Race of Peace

The Course of Peace is a test cyclist with stages, created in 1948. Organized by the daily newspapers of the Communist parties Polish Czechoslovakian Tribuna Ludu and Hard Právo , the race disputes until 1951 between Warsaw and Prague (and vice versa). In 1952, the newspaper Neues Deutschland , body of the Socialist party unified of Germany (the SED) joint with the organization. From now on, the Race of Peace alternates its departures and its arrivals between the three capitals, Berlin, Prague and Warsaw. The upheavals which have occurred in 1989-1991 in the East of Europe involved a deep change of the test, become a race often forgotten in the annual prize lists of cycling.

The emblematic race of the " country of Est". 1948-1991

Officially recognized by the international Union cyclist (UCI) in 1954, this competition wants to be hyphen between people marked by the traumatisms of the second world war. Organized in 1948 pennies the form of two distinct races, Warsaw-Prague, Prague-Warsaw, it is held under the precarious conditions of the rebuilding of the two organizing countries, Czechoslovakia and Poland. Since 1950, it is used as tool of propaganda for peace: it takes for symbol the dove that the artist Picasso created for the Movement of the Partisans of Peace. This bird decorates the shirt of the leader of general classification. Initially fixed around May First, festival of the workers, the date of the departure was pushed back in 1963. The dates during which the test disputes coincide then with the ceremonies which mark the birthday of May 8th, 1945 (victory of combined over the Nazism). The admission of GDR among the organizers devotes this posted will of reconciliation between at one time enemy countries and people.

However the political events which proceed in the countries under Soviet influence interfere on several occasions on the competition. In 1969, first year of the Standardization in Czechoslovakia after the Soviet invasion of August 68, the race avoids Prague, because of opposition of the Czech cyclist federation, which does not admit to organize a race " under the botte" of the Russian occupant. The " State d'urgence" issued into Poland after 1981 more still the atmosphere of the Race changes. At the same time the influence of the Soviet cycling, taken along by champions of great value, such Sergei Soukoroutchenkov, crushes the race.

The competitions between the teams of the Eastern European countries with that of the Soviet Union often take the form of revenge, by runners interposed, on the political domination of the USSR. Thus are lived the exploits of the Polish cyclists in the years 1970, in particular the four victories of Ryszard Szurkowski (1970, 1971,1973,1975) or the victory of Czech Vlastimil Moravec in 1972. This one finally carries it in Warsaw with 2 seconds in advance on Soviet Nejlubin. It is the weakest variation ever recorded between the two first, but it is a whole people which triumph. In the same way the two victories of German of the east Gustav-Adolf Schur, in 1955 and 1959, take value for the GDR of dedication of its existence as a State. The victory with the General classification by teams takes, for the federations concerned, an equivalent value, if not more, that the individual final classification. In this respect, the Soviet domination is clear:

  • 1. : 20 successes in the space of 45 editions.
  • 2. : 10 victories
  • 3. Poland: 8 successes
  • 4. : 5 successes.
  • 5. France (FSGT) and the United Kingdom: 1 success.

The political weight of the " large frère" Soviet reaches the organization of the race itself to the beginning of the year 1980. Following the example Tour de France, the organizers make travel by the plane with the runners for departures of the Race out of its natural borders. Thus, by twice the Race of Peace, in the name of the Friendship between the people , delocalizes its first two stages in the USSR. In 1985, it is of Moscow that it takes its take-off. The following year the departure is given to Kiev. The experiment stops there. Is it necessary to see there the sign noticed by the press, Humanity included/understood, of the disinterest of the Russian or Ukrainian public? Or rather is this the fact that Soviet cycling could not individually be essential at the end of these two gained editions one by Polish Lech Piasecki and the other by the East Germany Olaf Ludwig? In 1987, the race takes again its traditional course between the three capitals. The year 1988 undoubtedly records an internal fracture incipient in Czechoslovakia: the departure is given to Bratislava, capital of the Slovak part of the country.

