1957 TOUR de FRANCE Media Guide Video Documentary
"Alex Virot - The Voice of the Tour de France"
with Special Guest FELIX LOWE (aka Blazin' Saddles) 

It is not often that a simple item of Sports Memorabilia spawns not one, but two documentary-style videos. The 44th edition Tour de France Media Guide [below left] did just that; thanks to the three autographs [below right] on the front cover. As well as a unique sporting perspective, this vintage journalist's reference booklet full of race and stage details also spawned a tragic human interest story. With the help of Eurosport's cycling expert Felix Lowe, we slowly uncovered a touching tale of two-wheeled tradition, triumph and tragedy. 

Alex Virot autograph signed 1957 Tour de France Media Guide Cycling memorabilia death
Alex Virot autograph signed 1957 Tour de France Media Guide Cycling memorabilia death

In the following two videos, Uniquely Sporting's Colin M Jarman and cycling author Felix Lowe look at the history & characters behind an intriguing item of vintage Tour de France memorabilia. The 1957 TDF Media Guide provides a number of interesting facets of Tour history with a tragic human twist.

PART ONE: Alex Virot "Voice of the Tour" Tribute

 “THE VOICE of the TOUR DE FRANCE”

Part One: CREDITS & THANKS

FELIX LOWE aka Blazin’ Saddles / @SaddleBlaze

Rapha Cycle Club Cafe & Shop, Soho, London

L’Equipe / Miroir Sprint / New York Times

Cohira.fr / l’Humanite.fr / VosgesMatin.fr

Noël Tulot / Émile Besson / Renée Viard 

Jean-Marie LeBlanc / Marcel Queheille / Jean Luc Moxhet

Video: 1951 TdF Footage courtesy:
ArchiveAlive.org / ArchivesEnLigne.fr

Music (via YouTube):
‘MotoCross’ by Mohr / Elena
‘Grass’ by Silent Partner