or seven years our July number has featured a lengthy preview of the Tour de France, often with a detailed study of the “stage” and the stars of the world’s greatest road race,’ runs the first line of the editor’s introduction to the July 1963 edition of . ‘It may at first seem odd that we have chosen the 50th Tour to depart from this custom. Don’t blame me for that – it is all Tom Simpson’s fault. I had planned six pages or so for the Bordeaux-Paris race but following Tom’s sensational win four extra pages had to be found, and it was the Tour which suffered. I am sure readers will understand.’