In 1989 is held the last edition of the race, under the political regimes inherited the cold war. In 47 hours 30 minutes and 43 seconds German Uwe Ampler gains there the third consecutive, significant success of the apogee reached in the sporting field by GDR. Besides this country gains also in this pivotal year the classification by teams of the Race of Peace. The second of the test is also originating in GDR. As for number 3 on the final podium, it is Polish, Zenon Jaskula. Then unknown, Jaskula gains a few years later a stage of the Tour de France, the first ever gained by a compatriot of Jean-Paul II.

The Race of Peace, after the fall of the Wall

Since 1990, the Race of Peace disputes within the framework of countries left the Soviet bosom. Decreased in its mileage, the edition 1991 is the last to connect Prague to Warsaw. It is also the year of the last victory of a native of the USSR. The test then lost of its audience as an international competition. Moreover, the Race of Peace was hitherto one of the rare windows which allowed the runners " amateurs" is European to illustrate itself beyond their borders. Democratization in Poland, Czechoslovakia and reunified Germany removed with the race any aspect propagandist. Its special character in the calendar cyclist disappears at the same time as the champions of the east are allowed in the professional teams. Many those which began on the roads between Warsaw, Prague and Berlin, make a career honourable in cycling in the process of universalization after 1990. The Race of Peace remains disputed by teams in national selections until 1995. At the time of this 48e edition, French Damien Nazon carries it with 4 recoveries with final of stages.

The fall of the Berlin Wall however did not put an end to the domination on the race of the runners resulting from the old part is of Germany. The symbol of this continuity is the victory into 1998 of Uwe Ampler, ultimate victorious under the shirt of GDR, and wire of the prize winner of 1963, Klauss Ampler. The two other German winners come also from the schools of the cycling of GDR. Jens Voigt, future yellow jersey of the Tour de France comes from a club of East Berlin. Steffen Wesemann allocates 5 final bouquets, becoming the recordman with the number of the victories, in a context quite different from that of its precursors. Downgraded with the row of secondary international races, the Race of the Peace, which keeps its vocation to cross the borders is sought since 2000 of the new courses. It leaves the old territories of the East, taking its take-off of Hanover in 2000, then of Brussels in 2004. In 2005, the Race is not disputed. It begins again in 2006, by trying a new international departure in Austria. In the storm of the doping which in general shakes the sport and cycling particularly, the Race of Peace is not saved. In 2002, the final winner in Warsaw, term of the race, Polish Piotr Przydzial is a little later displaced for doping. Its second, Czech Ondrej Sosenka, " on carpet vert" , is declared victorious. It does not strip the prize list of the test: a few months later Sosenka beat the world records of the hour…

Assessment of the individual victories by nations

The assessment of the individual victories between 1948 and 1991 , last year of existence of the USSR, become CEI, contrast with that drawn up previously for the teams.

  • 1. : 12 victories, including 3 of Uwe Ampler (which gains the fourth success in 1998), 2 of Gustav Adolf Schur, 2 of Olaf Ludwig
  • 2. : 10 victories, of which only one doubled, that of Sergei Soukoroutchenkov
  • 3. Poland: 7 victories, including 4 of only the Ryszard Szurkowski
  • 4. : 4 victories
  • 4. Denmark: 4 victories also
  • 6. France: 2 victories
  • 6. : 2 victories (grouped on the bicephalous edition of 1948)
  • other countries, with a victory: The United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Netherlands, Belgium.

Since 1992 , of 14 editions of the Race, reunified Germany carries it with 7 recoveries.

  • 1 . Germany: 7 victories (including 5 of Steffen Wesemann)
  • 2 . : 3 victories
  • 3 . Italy: 2 victories
  • 4 . Poland and Denmark: 1 victory each one

France, its journalists, its runners, and the Race of Peace

Organized in the political orbit of the Communist parties of Eastern Europe, the Race of Peace rejoins at its beginnings only runners belonging to the sporting and gymnic Fédération of work (FSGT). This omnisport federation is in the mobility of the CGT and the PCF. During the Occupation, its general secretary Auguste Delaune was shot by German. In 1949, the team of France FSGT gains the classification by teams, and four of its members occupy the first places of general classification, behind the Czech winner Jan Vesely. The following year is made up a team of " Pole of France". One of them, Klabinski gains two stages and finishes second in Prague at the end of the test. It is within this team of the Polish of France that the future world champion and quintuple champion of France, Jean Stablinski lllustre in 1952, gaining two stages and finishing third of final general classification.

