The Death of the Father

Henri Desgrange died on August 16, 1940, in his villa on the Côte d'Azur. The man who had created the Tour, nurtured it through four decades, and transformed it from publicity stunt to national institution, passed away as his country endured its darkest hour. His funeral, attended by a small group of cycling dignitaries, marked the end of an era.

Jacques Goddet's Inheritance

Jacques Goddet, Desgrange's chosen successor, faced an impossible situation. The Germans and their Vichy collaborators pressured him to revive the Tour as a symbol of "normalization." They argued it would boost morale and demonstrate that life continued under occupation. Goddet, understanding that the Tour transcended sport, refused. His decision—supported by key figures in French cycling—kept the Tour's honor intact.

Instead, Goddet organized smaller regional races that provided income for riders without serving propaganda purposes. The Circuit de France, pale shadow of the Tour, ran briefly in 1942 before even this compromise became untenable. The message was clear: there could be no genuine Tour de France while France itself remained captive.