The Politics of Sport

As Europe descended toward another war, the Tour became increasingly politicized. The 1936 race occurred as Hitler's Olympics promoted Aryan supremacy. The Tour, with its international peloton, offered a different vision—one where merit, not race or ideology, determined success. When Sylvère Maes of Belgium won, defeating the German team, the symbolism resonated across Europe.

National Pride and Propaganda

Mussolini's Italy invested heavily in cycling success, seeing Tour victories as fascist propaganda. The French communist party claimed working-class riders as symbols of proletarian strength. Even democracies weren't immune—French politicians appeared at stage starts, associating themselves with national heroes.

This politicization created uncomfortable situations. Riders became unwitting ambassadors for regimes they might not support. The Spanish team's participation during their civil war forced riders to navigate between Republican and Nationalist sympathies. Some riders used their platforms for subtle resistance, others remained studiously apolitical, focusing on sport while their nations descended into darkness.