Preparing for Darkness

As the 1930s ended, the Tour had established itself as more than a race. It was a cultural institution, an economic engine, a source of national pride, and a stage for international competition. The infrastructure was robust—experienced organizers, established routes, loyal sponsors, and passionate fans. This strength would be tested by the coming war, but the foundations laid between the wars would ensure the Tour's survival and eventual resurrection.

The generation of riders who emerged between the wars had transformed the Tour from a novelty into a legend. They had raced through a recovering nation, navigated political tensions, embraced technological change, and created narratives that would inspire future generations. Their names—Bottecchia, Frantz, Maes, Bartali—became synonymous with an era when the Tour de France helped heal a wounded nation and build bridges between former enemies.

As Europe again descended into conflict, the Tour would disappear, its riders scattered to military service, resistance movements, or exile. But the legend they had built between the wars would endure, waiting to inspire a new generation when peace returned. The Tour had proven it could survive war, economic crisis, and political upheaval. It had become immortal, a testament to the human spirit's capacity to find joy and meaning in struggle. The riders of the interwar period hadn't just won races—they had built a mythology that would outlive them all.# Chapter 3: The Tour During WWII and Recovery