View source for Grand Prix des Nations

{{Short description|Cycling competition}}
{{Infobox cycling race
| name          = Grand Prix des Nations
| current_event =
| image         = 
| date          = September
| region        = France
| english       = Grand Prix of the Nations
| localnames    = Grand Prix des Nations {{in lang|fr}}
| nickname      = 
| discipline    = Road
| competition   = 
| type          = Individual time-trial
| organiser     = 
| director      = 
| first         = {{start date|1932}}
| number        = 70
| last          = 2004
| firstwinner   = {{Flagicon|FRA}} Maurice Archambaud
| mostwins      = {{Flagicon|FRA}} Jacques Anquetil ( 9 wins)
| mostrecent    = {{Flagicon|GER}} Michael Rich
}}
The '''Grand Prix des Nations''' was an [[individual time trial]] (against the clock) for both professional and amateur racing [[cycle sport|cyclists]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 September 2023 |title=Grand Prix des Nations |url=https://firstcycling.com/race.php?r=66 |website=FirstCycling.com |language=en}}</ref> Held annually in [[Cannes]], France, it was instituted in 1932 and often regarded as the unofficial time trial championship of the world and as a [[Classic cycle races|Classic cycle race]]. The race was the idea of a Parisian newspaper editor called Gaston Bénac. The beret-wearing sports editor was looking for a race to make a name for ''[[Paris-Soir]]'', the biggest French evening paper before the war.

He and his colleague [[Albert Baker d'Isy]] had been inspired by the [[1931 UCI Road World Championships|world road race championship]] in [[Copenhagen]], Denmark, in 1931. That, unusually, had been run as a time trial, and the two were impressed and also, they said, aware that a time-trial cost less to organise than a conventional road race. Baker d'Isy decided the name Grand Prix des Nations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 August 2020 |title=Verdwenen koersen: de GP des Nations |trans-title=Disappeared races: the GP des Nations |url=https://sportgeschiedenis.nl/nieuw/verdwenen-koersen-de-gp-des-nations/ |website=sportgeschiedenis.nl |language=nl}}</ref>

There is a dispute over who devised the first route. The American-French writer [[René de Latour]] said in the UK magazine [[Sporting Cyclist]] that he did; Baker d'Isy says that he did. The route started near the [[Palace of Versailles|Versailles château]] and ran round a triangle through [[Rambouillet]], [[Maulette]], [[Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse]], Versailles and [[Boulogne-Billancourt|Boulogne]] to finish on the [[Vélodrome Buffalo]] where the founder of the [[Tour de France]], [[Henri Desgrange]], had become the world's first [[hour record]] holder in 1893. There were three hills, one in the first 100&nbsp;km, plenty of cobbles, and the last 40&nbsp;km went through the woods of the [[Vallée de Chevreuse]], a popular area for bike riders. The distance was 142&nbsp;km.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 September 2023 |title=Grand Prix des Nations(1.1) |url=https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/grand-prix-des-nations |website=ProcyclingStats |language=en}}</ref>

The introduction of an official time trial champion at the [[World Cycling Championship#Time-Trial|UCI Road World Championships]] in 1994 and an [[Cycling at the Summer Olympics|Olympic]] individual time trial championship (1996) reduced its importance. With the introduction of the [[UCI ProTour]] in 2005, the event was removed from the calendar. Since 2006, [[Chrono des Nations]] (formerly Chrono des Herbiers) has effectively taken the place of GP des Nations in the calendar.<ref>{{Cite web |editor-last=Kröner |editor-first=Hedwig |title=Latest Cycling News for October 11, 2005 |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2005/oct05/oct11news2 |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=autobus.cyclingnews.com}}</ref>

==History==
Race distances have varied. Until 1955, it was approximately 140&nbsp;km; six years later, the distance was 100&nbsp;km; from 1965 onwards the distance rarely exceeded 90&nbsp;km, with many events run of around 75&nbsp;km. The events were 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 (department)|Meuse]]; from 1998, it has taken place in [[Seine-Maritime]] [[département]], two circuits of 35&nbsp;km around [[Dieppe, Seine-Maritime|Dieppe]].

The roll of honour includes cycling's greatest [[time trialist]]s, but the event's history was dominated by two Frenchmen: [[Jacques Anquetil]] won nine times, [[Bernard Hinault]] five.<ref>{{cite web |title=Grand Prix des Nations (Fra) - Ex. |url=http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/disparues/anc_gp_nations.php |accessdate=24 September 2023 |work=Memoire-du-cyclisme.eu |language=fr}}</ref>

British amateur woman [[Beryl Burton]] competed in 1968, finishing only minutes behind her male rivals.

