# 1964 Tour de France

The 1964 Tour de France was the 51st edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place between 22 June and 14 July, with 22 stages covering a distance of 4,504 km (2,799 mi). Stages 3, 10 and 22 were all two-part stages with the first half being a regular stage and the second half being a team or individual time trial. It was the only Tour de France to include a mid-stage climb to the Alpe d'Huez ski resort. The race was eventually won by Jacques Anquetil following an epic shoulder-to-shoulder battle with Raymond Poulidor during stage 20.

## Teams

The 1964 Tour started with 132 cyclists, divided into 12 teams of 11 cyclists.
The teams entering the race were:
* Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop
* Mercier–BP–Hutchinson
* Peugeot–BP–Englebert
* Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune
* Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop
* Wiel's–Groene Leeuw
* Solo–Superia
* Flandria–Romeo
* Ferrys
* Kas–Kaskol
* Salvarani
* Televizier

## Pre-race favourites

The main favourite was defending champion Jacques Anquetil. He had won the 1964 Giro d'Italia earlier that year, and was trying to win a Tour-Giro double, which at that moment had only been done by Fausto Coppi.

## Route and stages

The 1964 Tour de France started on 22 June, and had one rest day in Andorra. The highest point of elevation in the race was 2,802 m (9,193 ft) at the Cime de la Bonette loop road on stage 9.
Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 22 June | Rennes to Lisieux | 215 km (134 mi) | | Plain stage | Edward Sels (BEL) |
| 2 | 23 June | Lisieux to Amiens | 208 km (129 mi) | | Plain stage | André Darrigade (FRA) |
| 3a | 24 June | Amiens to Forest (Belgium) | 197 km (122 mi) | | Plain stage | Bernard Vandekerkhove (BEL) |
| 3b | 24 June | Forest (Belgium) | 21 km (13 mi) | | Team time trial | Kas–Kaskol |
| 4 | 25 June | Forest (Belgium) to Metz | 292 km (181 mi) | | Plain stage | Rudi Altig (FRG) |
| 5 | 26 June | Lunéville to Freiburg (West Germany) | 161 km (100 mi) | | Plain stage | Willy Derboven (BEL) |
| 6 | 27 June | Freiburg (West Germany) to Besançon | 200 km (120 mi) | | Plain stage | Henk Nijdam (NED) |
| 7 | 28 June | Besançon to Thonon-les-Bains | 195 km (121 mi) | | Plain stage | Jan Janssen (NED) |
| 8 | 29 June | Thonon-les-Bains to Briançon | 249 km (155 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Federico Bahamontes (ESP) |
| 9 | 30 June | Briançon to Monaco | 239 km (149 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Jacques Anquetil (FRA) |
| 10a | 1 July | Monaco to Hyères | 187 km (116 mi) | | Plain stage | Jan Janssen (NED) |
| 10b | 1 July | Hyères to Toulon | 21 km (13 mi) | | Individual time trial | Jacques Anquetil (FRA) |
| 11 | 2 July | Toulon to Montpellier | 250 km (160 mi) | | Plain stage | Edward Sels (BEL) |
| 12 | 3 July | Montpellier to Perpignan | 174 km (108 mi) | | Plain stage | Jo de Roo (NED) |
| 13 | 4 July | Perpignan to Andorra | 170 km (110 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Julio Jiménez (ESP) |
| | 5 July | Andorra | Andorra | | Rest day | Rest day |
| 14 | 6 July | Andorra to Toulouse | 186 km (116 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Edward Sels (BEL) |
| 15 | 7 July | Toulouse to Luchon | 203 km (126 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Raymond Poulidor (FRA) |
| 16 | 8 July | Luchon to Pau | 197 km (122 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Federico Bahamontes (ESP) |
| 17 | 9 July | Peyrehorade to Bayonne | 43 km (27 mi) | | Individual time trial | Jacques Anquetil (FRA) |
| 18 | 10 July | Bayonne to Bordeaux | 187 km (116 mi) | | Plain stage | André Darrigade (FRA) |
| 19 | 11 July | Bordeaux to Brive | 215 km (134 mi) | | Plain stage | Edward Sels (BEL) |
| 20 | 12 July | Brive to Puy de Dôme | 217 km (135 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Julio Jiménez (ESP) |
| 21 | 13 July | Clermont-Ferrand to Orléans | 311 km (193 mi) | | Plain stage | Jean Stablinski (FRA) |
| 22a | 14 July | Orléans to Versailles | 119 km (74 mi) | | Plain stage | Benoni Beheyt (BEL) |
| 22b | 14 July | Versailles to Paris | 27 km (17 mi) | | Individual time trial | Jacques Anquetil (FRA) |
| | Total | Total | 4,504 km (2,799 mi) | 4,504 km (2,799 mi) | 4,504 km (2,799 mi) | 4,504 km (2,799 mi) |

