Defending Tour de France champion from 1967, Roger Pingeon seen here riding in the 1968 edition of the Tour ahead of fellow Frenchman Lucien Aimar (...the TdF winner from 1966 who would finish seventh this year), Rolf Wolfshohl (...who at one point wore the Maillot Jaune but who would ultimately place sixth), Franco Bitossi (...who would come in eighth overall while also taking the Maillot Vert and first place in the points classification), and Jan Janssen (...who would overtake Herman Van Springel during the final day of time trialing to prevail in the 1968 Tour’s general classification by a slim 38 seconds). Exhibiting a strong showing in stage 15 from Font-Romeau to Albi, Pingeon attacked without warning on none other than Bastille Day and opened up a 13 minute advantage over the peloton before finally being caught at the end and only crossing the finish line first in a field sprint. But following his subsequent win in the 235 km 18th stage from St. Etienne to Grenoble, Pingeon was apparently too exhausted to continue at the same pace, and eventually finished the race in fifth place, some 3 minutes and 29 seconds behind the winner Janssen who had never once worn the Maillot Jaune during the course of the race.