==Winners (professionals)==
{{Cycling past winner start}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1932|name={{Sortname|Maurice|Archambaud}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1933|name={{Sortname|Raymond|Louviot}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1934|name={{Sortname|Antonin|Magne}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1935|name={{Sortname|Antonin|Magne}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1936|name={{Sortname|Antonin|Magne}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1937|name={{Sortname|Pierre|Cogan}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1938|name={{Sortname|Louis|Aimar}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider2|year=1941|name={{Sortname|Jules|Rossi}}|nat=ITA|natvar=1861|team= |name2={{Sortname|Louis|Aimar}}|nat2=FRA|natvar2=|team2=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider2|year=1942|name={{Sortname|Jean-Marie|Goasmat}}|nat=FRA|team= |name2={{Sortname|Émile|Idée}}|nat2=FRA|natvar2=|team2=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1943|name={{Sortname|Jozef|Somers}}|nat=BEL|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1944|name={{Sortname|Émile|Carrara}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1945|name={{Sortname|Eloi|Tassin}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1946|name={{Sortname|Fausto|Coppi}}|nat=ITA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1947|name={{Sortname|Fausto|Coppi}}|nat=ITA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1948|name={{Sortname|René|Berton||Berton, Rene}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1949|name={{Sortname|Charles|Coste}}|nat=FRA|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1950|name={{Sortname|Maurice|Blomme}}|nat=BEL|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1951|name={{Sortname|Hugo|Koblet}}|nat=SUI|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1952|name={{Sortname|Louison|Bobet}}|nat=FRA|team=Stella Huret Dunlop}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1953|name={{Sortname|Jacques|Anquetil}}|nat=FRA|team=[[La Française (cycling team)|La Française–Dunlop]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1954|name={{Sortname|Jacques|Anquetil}}|nat=FRA|team=[[:fr:Équipe cycliste La Perle–Hutchinson|La Perle–Hutchinson]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1955|name={{Sortname|Jacques|Anquetil}}|nat=FRA|team=La Perle Hutchinson}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1956|name={{Sortname|Jacques|Anquetil}}|nat=FRA|team=[[Helyett (cycling team)|Helyett]] Potin}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1957|name={{Sortname|Jacques|Anquetil}}|nat=FRA|team=Helyett Potin}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1958|name={{Sortname|Jacques|Anquetil}}|nat=FRA|team=Helyett Potin}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1959|name={{Sortname|Aldo|Moser}}|nat=ITA|team=[[EMI (cycling team)|EMI Guerra]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1960|name={{Sortname|Ercole|Baldini}}|nat=ITA|team=[[Ignis (cycling team)|Ignis]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1961|name={{Sortname|Jacques|Anquetil}}|nat=FRA|team=Helyett Fynsec}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1962|name={{Sortname|Ferdinand|Bracke}}|nat=BEL|team=[[Peugeot (cycling team)|Peugeot]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1963|name={{Sortname|Raymond|Poulidor}}|nat=FRA|team=[[Mercier (cycling team)|Mercier–BP]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1964|name={{Sortname|Walter|Boucquet}}|nat=BEL|team=[[Flandria–Faema]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1965|name={{Sortname|Jacques|Anquetil}}|nat=FRA|team=[[Ford France (cycling team)|Ford–Gitane]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1966|name={{Sortname|Jacques|Anquetil}}|nat=FRA|team=Ford-Hutchinson}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1967|name={{Sortname|Felice|Gimondi}}|nat=ITA|team=[[Salvarani (cycling team)|Salvarani]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1968|name={{Sortname|Felice|Gimondi}}|nat=ITA|team=Salvarani}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1969|name={{Sortname|Herman van|Springel}}|nat=BEL|team=[[Dr. Mann (cycling team)|Mann–Grundig]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1970|name={{Sortname|Herman van|Springel}}|nat=BEL|team=Mann–Grundig}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1971|name={{Sortname|Luis|Ocaña||Ocana, Luis}}|nat=ESP|natvar=1945|team=[[Bic (cycling team)|Bic]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1972|name={{Sortname|Roger|Swerts}}|nat=BEL|team=[[Molteni (cycling