Regional Rivalries Within France

The 1950s and 1960s Tour saw fierce regional rivalries within the French team. Riders carried not just personal ambitions but regional pride. Brittany's Bobet, the South's Raphaël Géminiani, the North's André Darrigade—each represented distinct French cultures, creating tensions that sometimes exploded into public conflict.

The Géminiani Rebellion

Raphaël Géminiani, born to Italian immigrants, embodied Mediterranean passion against Bobet's Breton control. Their rivalry within the French team created spectacular drama. During the 1955 Tour, Géminiani openly criticized Bobet's leadership, claiming favoritism from team management. The French team split into factions, with riders choosing sides based on regional loyalty as much as tactical consideration.

This internal conflict reflected broader French tensions between Paris and provinces, north and south, established French and immigrant communities. That these battles played out during the Tour, under international scrutiny, made them particularly compelling. Foreign teams learned to exploit French divisions, encouraging attacks when regional rivals refused to cooperate.