Philippe Thys, who had won the 1913 Tour de France, returned for the 1914 Tour de France and was considered as the favourite, together with his teammate Henri Pélissier.[1] Apart from him six other previous Tour de France winners started the race: Louis Trousselier, Lucien Petit-Breton, Octave Lapize, François Faber, Odile Defraye and Gustave Garrigou. Four more cyclists started the race that would later win a Tour de France: Firmin Lambot, Léon Scieur, Henri Pélissier and Lucien Buysse. This number of 11 former or future Tour de France winners on the start line is a record.[2] In addition, Italian champion Costante Girardengo, started the race, but Girardengo was not yet the champion from 1919 on, and was not the team leader.[1]
In 1914, the first cyclists from Australia started the Tour de France, Don Kirkham and Iddo Munro. They also finished the race, in 17th place and 20th place.[3]
Cyclists
By starting number
Legend
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No.
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Starting number worn by the rider during the Tour
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Pos.
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Position in the general classification
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DNF
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Denotes a rider who did not finish
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References