## Race overview

Anquetil, who was looking for his fifth Tour victory, was superior in the time trials, of which he won all three. But Raymond Poulidor dominated in the mountains, and Anquetil was close to losing.
The ninth stage finished in Monaco, where the riders would ride one extra lap, crossing the finish line twice. When the first group, including Poulidor and Anquetil, reached the finish line for the first time, Poulidor had forgotten the extra lap, and sprinted in avail for the victory. When the group reached the finish line for the second time, Anquetil won the sprint, and one minute of bonification time.
In the second part of the tenth stage, the time trial, Anquetil won. Poulidor finished in second place, losing 36 seconds, with a flat tire costing him some time.
In the rest day between the thirteenth and the fourteenth stage, Anquetil had joined a lamb barbecue, and in the fourteenth stage he was immediately dropped. His team director gave him a bottle of champagne, which washed away the indigestion, and then Anquetil was able to get back to Poulidor. Poulidor then broke a spoke, the repair cost him some time, even more because a team mechanic, trying to help him gain speed, made him fall.
Poulidor attacked in the fifteenth stage, and stayed away. He won the stage, and in the general classification climbed to third place, nine seconds behind second-placed Anquetil.
Anquetil won the time trial of stage 17, and became the leader; Poulidor was in second place, only 56 seconds behind. In the twentieth stage, Poulidor did not have the right bicycle for the climb, but did not tell it to his team director. Poulidor dropped Anquetil in the climb, but the margin was not big enough for him to take over the lead, and Anquetil remained leader of the race by 14 seconds.
In the final time trial, Anquetil was the favourite, being the specialist. Poulidor rode as fast as he could, and with all other cyclists but Anquetil finished, had the best time. Anquetil was the last rider to ride the time trial, and was five seconds slower at the intermediate time check, which gave Poulidor hope that he could emerge as winner. However, Anquetil was clearly faster in the second part, and won the time trial. Anquetil won the Tour by only 55 seconds, which was at that moment the smallest margin in history.

