Roger Pingeon (1967)

To say that as a rider Roger Pingeon was an enigma would tend toward tasteful understatement. The man was immensely talented, physically gifted, economically elegant while in the saddle, and yet he seemed decidedly disinclined to challenge the limits of his apparent capabilities. Unhappy riding for the Peugeot-BP-Michelin team as a glorified domestique for Tom Simpson, Pingeon retired from racing in 1966, only to be coaxed back by the beginning of the 1967 season, but reconsidered and retired once again in early Spring. However, the fickle finger of fate often moves in mysterious ways and somehow Roger Pingeon was again persuaded to rejoin the ranks of the professional cyclist, and by the Summer of 1967 found himself not only well rested but riding in superb form. With participants in the 1967 Tour de France competing as national teams as opposed to trade teams or commercial sponsors (...a circumstance that found Pingeon paired with fellow Frenchmen Lucien Aimar who was the defending Tour champion, and perennial threat Raymond Poulidor, but definitely NOT with Englishman and Peugeot-BP-Michelin teammate Tom Simpson) all it took was a little extra encouragement in the form of positive reinforcement from director sportif Marcel Bidot to provide the edge needed to propel Pingeon to his first Maillot Jaune following stage 5a (Roubaix - Jambes) and thereafter onto his first major professional victory, as he ultimately crossed the finish line ahead of all other Tour riders that year.