns to fill their bottles with wine, beer, or even champagne to dull the physical agony of riding hundreds of miles on unpaved roads.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraph · plus a 4-question quiz