The official recognition of the Race of Peace by the UCI causes the obliteration of the sportsmen of the FSGT. In 1954 two French teams appear among the competitors, come from 24 countries. For the team of FC (French federation of cycling), Fernand Picot finishes fourth with the final classification, after having gained a stage, while the Poles of France garner 3 victories of stages. These promising French beginnings however are not followed other exploits the following years. It seems that, for other reasons that sporting, the Race of Peace is forsaken by the FC which sends only teams of " to it; seconds couteaux".

With the beginnings of the year 1950, the only French newspaper which sends one to defer to follow the race is Humanity. The specialist is Emile Besson, which tries to develop the weak performances of French and denounces the ostracism of the Federation. Up to 1989, the communist daily newspaper and the Sunday magazine Humanity-Sunday devote each May some columns of their sports columns to report the exploits of the " Turn of the amateurs" , or of " the most beautiful test of the monde". As from 1961, in alternation with Jean-Guy Modin, Emile Besson popularizes also this race in the columns of the Miroir of cycling. In 1955, the agency France-Press delegates on the race one of its journalists, Robert Descamps. He also collaborates then in Miroir of cycling: it documents monthly magazine of its files in the heading " encyclopédique". The sporting daily newspaper the Team, makes follow a time the Race of Peace by Albert Baker d' Isy, but is really interested in this test only during the time of the years 1960, during which illustrate themselves on the roads of the " Paix" some French runners. The other years, it delivers this race only the results of the stages and classification.

When as from 1961 is organized by the Team the Tour of the Future, the reference to the Race of Peace is frequent in the sporting press. The name even of this Tour de France of the amateurs, referring to " Avenir" , is same connotation as the dedicated test with " Paix" : the geographical borders are evacuated, formally at least, for timeless values. The organizers besides do not have of cease to make take part in the hexagonal test the runners of the East. Poland is the first to answer since 1961 the invitation. In 1963, the goal is close being reached: a Soviet team of foreground, where appear the winner of the edition 1961 of the Race of Peace Yuri Melichov and the Olympic champion Viktor Kapitonov, is at the beginning. The Soviet cyclists are undoubtedly désarçonnés by the mountainous profile of the test: Melichov gains 3 stages with the sprint, but the best with general classification points in the 17th place. Kapitanov finishes 19th. The experiment esr renewed in 1966. Only one stage is gained by Soviet (Vladimir Urbanowitch) but Alexandre Dochljakov is classified among the 10 first: it is 9th with the final one. For a third disappointing attempt in 1968, balanced by a victory of stage, it is necessary to wait 10 years, so that the cyclist federation of the USSR joins again with the roads of " Avenir" , by sending in France its team first, under the crook of Viktor Kapitonov, become sport director. The victory of Sergei Soukoroutchenkov concludes this participation. It is another history.

