Grand Prix du Midi Libre

Grand Prix du Midi Libre
Race details
Date Before Tour de France
Region South France
English name Grand Prix du Midi Libre
Local name(s) Grand Prix du Midi Libre (French)
Nickname(s) Midi Libre
Discipline Road
Type Stage race
Organiser Midi libre
History
First edition 1949 (1949)
Editions 55
Final edition 2004
First winner  Henri Massal (FRA)
Most wins  Jean-René Bernaudeau (FRA) (4 wins)
Final winner  Christophe Moreau (FRA) (2004)

The Grand Prix du Midi Libre (referred to as just Midi Libre) was a multiple-stage cycling course in the south of France. The race, named after the newspaper that organized it, was first organized in 1949 and was an important preparation courses for the Tour de France. Because of the hills in southern France, a climber usually won but sometimes the decision was made in a flat stage.

In 2003 the course was not organized, due to financial problems. One year later it returned, named Tour du Languedoc-Roussillon, but this turned out to be a one-time comeback.

Winners

Rider Team
1949 Massal, HenriHenri Massal (FRA)
1950 Rolland, AntoninAntonin Rolland (FRA)
1951 Geminiani, RaphaelRaphaël Geminiani (FRA)
1952 Bianchi, SiroSiro Bianchi (ITA)
1953 Nardi, PierrePierre Nardi (FRA)
1954 Martinez, JesusJesus Martinez (ESP)
1955 Poblet, MiguelMiguel Poblet (ESP)
1956 Rolland, AntoninAntonin Rolland (FRA)
1957 Schmitz, JempyJempy Schmitz (LUX)
1958 Pipelin, FrancisFrancis Pipelin (FRA)
1959 Brankart, JeanJean Brankart (BEL)
1960 Huot, ValentinValentin Huot (FRA)
1961 Groussard, JosephJoseph Groussard (FRA)
1962 Stolker, MiesMies Stolker (NED)
1963 Manzaneque, FernandoFernando Manzaneque (ESP)
1964 Foucher, AndreAndré Foucher (FRA)
1965 Foucher, AndreAndré Foucher (FRA)
1966 Theilliere, Jean-ClaudeJean-Claude Theilliere (FRA)
1967 Grain, MichelMichel Grain (FRA)
1969 Ocana, LuisLuis Ocaña (ESP)
1970 Ricci, WalterWalter Ricci (ITA)
1971 Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx (BEL)
1972 Guimard, CyrilleCyrille Guimard (FRA)
1973 Poulidor, RaymondRaymond Poulidor (FRA)
1974 Danguillaume, Jean-PierreJean-Pierre Danguillaume (FRA)
1975 Moser, FrancescoFrancesco Moser (ITA)
1976 Meslet, AlainAlain Meslet (FRA)
1977 Panizza, WladimiroWladimiro Panizza (ITA)
1978 Bortolotto, ClaudioClaudio Bortolotto (ITA)
1979 Saronni, GiuseppeGiuseppe Saronni (ITA)
1980 Bernaudeau, Jean ReneJean-René Bernaudeau (FRA)
1981 Bernaudeau, Jean ReneJean-René Bernaudeau (FRA)
1982 Bernaudeau, Jean ReneJean-René Bernaudeau (FRA)
1983 Bernaudeau, Jean ReneJean-René Bernaudeau (FRA)
1984 Garde, DominiqueDominique Garde (FRA)
1985 Contini, SilvanoSilvano Contini (ITA)
1986 Criquielion, ClaudeClaude Criquielion (BEL)
1987 Esnault, PatricePatrice Esnault (FRA)
1988 Criquielion, ClaudeClaude Criquielion (BEL)
1989 Simon, JeromeJerome Simon (FRA)
1990 Rue, GerardGérard Rué (FRA)
1991 Duclos-Lassalle, GilbertGilbert Duclos-Lassalle (FRA)
1992 Leblanc, LucLuc Leblanc (FRA)
1993 Fondriest, MaurizioMaurizio Fondriest (ITA)
1994 Svorada, JanJan Svorada (SVK)
1995 Indurain, MiguelMiguel Indurain (ESP)
1996 Jalabert, LaurentLaurent Jalabert (FRA)
1997 Elli, AlbertoAlberto Elli (ITA)
1998 Dufaux, LaurentLaurent Dufaux (SUI)
1999 Salmon, BenoitBenoît Salmon (FRA)
2000 Rous, DidierDidier Rous (FRA)
2001 Mayo, IbanIban Mayo (ESP)
2002 Armstrong, LanceLance Armstrong (USA)
2003 No race
2004 Moreau, ChristopheChristophe Moreau (FRA)