Ford on 2 Wheels - The Ford France Cycle Team 1965 & 1966
When I started out getting more information upon my other editorials that are still being put together, I found that I was going further back, so far back that I was accumilating bits and pieces from the 1960s. On top of that I also bought and read that really good book on Jacques Anquetil - Sex Lies and Handlebar Tape. For me all this became an item whereupon I felt a situation that having completed a book upon one cycling team from the 1970s - Brooklyn, why not another one this time from the 1960s, I chose the Ford France Cycle Team.
As one can see above the extraordinary exploits of the team leader Jacques Anquetil.Having not much else to prove to himself the man needed very little motivation to complete a remarkable double. On the right Anquetil flanked by Poulidor in the middle and the far left of the Mercier rider, Van Looy (Solo)
One of the problems in having a particular rider within the ranks of the group of cyclists, invariably he is the one who seems to get his image in almost any worthwhile photo taken,hence of course there innumerable takes of Jacques Anquetil.
Fortunately there are quite a few taken in other races that he did not always appear as far as the two years in the life of the Ford France team, as Anquetil was getting to the point that in himself he had to have an alternative twist to why he needed to partciipate in the races or tours he had formally won.
That said because of his good natured attitude towards his team mates he allowed quite amount of scope for them to win on occasions as and when.
LEFT, 1965 and a eight man team that were going to contest some of the south of France races early in the year. This being Lucien Aimar's first year(far left of the picture) riding for Jacques Anquetil, with whom he was to ride for, for three years or so.
RIGHT, Julio Jimenez pictured in the pink leader's jersey of the Tour of Italy in 1966. After the previous year's exploits in the Tour de France, the Ford France management felt it was going to be beneficial to have him in the team then to be a hinderance to them otherwise!
These images and many more can be seen in the book when it is eventually finished.
FORD FRANCE'S Tour de France victory came via the legs of Lucien Aimar, as well as the brains of Jacques Anquetil, because as I have mentioned in a earlier paragraph Anquetil was quite happy with what he had achieved so while everyone watched his every move, Aimar was directed by his team manager in acquiring the Maillot Jaune that he successfully retained overall.
Hence in the picture on the left of Aimar in yellow is Anquetil, on his left with Jimenez on his right. As always defending the sponsor's name as well as additional prize money!
Eventual book - A4 in sizing, softbound wraparound cover, high quality paper for text or images, many of the pictures in greyscale, although as one can see above there will be some in colour, particularly the two team pictures denoting when the team rode The Tour de France in 1965 & 1966 years. Less in content but hopefully at least 100 pages - it is still being written.