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Sometimes a supporting role can overshadow the lead performance. So it proved in 1934 with Frenchman René Vietto’s beau geste. He started that year’s Tour as a support rider for his infinitely more famous compatriot Antonin Magne but quickly became the breakout star of the event by winning four stages. On the 16th stage, Vietto was on the verge of becoming the Tour leader when Magne suffered a nasty crash. Upon being informed that his captain was in trouble, Vietto actually turned around, riding back up the mountain into the descending pack of riders (reversing course was deemed legal at the time), to hand Magne his own bike. Vietto realized that his chances of winning the Tour had gone, and the indelible image of these three weeks is Vietto sitting on a wall and crying. It was probably of little consequence to him that despite finishing fifth (an hour behind eventual winner Magne), he won the Tour’s best climber. Presumably in both directions.