## Classification leadership and minor prizes

There were several classifications in the 1964 Tour de France, two of them awarding jerseys to their leaders. The most important was the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage. The cyclist with the least accumulated time was the race leader, identified by the yellow jersey; the winner of this classification is considered the winner of the Tour.
Additionally, there was a points classification. In the points classification, cyclists got points for finishing among the best in a stage finish. The cyclist with the most points lead the classification, and was identified with a green jersey.
There was also a mountains classification. The organisation had categorised some climbs as either first, second, third, or fourth-category; points for this classification were won by the first cyclists that reached the top of these climbs first, with more points available for the higher-categorised climbs. The cyclist with the most points lead the classification, but was not identified with a jersey.
For the team classification, the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added; the leading team was the team with the lowest total time. The riders in the team that led this classification wore yellow caps.
In addition, there was a combativity award, in which a jury composed of journalists gave points after certain stages to the cyclist they considered most combative. The split stages each had a combined winner. At the conclusion of the Tour, Henry Anglade won the overall super-combativity award, also decided by journalists. The Souvenir Henri Desgrange was given in honour of Tour founder Henri Desgrange to the first rider to pass a point by his final residence, the "Villa Mia" in Beauvallon, Grimaud, on the French Riviera on stage 10a. This prize was won by André Darrigade.
Classification leadership by stage :
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points classification | Mountains classification | Team classification | Combativity award | Bad luck award |
| 1 | Edward Sels | Edward Sels | Edward Sels | Raymond Poulidor | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw | Henry Anglade | Rik Van Looy |
| 2 | André Darrigade | Edward Sels | Jan Janssen | Robert Poulot | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw | Rik Van Looy | Guy Seyve |
| 3a | Bernard Van de Kerckhove | Bernard Van de Kerckhove | Jan Janssen | Robert Poulot | Solo–Superia | Solo–Superia | Valentín Uriona |
| 3b | Kas–Kaskol | Bernard Van de Kerckhove | Jan Janssen | Robert Poulot | Kas–Kaskol | Solo–Superia | Valentín Uriona |
| 4 | Rudi Altig | Bernard Van de Kerckhove | Rudi Altig | Julio Jiménez | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | no award | Emile Daems |
| 5 | Willy Derboven | Rudi Altig | Rudi Altig | Rudi Altig | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Joaquim Galera | François Mahé |
| 6 | Henk Nijdam | Rudi Altig | Rudi Altig | Rudi Altig | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Henk Nijdam | Ferdinand Bracke |
| 7 | Jan Janssen | Rudi Altig | Jan Janssen | Julio Jiménez | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Guy Epaud | no award |
| 8 | Federico Bahamontes | Georges Groussard | Jan Janssen | Julio Jiménez | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Federico Bahamontes | Jacques Anquetil |
| 9 | Jacques Anquetil | Georges Groussard | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Jacques Anquetil | no award |
| 10a | Jan Janssen | Georges Groussard | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | no award | no award |
| 10b | Jacques Anquetil | Georges Groussard | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | no award | no award |
| 11 | Edward Sels | Georges Groussard | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | no award | no award |
| 12 | Jo de Roo | Georges Groussard | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop | Jos Hoevenaers |
| 13 | Julio Jiménez | Georges Groussard | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Julio Jiménez | Armand Desmet |
| 14 | Edward Sels | Georges Groussard | Rudi Altig | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Henry Anglade | Raymond Poulidor |
| 15 | Raymond Poulidor | Georges Groussard | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Raymond Poulidor | no award |
| 16 | Federico Bahamontes | Georges Groussard | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Federico Bahamontes | no award |
| 17 | Jacques Anquetil | Jacques Anquetil | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | no award | Raymond Poulidor |
| 18 | André Darrigade | Jacques Anquetil | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | André Darrigade | no award |
| 19 | Edward Sels | Jacques Anquetil | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Solo–Superia | Jean Graczyk |
| 20 | Julio Jiménez | Jacques Anquetil | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Jacques Anquetil | Luis Otaño |
| 21 | Jean Stablinski | Jacques Anquetil | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Joseph Novales | no award |
| 22a | Benoni Beheyt | Jacques Anquetil | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Benoni Beheyt | no award |
| 22b | Jacques Anquetil | Jacques Anquetil | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Benoni Beheyt | no award |
| Final | Final | Jacques Anquetil | Jan Janssen | Federico Bahamontes | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | Henry Anglade | Rik Van Looy |

