Grand Prix des Nations

Grand Prix des Nations
Date	September
Region	France
English	Grand Prix of the Nations
Local names	Grand Prix des Nations Template:Fr icon
Nickname
Discipline	Road
Competition
Type	Individual time-trial
Rirst	1932
Number	70
Last	2004
First winner	Maurice Archambaud
Most wins	Jacques Anquetil ( 9 wins)
Most recent	Michael Rich

The Grand Prix des Nations was an individual time trial (a race against the clock or contre la montre) for Europe's leading professional racing cyclists. Held annually in France, it was instituted in 1932 and was often regarded as both the unofficial time trial championship of the world and as a Classic cycle race.

The introduction of an official world time trial championship (in 1994) and an Olympic championship (1996) reduced its importance. With the introduction of the UCI ProTour in 2005, the event was removed from the calendar.

History

Race distances have varied over the years. Until 1955, it was usually run over a course of approximately 140km; six years later, the distance was 100km; from 1965 onwards the distance rarely exceeded 90km, with many events run over a course of around 75km.

The early events were run in the Vallée de Chevreuse in the Paris area, then near Cannes on the French Riviera; for five years from 1993, it was held at the Madine Lake in the Meuse region; from 1998, it has taken place in Seine-Maritime département, being two circuits of a 35km course around Dieppe.

The roll of honour for the event includes many of professional cycling's greatest time trialists, but the event's history was dominated by two Frenchmen: Jacques Anquetil won the event nine times, Bernard Hinault achieved five victories.

Top British amateur woman racing cyclist Beryl Burton competed in the 1967 edition, finishing only minutes behind her male professional rivals.

Winners

2004 - Michael Rich 2003 - Michael Rich 2002 - Uwe Peschel 2001 - Jens Voigt 2000 - Lance Armstrong 1999 - Sergej Gontsjar 1998 - Francisque Teyssier 1997 - Uwe Peschel 1996 - Chris Boardman 1995 - no race 1994 - Tony Rominger 1993 - Armand de las Cuevas 1992 - Johan Bruyneel 1991 - Tony Rominger 1990 - Thomas Wegmuller 1989 - Laurent Fignon 1988 - Charly Mottet 1987 - Charly Mottet 1986 - Sean Kelly 1985 - Charly Mottet 1984 - Bernard Hinault 1983 - Daniel Gisiger 1982 - Bernard Hinault 1981 - Daniel Gisiger

1980 - Jean Luc Vandenbroucke 1979 - Bernard Hinault 1978 - Bernard Hinault 1977 - Bernard Hinault 1976 - Freddy Maertens 1975 - Roy Schuiten 1974 - Roy Schuiten 1973 - Eddy Merckx 1972 - Roger Swerts 1971 - Luis Ocana 1970 - Herman van Springel 1969 - Herman van Springel 1968 - Felice Gimondi 1967 - Felice Gimondi 1966 - Jacques Anquetil 1965 - Jacques Anquetil 1964 - Walter Boucquet 1963 - Raymond Poulidor 1962 - Ferdinand Bracke 1961 - Jacques Anquetil 1960 - Ercole Baldini 1959 - Aldo Moser 1958 - Jacques Anquetil 1957 - Jacques Anquetil

1956 - Jacques Anquetil 1955 - Jacques Anquetil 1954 - Jacques Anquetil 1953 - Jacques Anquetil 1952 - Louison Bobet 1951 - Hugo Koblet 1950 - Maurice Blomme 1949 - Charles Coste 1948 - René Berton 1947 - Fausto Coppi 1946 - Fausto Coppi 1945 - Eloi Tassin 1944 - Emile Carrara 1943 - Jozef Somers 1942 - Jean Marie Goasmat / Emile Idee 1941 - Jules Rossi / Louis Aimar 1938 - Louis Aimar 1937 - Pierre Cogan 1936 - Antonin Magne 1935 - Antonin Magne 1934 - Antonin Magne 1933 - Raymond Louviot 1932 - Maurice Archambaud