1952-1965, of Jean Stablinski with Jean-Pierre Broom, rare French exploits

With the threshold of the year 1966, the assessment of the French participations is thin: a victory of stage in 1949 (Riegert, for team FSGT), seven victories of stages for the Poles of France (2 in 1950 of Klabinski, 2 in 1952 with Jean Stablinski and Kuznicki, 1 in 1953 of Pawlisiak, 2 still in 1954 of Klabinski), six victories of stages for the teams of the FC.
  • 1954: Fernand Barb (11th stage: Pardubice-Brno)
  • 1956: Pierre Gouget (5th stage: Dresden-Karl Marx-Stadt)
  • 1958: Raymond Mastrotto (7th stage: Berlin-Leipzig)
  • 1962: Christian Pailler (6th stage: Karlovy Vary-Prague)
  • 1963: Jean-Pierre Broom (4th stage: Bratislava-Braska Bistrica
  • 1965: Andre Desvages (7th stage: Pardubice-Otrokovice)
With general classification the French performances were rare. For each edition, the list of the first of between-them often makes emerge from future runners of the Tour de France:
  • 1952: Jean Stablinski, 3rd (team of the Poles of France)
  • 1953: Pawlisiak, 5th (team of the Poles of France)
  • 1954: Fernand Barb, 4th
  • 1955: Pierre Gouget, 23e
  • 1956: Camille Menn, 14th
  • 1957: Joseph Boudon, 7th
  • 1958: Raymond Mastrotto, 14th, solid Pyrenean who is later on several times classified among the best of the Tour de France.
  • 1960: Henri Duez, 25e
  • 1962: Henri Paperboard, 21e
  • 1963: Jean-Pierre Genet carries the shirt of leader during 2 stages, before being constrained with the abandonment. It will be later on one of the team-members of Raymond Poulidor and will carry the yellow jersey of the Tour de France.
  • 1964: Yves Gougault, 32e
  • 1965: Gerard Swertvaeger, 22e

The years records: Bernard Guyot, Jean-Pierre Danguillaume, Marcel Duchemin

When it is selected in 1966 for the Race of Peace by Robert Oubron, the chief technical officer of the team of France, Bernard Guyot makes possible figure of winner. He gained multiple successes in the races " amateurs" in France and its participation in the Race of the 3 capitals is regarded as the footboards towards a professional path. He is old only 20 years however and can appear " a little; tendre" vis-a-vis the amateurs of State of the Eastern European countries. He is leader of a team of France including/understanding André Desvages, Raymond Riotte, Rene Grenier, the forest. As of the third day of race, Bernard Guyot, victorious the stage against-the-watch, seizes the first place of general classification. He remains there until the term of the test, in Berlin. He precedes Russian Dochljakov of 1 ' 39 , and German of the East Peschel of 3 ' 45 . Its fellow-member André Desvages carries the eighth stage and France finishes fourth of the Classification by team. The sporting press is laudatory, and compares already Bernard Guyot with Jacques Anquetil. In fact the career of the native of Savigny-sur-Orge, will not be with the height of this beginning.

In 1967, only Henri Heintz saves the team of France, marked by three abandonments. Among those Ci, one raises that of the runner Marcel Duchemin, of which it is the first participation in the Race of Peace. It nevertheless had gained the 9th stage, against-the-watch (Leipzig-Market). Heintz which also gains the fifth stage (against-the-watch) and carries the shirt of leader during 1 stage, finishes 7th final classification.

At the time of the edition 1968, again French appears among the 10 first on arrival of the race: Serge Pacary points in the 7th place, whereas Marcel Duchemin finishes 42e.

The team of France which aligns itself in 1969 at the beginning of Warsaw does not come to play the utilities. She includes/understands the former world champion of the " amateurs" 1965, Jacques Botherel, and other elements of value, such Charles Rouxel, who finishes 7th, Daniel Ducreux, 28e, Michel Roques, 24e after having gained to it tenth stage with Eisenhüttenstadt. Especially the leader of tricolor, Jean-Pierre Danguillaume, manages to contain the attacks of a Polish competitor destined for a brilliant future, Ryszard Szurkovski. Danguillaume gains the eleventh stage (Güben-Cottbus), seizes the first place and triumph finally in Berlin. Its second, Szurkovski, are at 42 seconds. The third, German of GDR Dieter Gonschorek, is with less than 2 '. France is classified fourth with the Classification by teams. Two victories in four years: French became serious rivals for the runners of the East.

