The 1965 Tour de France was memorable for a number of reasons. In his first year as a professional, Felice Gimondi, a substitute replacement on the Salvarani team, captures the overall title ahead of Raymond Poulidor, last year's second place finisher. The 52nd edition of the Grand Boucle was counter-clockwise (Pyrenees first) and consisted of 22 stages and 4177 km (~ 2596 miles) with an average speed of 35.886 km/h (22.3 mph).
Gimondi would go on to become one of only four riders, the others being five-time Tour winners Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault, to have won all three of the major Tours. Besides Gimondi's first tour and win, it was a first for other reasons: the '65 Tour started in Cologne, Germany (the first time the Tour started in Germany, and only the third time it started outside France), and it was the first time the start ramp was used in time trials.
Jacques Anquetil, who won the previous four Tours de France (1961-1964), did not participate in this tour.
Jan Janssen defends his jersey and wins the second consecutive points classification; he would go onto win another points title in 1967 and the overall title at the 1968 Tour de France.
Julio Jiminez wins two stages and his first of three consecutive King of the Mountains classification. Jiminez also won the KoM classification at the 1965 Vuelta a España—becoming one of (now) four riders to complete the Tour/Vuelta double by winning both Tour's mountains competition in the same year.
Italy
France
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Belgium
Netherlands
