 Route of the 1951 Tour de France followed counterclockwise, starting in Metz and finishing in Paris | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Race details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dates | 4–29 July 1951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stages | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 4,690 km (2,914 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Winning time | 142h 20' 14" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1951 Tour de France was the 38th edition of the Tour de France, taking place from 4 to 29 July. It consisted of 24 stages over 4,690 km (2,914 mi). The race started outside Île-de-France for the first time since 1926; a change that remained permanent beyond 1951 with the exceptions of 1963, 1983, 1984, 1986 and 2003.
The race was won by Swiss cyclist Hugo Koblet. Koblet used his time-trial abilities to win large amounts of time. Dutch cyclist Wim van Est gained fame, not only by becoming the first Dutch cyclist to lead the Tour de France, but more by falling down a ravine in the leader's jersey.