However the year 1970 is that of a disillusion for the leader of tricolor the Marcel Duchemin. Winner of two stages, 7th (Plock-Wlokamer) and 13th between Market and Leipzig, both against-the-watch, it is preceded with the final classification only by Ryszard Szurkovski. The difference between the two runners is of 1 minute 32 seconds. But it results from the play of the allowances, assimilated well by the Polish champion, since it had boxed more than 5 minutes where French had gained only 2 minutes…

Victories of stages of French of 1966 to 1970:

  • 1966: Bernard Guyot (3rd stage: Tonvald - Harrachov, c.l.m.), Andre Desvages (8th stage, circuit around Warsaw)

  • 1967: Henri Heintz (5th stage: Slavno-Koszalin), Marcel Duchemin (8th stage: Leipzig-market, c.l.m.)
  • 1969: Daniel Ducreux (7th stage: Wroclaw-Poznan), Michel Castlings (10th stage: Swiebodzin-Eisenhüttenstadt), J-P. Danguillaume (11th stage: Guben-Cottbus, c.l.m.)
  • 1970: Marcel Duchemin (7th and 13th stages, c.l.m.)

French, of the years 1970 to 2006

After these glorious years, the teams of France will hardly any more know of success. In 1975, France is even absent from competition, for extra-sporting reasons. In the table of hunting since 1971, ten victories of stages:

Despite everything certain French runners good performances with final general classification realize. An unknown made of useful classes before a crashing to pieces career, Laurent Fignon.

Prize list of the Race of Peace

Other classifications

Like all the great races disputed by stages, other classifications that the " général" the animation of the test and the development of other runners allow. These additional classifications exist only since 1956, year of creation of the price of best climbing, and 1962, when a points score is instituted, or price of combativeness. Distinctive shirts are allotted to the leader of these prices. He will be made here to state only winners recidivists of these classifications.

the Price of best climbing the

  • 3 victories: Sergei Soukoroutchenkov : 1979,1981,1984, Uwe Ampler: 1987,1988,1989, Jaroslav Bilek: 1993,1994,1996.
  • 2 victories: Viktor Kapitonov : 1957,1958, Ryszard Szurkowski Poland: 1972,1973, Arkadiusz Wojtas Poland: 2000,2003.
  • Aurelio Cestari Italy east in 1956 the 1e prize winner.
  • Bernard Guyot France, in 1966, Marcel Maes Belgium in 1967, victorious of the test, gains also the classification of the mountain. Aavo Pikkuus, in 1977, Ondrej Sosenka, in 2002, makes in the same way.
  • to also note success Pavel Tonkov in 1990. It is a future winner of the Giro (Tour of Italy).

Points score (combativeness)

  • 8 victories: Olaf Ludwig
  • 3 victories: Ryszard Szurkowski Poland
  • Alexis Petrov inaugurates this classification in 1962. It is followed in 1963 per Marcel Haesseldonckx Belgium, and in 1964 by Joseph Spruyt Belgium. This one will be later an effective team-member of Eddy Merckx on the Tour de France.
  • Gainan Saidchuschin, prize winner at the points in 1965, is one of rare the " cumulards" of the 3 classifications: better climbing in 1960, he triumphs with general classification in 1962. Szurkowski, Pikkuus (victorious at the points in 1978) and Ludwig (1e climbing in 1982) accompany it in this performance.
  • to note the victory of Erik Zabel Germany in 1992. Originating in GDR, it will be illustrated then in the same kind of success to the Tour de France and will gain several traditional cyclists.

To finish, statistics can be made bearing on the best realizers as for the victories of stages , during the 58 editions of the Race of peace:

  • 38 victories: Olaf Ludwig
  • 18 victories: Steffen Wesemann Germany
  • 16 victories: Jan Vesely
  • 13 victories: Ryszard Szurkowski Poland
  • 12 victories: Stanislas Szozda Poland, Vlasta Ruszika
  • 11 victories: Alexis Petrov
  • 10 victories: Valeri Likatchev, Danilo Hondo Germany
  • 9 victories: Gustav-Adolf Schur, Uwe Ampler
  • 8 victories: Yuri Melichov
  • 7 victories: Uwe Raab
  • 6 victories: Zenon Czechowski Poland, Jan Smolik, Charkit Zagretdinov, and Djamolidine Abdoujaparov
  • 5 victories: Egon Adler, Klaus Ampler, Bert Dietz Germany, Pavel Padrnos, Rikho Suun, Anatoli Tcherepovitch.

