TSP7: The 1993 France Iron Tour Test-Event
Maybe you’re a fan of the Tour de France. For the gripping 3 weeks of racing. Or like me, for the scenery and the parallel stories.
Well. There used to be a triathlon stage race modelled on cycling’s Tour de France. It was a big deal in the triathlon world.
It was unique. Some experimental race formats were used. And many top athletes attended.
The 1993 Trophee SNCF was organised as a triathlon stage race proof of concept. For sponsors, municipalities, the federation and the athletes.
The event consisted of a Sprint Distance Team Time Trial on Saturday in downtown Grenoble. And then a Middle Distance race on Sunday with the finish at the top of Alpe d’Huez.
In this episode I look at what happened on the 26th and 27th June 1993 and look ahead to what the event became, the 1994 France Iron Tour.
Images:
Triathlete (FR) Juin 1993
Triathlete (FR) Aout 1993
TED Septembre 1993
Links:
1993 France Iron Tour Test-Event
2010 France Iron Tour. Stage 2. Stage 3.
1996 France Iron Tour
1992 Triathlon International de Grenoble
Sources:
Inside Triathlon December 1994
220 (UK) August 1992
TED (FR) Mars 1993
TED (FR) Aout / Septembre 1992
TED (FR) Novembre / Decembre 1992
TED (FR) Juillet 1993
