Cycling . . . boundless and worldwide in Europe (part 1)

You’d rather not have a flat tire as a participant in a cycling race. Regardless of which race or where in the world. You start a themed collection about bicycles and later realize that many cycling events were and are organized… indeed, boundless and worldwide. Will you cycle along with me? Today we’ll start by covering Europe up to and including 1962! Tomorrow we’ll continue cycling from 1963 to the present. And in the near future, the other continents and an intercontinental sporting event (Olympic Games) will follow. I have previously talked about the Tour de France and the Tour of Italy written. So we have already “had” these two major cycling events, and since I have several cycling stamps whose year and reason for issue I have not (yet) been able to ascertain, we start Europe in 1931 with the …

Tour of Bulgaria

World Sprint Champion

Albert Richter (1912–1940) was a German cyclist. He became amateur world sprint champion in 1932 and stood on the podium at the professional world sprint championship every year from 1933 to 1939. Shortly after the turn of the year 1940, he was presumably murdered by the Gestapo.

The Balkan Games

The Balkan Games were initiated in Athens in 1929 and have increasingly become an essential part of political, cultural, and social life. The common global reality is that when an athletic event takes place, friendship is formed. This consideration was seen as an instrument of political optimism and provides clear evidence of the positive influence of sport in politics.

Tour of Poland

The Tour of Poland is a multi-day cycling race. In 2005, the Tour of Poland was added to the UCI Pro Tour. The tour did not yet have the status of a major race, but as part of the internationalization of cycling, it was added to this prestigious competition. Many fans would have preferred to see the International Peace Race, an Eastern European stage race with a much richer history, included in the Pro Tour instead of the Tour of Poland.

International Peace Race

Registered mail item from the 1954 exchange rate

The Peace Race was a cycling race held annually in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany. The race was first organized in 1948 and, during the Cold War, was the Eastern Bloc counterpart to the Tour de France. The race, which traditionally visited the three capitals of Prague, Warsaw, and (East) Berlin, was the most important race for amateurs, to whom it was exclusively open. The race was usually, though not always, won by Eastern Bloc riders. The Dutchman Piet Damen and the Belgian Marcel Maes are the only winners from the Low Countries. In recent years, the race was also open to professionals. In 2005, the race was added to the calendar of the UCI Europe Tour, the European continental circuit; however, this edition was cancelled. The 2006 edition is the only one that was part of this competition. Since then, a Peace Race has never been held again. Wouldn't it be time?

Beautiful piece of mail from the 1957 exchange rate

The postal services of the respective countries: Poland, East Germany, and Czechoslovakia, have from time to time given due attention to this peace course. Cycling is a “borderless” event. The borders open for the Peace Race. The “Wall” has also been gone for decades. The “Dove” has always shown itself during the “International Peace Race WBP In recent years, the race was also open to professionals. In 2005, the race was added to the UCI Europe Tour calendar. Due to disagreements between the Czech Tour director and German co-organizers, this Peace Race was cancelled. The final edition of the Peace Race in 2006 is the only one that was part of the UCI competition. Also take a look at: http://friedensfahrt-museum.de/

1949. 1st Tour of Germany

The winners were: 1. Max Bartoskiewicz 2. Karl-Heinz Heij 3. Horst Gaede. The Tour of Germany was held up to and including 1989.

1950 Bulgaria from the Sports series

I have not been able to find out which cycling event is involved. I think that the sport in general, and cycling as part of it, was the objective behind the release of the series.

1950. STT-VUJA (Military Administration of the Yugoslav Army)

1951 Tour of Romania

Nice "head-standing" pair.

1953. Opening of the Hungarian Cycling Stadium

1957. 4th Tour of Bulgaria

1958. Tour of Liechtenstein

1960. 10th Tour of Bulgaria

1960. Tour of Spain

The Tour of Spain is a cycling race that has been held almost annually since 1935. Like the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia, the Tour of Spain is a major race in cycling. While the Tour de France is held in early summer, the Tour of Spain is held later in the summer. In the past, the Vuelta was held in April-May. The relocation of the Vuelta has increased the prestige of the race. The race has become much more international in character, for example, because riders who have disappointed in the Tour de France want to make up for their season in Spain. The Tour of Spain is also ridden as preparation for the World Championship. A victory in the Vuelta is now generally considered just as important as a victory in the Giro. The race has been won seven times by a Belgian and twice by a Dutchman. The most notable victory by a Belgian dates from 1977: Freddy Maertens led the general classification from the first day and won 13 of the 19 stages. Tomorrow follows part 2 of Cycling… boundless and worldwide in Europe.