## Final standings
### General classification

Final general classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jacques Anquetil (FRA) | Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop | 127h 09' 44" |
| 2 | Raymond Poulidor (FRA) | Mercier–BP–Hutchinson | + 55" |
| 3 | Federico Bahamontes (ESP) | Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop | + 4' 44" |
| 4 | Henry Anglade (FRA) | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | + 6' 42" |
| 5 | Georges Groussard (FRA) | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | + 10' 34" |
| 6 | André Foucher (FRA) | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | + 10' 36" |
| 7 | Julio Jiménez (ESP) | Kas–Kaskol | + 12' 13" |
| 8 | Gilbert Desmet (BEL) | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw | + 12' 17" |
| 9 | Hans Junkermann (FRG) | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw | + 14' 02" |
| 10 | Vittorio Adorni (ITA) | Salvarani | + 14' 19" |
Final general classification (11–81) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 11 | Esteban Martín (ESP) | Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop | + 25' 11" |
| 12 | Fernando Manzaneque (ESP) | Ferrys | + 32' 09" |
| 13 | Francisco Gabica (ESP) | Kas–Kaskol | + 41' 47" |
| 14 | Tom Simpson (GBR) | Peugeot–BP–Englebert | + 41' 50" |
| 15 | Rudi Altig (FRG) | Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop | + 42' 08" |
| 16 | Karl-Heinz Kunde (FRG) | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw | + 42' 16" |
| 17 | Joachin Galera (ESP) | Kas–Kaskol | + 43' 47" |
| 18 | Henri Duez (FRA) | Peugeot–BP–Englebert | + 46' 16" |
| 19 | Joseph Novales (FRA) | Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop | + 48' 49" |
| 20 | Eddy Pauwels (BEL) | Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop | + 50' 02" |
| 21 | Arnaldo Pambianco (ITA) | Salvarani | + 52' 00" |
| 22 | Louis Rostollan (FRA) | Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop | + 55' 06" |
| 23 | Sebastián Elorza (ESP) | Kas–Kaskol | + 55' 14" |
| 24 | Jan Janssen (NED) | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | + 59' 31" |
| 25 | Battista Babini (ITA) | Salvarani | + 1h 05' 24" |
| 26 | Rogelio Hernández (ESP) | Ferrys | + 1h 08' 16" |
| 27 | Claude Mattio (FRA) | Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop | + 1h 13' 45" |
| 28 | Raymond Mastrotto (FRA) | Peugeot–BP–Englebert | + 1h 16' 34" |
| 29 | Paul Vermeulen (FRA) | Mercier–BP–Hutchinson | + 1h 18' 50" |
| 30 | Willy Monty (BEL) | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | + 1h 23' 26" |
| 31 | Jean Gainche (FRA) | Mercier–BP–Hutchinson | + 1h 28' 20" |
| 32 | Victor Van Schil (BEL) | Mercier–BP–Hutchinson | + 1h 30' 13" |
| 33 | Edouard Sels (BEL) | Solo–Superia | + 1h 31' 35" |
| 34 | Guy Epaud (FRA) | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | + 1h 33' 12" |
| 35 | Jean Stablinski (FRA) | Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop | + 1h 34' 10" |
| 36 | André Zimmerman (FRA) | Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop | + 1h 37' 52" |
| 37 | Hubertus Zilverberg (NED) | Flandria–Romeo | + 1h 41' 30" |
| 38 | Albertus Geldermans (NED) | Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop | + 1h 46' 24" |
| 39 | Cees Haast (NED) | Televizier | + 1h 47' 44" |
| 40 | Gilbert De Smet (BEL) | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw | + 1h 48' 12" |
| 41 | Juan Uribezubia (ESP) | Kas–Kaskol | + 1h 49' 33" |
| 42 | Camille Vyncke (BEL) | Flandria–Romeo | + 2h 00' 17" |
| 43 | Jo de Roo (NED) | Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop | + 2h 00' 23" |
| 44 | Luis Otaño (ESP) | Ferrys | + 2h 01' 11" |
| 45 | José Segú (ESP) | Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop | + 2h 01' 34" |
| 46 | Antonio Franchi (ITA) | Salvarani | + 2h 03' 28" |
| 47 | Robert Poulot (FRA) | Mercier–BP–Hutchinson | + 2h 06' 26" |
| 48 | Bruno Fantinato (ITA) | Salvarani | + 2h 06' 35" |
| 49 | Benoni Beheyt (BEL) | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw | + 2h 08' 07" |
| 50 | Italo Mazzacurati (ITA) | Salvarani | + 2h 08' 08" |
| 51 | Edouard Delberghe (BEL) | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | + 2h 09' 40" |
| 52 | Martín Piñera (ESP) | Kas–Kaskol | + 2h 11' 03" |
| 53 | Guillaume Van Tongerloo (BEL) | Flandria–Romeo | + 2h 15' 34" |
| 54 | Hubert Ferrer (FRA) | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | + 2h 15' 59" |
| 55 | Antonio Bertrán (ESP) | Ferrys | + 2h 18' 38" |
| 56 | Michael Wright (GBR) | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw | + 2h 19' 08" |
| 57 | Bernard Vandekerkhove (BEL) | Solo–Superia | + 2h 21' 29" |
| 58 | Michel Van Aerde (BEL) | Solo–Superia | + 2h 21' 57" |
| 59 | Robert Cazala (FRA) | Mercier–BP–Hutchinson | + 2h 24' 21" |
| 60 | Jo de Haan (NED) | Televizier | + 2h 25' 47" |
| 61 | Edgard Sorgeloos (BEL) | Solo–Superia | + 2h 30' 22" |
| 62 | Mario Minieri (ITA) | Salvarani | + 2h 31' 29" |
| 63 | Pierre Everaert (FRA) | Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop | + 2h 32' 09" |
| 64 | Rik Wauters (NED) | Televizier | + 2h 34' 06" |
| 65 | Barry Hoban (GBR) | Mercier–BP–Hutchinson | + 2h 38' 48" |
| 66 | Hank Nijdam (NED) | Televizier | + 2h 41' 02" |
| 67 | André Darrigade (FRA) | Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop | + 2h 41' 09" |
| 68 | Willy Derboven (BEL) | Solo–Superia | + 2h 42' 09" |
| 69 | Camille Le Menn (FRA) | Peugeot–BP–Englebert | + 2h 47' 36" |
| 70 | Frans Brands (BEL) | Flandria–Romeo | + 2h 48' 28" |
| 71 | François Hamon (FRA) | Peugeot–BP–Englebert | + 2h 50' 23" |
| 72 | Vin Denson (GBR) | Solo–Superia | + 2h 57' 23" |
| 73 | Antonio Barrutia (ESP) | Kas–Kaskol | + 2h 57' 57" |
| 74 | Joseph Groussard (FRA) | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | + 2h 59' 28" |
| 75 | Frans Aerenhouts (BEL) | Mercier–BP–Hutchinson | + 3h 03' 06" |
| 76 | Jean Graczyk (FRA) | Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop | + 3h 04' 21" |
| 77 | Jean Milesi (FRA) | Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop | + 3h 07' 07" |
| 78 | Jean-Pierre Genet (FRA) | Mercier–BP–Hutchinson | + 3h 12' 55" |
| 79 | Jean-Baptiste Claes (BEL) | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw | + 3h 12' 57" |
| 80 | Salvador Honrubia (ESP) | Ferrys | + 3h 17' 07" |
| 81 | Anatole Novak (FRA) | Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop | + 3h 19' 02" |

