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The 1966 Tour de France was the 53rd Tour de France, taking place June 21 to July 14, 1966. It consisted of 22 stages over 4303 km, ridden at an average speed of 36.760 km/h.
Lucien Aimar was a domestique of 5-time Tour winner Jacques Anquetil. Aimar joined a breakaway in the middle of the tour and ended up on the leader board. Anquetil then began helping Aimar win the Tour, to make sure and deny it to his then-enemy Poulidor. After stage 18 Aimar's victory was certain barring disaster, Anquetil had ridden hard that day to ensure it, and then quit the race.
During the Tour word spread that there was going to be a dope test, and all the riders but Raymond Poulidor, the darling of French cycling fans, left their hotels. The other riders staged a strike in protest during stage 9 dismounting and walking their bicycles. Eventually they started riding again, but only after arguing with officials.
[edit] Results
[edit] Overall standings
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