Media Evolution and Mythmaking

Radio broadcasting transformed Tour coverage in the 1920s and 1930s. No longer dependent on next-day newspaper reports, fans could follow the race in real-time. Radio reporters, perched on motorcycles or in following cars, brought listeners into the peloton. Their breathless descriptions of attacks and suffering created an auditory theater that captured millions.

Creating Heroes

This immediate coverage demanded heroes and villains, narratives that could sustain attention across three weeks. Journalists crafted personas: René Vietto, who sacrificed his wheel for his leader, became "The King René," symbol of loyal sacrifice. Gino Bartali of Italy was cast as the devout Catholic warrior, while his compatriot Fausto Coppi would later represent modernity and style.

These media-created narratives sometimes overwhelmed reality. Riders found themselves trapped in roles, expected to perform according to script. Yet this mythmaking served important purposes: it made the Tour accessible to non-cyclists, created emotional investment in outcomes, and transformed a bicycle race into a cultural phenomenon.