### Points classification

Final points classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Jan Janssen (NED) | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | 208 |
| 2 | Ward Sels (BEL) | Solo–Superia | 199 |
| 3 | Rudi Altig (FRG) | Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop | 165 |
| 4 | Gilbert Desmet (BEL) | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw | 147 |
| 5 | Raymond Poulidor (FRA) | Mercier–BP–Hutchinson | 133 |
| 6 | Jacques Anquetil (FRA) | Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop | 111 |
| 7 | Benoni Beheyt (BEL) | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw | 103 |
| 7 | Henk Nijdam (NED) | Televizier | 103 |
| 9 | Vittorio Adorni (ITA) | Salvarani | 83 |
| 10 | André Darrigade (FRA) | Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop | 79 |

### Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Federico Bahamontes (ESP) | Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop | 173 |
| 2 | Julio Jiménez (ESP) | Kas–Kaskol | 167 |
| 3 | Raymond Poulidor (FRA) | Mercier–BP–Hutchinson | 89 |
| 4 | Hans Junkermann (FRG) | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw | 47 |
| 5 | Henri Anglade (FRA) | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | 43 |
| 6 | Jacques Anquetil (FRA) | Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop | 34 |
| 7 | André Foucher (FRA) | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | 33 |
| 8 | Karl-Heinz Kunde (FRG) | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw | 27 |
| 9 | Vittorio Adorni (ITA) | Salvarani | 26 |
| 10 | Manuel Martín Piñera (ESP) | Kas–Kaskol | 23 |

### Team classification

Final team classification :
| Rank | Team | Time |
| 1 | Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune | 381h 33' 26" |
| 2 | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw | + 30' 24" |
| 3 | Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–Dunlop | + 30' 49" |
| 4 | Margnat–Paloma–Dunlop | + 53' 09" |
| 5 | Kas–Kaskol | + 1h 07' 44" |
| 6 | Salvarani | + 1h 50' 42" |
| 7 | Mercier–BP–Hutchinson | + 2h 02' 53" |
| 8 | Ferrys | + 2h 11' 22" |
| 9 | Peugeot–BP–Englebert | + 2h 27' 35" |
| 10 | Flandria–Romeo | + 4h 32' 17" |
| 11 | Solo–Superia | + 4h 39' 05" |
| 12 | Televizier | + 5h 35' 10" |