Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Try GOLD - Free
Hercules Cycling Team
CYCLING WEEKLY
|January 31, 2019
The squad that supplied the first two Brits to finish the Tour de France
Type ‘Hercules’ into the search engine of the Veteran Cycle Club online library and among the articles returned is a letter from the company’s sales manager, E.T. Wilkins, to its dealers. Dated November 7, 1955, the letter introduces a new model, the Tour de France Equipe, “based on the specification of machines ridden by Hercules riders throughout the Tour de France and other Home and Continental races.”
Four months earlier, six Hercules riders had been among the 10-strong Great Britain team that had started the Tour with Hercules team manager Syd Cozens at the helm. The Hercules riders had prepared on the Côte d’Azur, living in a villa with the Bobet brothers as intrigued neighbours, and recording creditable results in races such as Paris-Nice and the Critérium du Dauphiné.
This story is from the January 31, 2019 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM CYCLING WEEKLY
Cycling Weekly
City of Seven hills ...give or take 100
How many hills does Sheffield really have? Simon Warren set out in search of the mythical seven – and ended up plotting a route with 97 more
6 mins
November 27, 2025
Cycling Weekly
CYCLO-CROSS
Sunday, 23 November
4 mins
November 27, 2025
Cycling Weekly
Hutchinson Caracal Race tyre
The Caracal Race features an all-new SwiftEasy casing, designed to improve flexibility and performance. It also uses the French brand's Mach Thread 3.0 compound, which aims to optimise both durability and speed. It's available in 40mm and 45mm widths, and I tested the latter.
1 min
November 27, 2025
Cycling Weekly
Retiring revolution
As a surge in younger riders leaving the sport continues, what is going on?
2 mins
November 27, 2025
Cycling Weekly
CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE
Never mind the John Lewis advert, this is what you've been waiting for
3 mins
November 27, 2025
Cycling Weekly
HOW TO CAPTURE THE UNCATCHABLE?
How do you tell the story of a rider still winning practically every race he starts? Adam Becket speaks to Tadej Pogačar's biographer Andy McGrath to find out
4 mins
November 27, 2025
Cycling Weekly
Alison Jackson's Cannondale SuperX LAB71
A low-key colourway can't hide the Canadian star's savvy gravel hacks
1 min
November 27, 2025
Cycling Weekly
Fizik Kudo helmet £270
The Fizik Kudo offers MIPS protection - the Air Node version, designed for low-profile helmets such as this- alongside great ventilation, courtesy of 15 vents positioned in a fairly standard configuration, with a horizontal brow vent, some longitudinal vents and 'exhaust' ports at the back.
1 min
November 27, 2025
Cycling Weekly
Tour de France
Life as a bike racer or fan may be equated with a religious experience on occasions, but never more so than for the subjects in this photograph.
1 min
November 27, 2025
Cycling Weekly
MAVIC COSMIC S42
Entry-level carbon road wheel is a solid, great-value option that covers all bases well
2 mins
November 27, 2025
Translate
Change font size