The Race of Peace in philately

The test cyclist headlight of the Eastern European countries, until 1989, gave place to a philatelic accompaniment which is worth to be noticed. It is comparable, by the seals on date special and obliterations with that of the Tour de France and the Tour of Italy. But from the point of view of the emission of stamps, philately having milked with the Race of Peace has a more abundant production, over the period going until the end of the modes " socialistes". Indeed, only international race with being organized by several countries, each of the three States emitted its own stamps posts, in particular during the first 10 years of the competition.

As of 1948 , the Poland emits a stamp posts, with graphics symbolic system: a wheel of bicycle to which are attached, floating under the breath of a common wind, the flags of the two organizing countries, Czechoslovakia and Poland. Polish repeats in 1952 to celebrate the enlarging of the geographical surface of the race in East Germany. Placed under the sign of the dove of Peace, and under a stringcourse enumerating the three newspapers which chapeautent the competition, Trybuna Ludu, Neues Deutschland, Rude Pravo, two runners compete, whereas in the foreground are represented the blazons of the three capitals which the race connects, Warsaw, Berlin and Prague. All is there… On their side, the postal administrations of GDR and Czechoslovakia emit a stamp to mark the same event. Until 1957, each year, Poland and German Democratic republic continue the emission of several philatelic labels to the glory of the runners of the " Paix". The post office of Prague is more scanty in this field: two stamps only, in 1953 and 1956. But it produces prétimbrées postcards, postal entireties: a series of 8 charts, for example is printed in 1956, illustrates by photographs the ninth Race of Peace.

The year 1957 mark a turning. The tenth birthday of the Race of Peace is commemorated, in addition to those of the three crossed countries, by two other postal administrations. That of Romania emits two stamps: on one of them on bottom azure a white dove perched on a handlebar is detached from bicycle. That of the USSR draws a more traditional stamp, putting in scene runners in full effort. But the following years, only the quinquennial birthdays multi are accompanied by philatelic emissions in stamps posts or postal entireties. On the other hand perdurent special obliterations which make it possible the collectors to follow each year the race of stages in stages. Like the seals first days, they are affixed on richly illustrated envelopes, where the graphics of the Polish production is often remarkable.

Liste of the emissions of stamps posts bearing on the Race of Peace.

  • Poland - 1948 : 1. 1952 : 1. 1953 : 3. 1954 : 2. 1955 : 2. 1956 : 2. 1957 : 2. 1962 : 3. 1967 : 1. 1972 : 1. 1977 : 1. Postal entireties (in the form of prétimbrées postcards), (incomplete list): 1959 : 1. 1971 : 1. 1997 : 1.
  • - 1952 : 1. 1953 : 3. 1954 : 2. 1955 : 2. 1956 : 2. 1957 : 1. 1962 : 3. 1967 : 2. 1977 : 3.
  • - 1952 : 1. 1953 : 1. 1956 : 1. 1957 : 2. 1962 : 1. 1967 : 1. 1977 : 4.
  • - 1957 : 1. 1986 : 1. 1987 : 1.
  • Romania - 1957 : 2.

Sources

  • Claude Sudres: international Dictionary of cycling , 1993.
  • Pierre Chany: The year of cycling. Calmann-Levy editions. The annual editions of this book provide the prize list of the stages of the Race of Peace D 1974 to 1989.
  • German site (http//www.friedensfahrt)

This article results from the articles published in Miroir of cycling each year, in spring. In particular:

  • number May 5th, th and th 1961
  • number 86, May 1967
  • number 100, June 1968
  • number 101, June 1968
  • number 113, May 1969
  • number 141, June 1971
  • number 172, June 1973
  • number 256, August 1978, in the " part; encyclopédie".

See also the regular articles of Emile Besson in Humanity at the time of the competition. One of them recalls the place of the French press in the Race of Peace: Humanity , May 9th, 1977, " the Turn of the amateurs, in 30 years, the Race of Peace acquired its letters of noblesse". Emile Besson supplements it at the time of the 36e Course: Humanity-Sunday , May 7th, 1983.

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