Grand Prix du Midi Libre

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.

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)

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

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  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]