Categories: Anatomy of a Photo

Anatomy of a Photo: Rule #47

Leducq and Frantz writing a Rule  photo: via Il Dolore

André Leducq was a complete French Badass, with a capital B. He was third, below Merckx and Hinault for Tour de France stage wins. Nicolas Frantz was an equally Badass Luxembourger. He rode to more victories than Frandy Schleck shall ever attain in a few lifetimes. He did win the Tour de France.

The crowd is obviously pleased to have these thin, healthy supermen in their village. Bicycles are properly leaned against a wall. Their caps look a little dusty. Studying the glasses a person might guess they are enjoying some of Belgium’s finest beverage. Maybe, in the late 1920s the French brewed excellent beer. Are they drinking before a race or after a race? Can one look this good after a race back in the 1920s? Let’s assume this is post-race. Someone won, someone didn’t. Two rivals can still have a laugh and a glass of quality malted recovery beverage to make the day complete. These brothers of the road are enjoying some beautiful ale and having a nice time doing it.

As we have pointed out many times, we didn’t invent these Rules, we just wrote some of them down.

Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

View Comments

  • @wiscot

    No fucking "podium caps" for those guys. No siree bob. As for the content of their glasses? It's the blood of their opponents whom they have just slaughtered.

    Yeah, American baseball caps look really good on guys who are winning European cycling races.

    Sorry for that export, everyone.

  • I never wore them that often but now that I masquerade as a Follower baseball caps just feel big & bulky. Combined with that fact that I've never far removed from riding a bike, they're just waiting to blow off or not fit under a helmet.

    TBone - It looks really faded, better pass it along to me. I LOVE scoring deals on stuff, makes me smile every time I wear/ride/use it. Assos on sale, nice! I swear their bib prices have shot up in the last couple of years, since I bought a few at once.

  • Today's Trivia: What cyclist is Belgium's most recent Grand Tour winner, as well as what year and what race?

    (I've never heard of him but was just reading an article and jeez, seems like a long time for such a nation, despite their focus on the Classics.)

  • @Dr C

    If I not mistaken, that is Grimbergen Triple they are imbibing

    Pretty sure that beverage is a bit too dark to be a Trippel

  • @Ron

    Today's Trivia: What cyclist is Belgium's most recent Grand Tour winner, as well as what year and what race?

    (I've never heard of him but was just reading an article and jeez, seems like a long time for such a nation, despite their focus on the Classics.)

    Lucien Van Impe, TdF 1976 - although Wiggins was born in Belgium wasn't he?

  • @JoeB

    Why do none of us ride with such spectacularly perfect goggles these days? Are we being to deliberate about looking magnificently casual now?

    Might be time to bring out the spoggles...

  • @Ron

    Nice one, Gianni! How about the buttons up the shoulder? Looking at the photo made me think, "Damn, those guys are skinny."

    TBone - Nice photo! You look a bit Merckxian there. And, what gilet is that? Love the zebra stripes at the collar.

    yea, the wool jersey that buttons up the shoulder, very nice indeed. I like that look. Dentist/cyclist. Too weird to do in modern materials, or not. Maybe a Velominati retro jersey with those buttons or snaps. Chicks would dig us then.

  • @the Engine

    @Ron

    Today's Trivia: What cyclist is Belgium's most recent Grand Tour winner, as well as what year and what race?

    (I've never heard of him but was just reading an article and jeez, seems like a long time for such a nation, despite their focus on the Classics.)

    Lucien Van Impe, TdF 1976 - although Wiggins was born in Belgium wasn't he?

    Johan De Muynck, 1978 Giro.

  • Marvellous. There's a picture of me somewhere supping a brew at the top of the Gavia. BEST. BEER. EVER.

    Whilst I can admire some of the spectacularly hopped efforts available over here, fizzy 7.5% wallop has been scrambling my swedes rather than gently massaging me into post ride intoxication. Note to California breweries...high performance athletes require, high volume, low(er) rocket fuel, refreshing beverages, preferably of minimal effervesence. Cask conditioning boyos. Believe.

    Mind you, a half litre or so of Russian imperial stout could be just the ticket to see you through a queen stage or two.

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