Sporting Spectacles

The Belle Époque discovered sport as mass entertainment. The rebuilt Vélodrome d'Hiver hosted six-day bicycle races that combined athletic endurance with carnival atmosphere. Spectators camped in the stands, betting on riders circling endlessly while bands played and vendors sold snacks. These events mixed classes—aristocrats in boxes, workers in galleries—united by shared excitement.

The Tour de France, launched in 1903 by the newspaper L'Auto to boost circulation, transformed cycling from leisure activity to national obsession. The race's route through provincial France brought urban spectacle to rural areas. Entire villages turned out to watch riders pass, connecting isolated communities to national culture.

Women's sporting participation scandalized and thrilled. The actress Polaire caused sensation by boxing in public exhibitions. The feminist newspaper La Fronde sponsored women's bicycle races. The tennis player Suzanne Lenglen began her career before the war, her shortened skirts and athletic style pointing toward the modern sportswoman.

Football (soccer) evolved from elite English import to working-class passion. Factory teams competed Sunday mornings, drawing crowds of supporters. The sport's minimal equipment requirements—just a ball and space—made it accessible to the poor. By 1900, Paris had hundreds of amateur clubs, creating community identity through sporting rivalry.