team)|Molteni]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1973|name={{Sortname|Eddy|Merckx}}|nat=BEL|team=Molteni}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1974|name={{Sortname|Roy|Schuiten}}|nat=NED|team={{UCI team code|TIR|1974}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1975|name={{Sortname|Roy|Schuiten}}|nat=NED|team=TI–Raleigh}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1976|name={{Sortname|Freddy|Maertens}}|nat=BEL|team=Flandria Velda}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1977|name={{Sortname|Bernard|Hinault}}|nat=FRA|team=[[Gitane–Campagnolo]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1978|name={{Sortname|Bernard|Hinault}}|nat=FRA|team=[[Renault–Elf–Gitane]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1979|name={{Sortname|Bernard|Hinault}}|nat=FRA|team=Renault–Elf–Gitane}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1980|name={{Sortname|Jean-Luc|Vandenbroucke}}|nat=BEL|team=[[La Redoute–Motobécane]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1981|name={{Sortname|Daniel|Gisiger}}|nat=SUI|team=Cilo–Aufina}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1982|name={{Sortname|Bernard|Hinault}}|nat=FRA|team=Renault–Elf}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1983|name={{Sortname|Daniel|Gisiger}}|nat=SUI|team=Malvor Bottecchia}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1984|name={{Sortname|Bernard|Hinault}}|nat=FRA|team=[[La Vie Claire]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1985|name={{Sortname|Charly|Mottet}}|nat=FRA|team=Renault–Elf–Gitane}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1986|name={{Sortname|Sean|Kelly|Sean Kelly (cyclist)}}|nat=IRL|team=[[Kas (cycling team)|Kas]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1987|name={{Sortname|Charly|Mottet}}|nat=FRA|team=[[Système U–Gitane]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1988|name={{Sortname|Charly|Mottet}}|nat=FRA|team=Système U–Gitane}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1989|name={{Sortname|Laurent|Fignon}}|nat=FRA|team=[[Super U–Raleigh–Fiat]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1990|name={{Sortname|Thomas|Wegmüller}}|nat=SUI|team=Weinn SMM}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1991|name={{Sortname|Tony|Rominger}}|nat=SUI|team=[[Toshiba (cycling team)|Toshiba]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1992|name={{Sortname|Johan|Bruyneel}}|nat=BEL|team=[[ONCE (cycling team)|ONCE]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1993|name={{Sortname|Armand de|Las Cuevas}}|nat=FRA|team=[[Banesto–Pinarello]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1994|name={{Sortname|Tony|Rominger}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|MAP|1994}}}}
{{Cycling past winner no race|year=1995}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1996|name={{Sortname|Chris|Boardman}}|nat=GBR|team={{UCI team code|C.A|1996}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1997|name={{Sortname|Uwe|Peschel}}|nat=GER |team={{UCI team code|CTA|1997}} }}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1998|name={{Sortname|Francisque|Teyssier}}|nat=FRA|team=[[Mutuelle de Seine-et-Marne]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1999|name={{Sortname|Serhiy|Honchar}}|nat=UKR|team={{UCI team code|VIN|1999}}}}
|-style="color:gray"
|2000
|colspan="4"|'''Result Void'''<ref name=BBC-UCI>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/20008520|title=Lance Armstrong: Governing body strips American of Tour wins|date=22 October 2012|publisher=BBC News|access-date=22 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Union Cycliste Internationale|url=http://www.uci.ch/Modules/ENews/ENewsDetails2011.asp?id=ODg0NQ&MenuId=MTI2Mjc&LangId=1&BackLink=%2Ftemplates%2FUCI%2FUCI7%2Flayout%2Easp%3FMenuId%3DMTI2Mjc%26LangId%3D1}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2001|name={{Sortname|Jens|Voigt}}|nat=GER|team={{UCI team code|C.A|2001}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2002|name={{Sortname|Uwe|Peschel}}|nat=GER|team={{UCI team code|GST|2002}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2003|name={{Sortname|Michael|Rich|Michael Rich (cyclist)}}|nat=GER|team=Gerolsteiner}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2004|name={{Sortname|Michael|Rich|Michael Rich (cyclist)}}|nat=GER|team=Gerolsteiner}}
{{Cycling past winner end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grand Prix Des Nations}}
[[Category:Defunct cycling races in France]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1932]]
[[Category:1932 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2004]]
[[Category:UCI Road World Cup races]]
[[Category:2004 disestablishments in France]]
[[Category:Super Prestige Pernod races]]

[[pl:Grand Prix des Nations]]