James Witherell's book Bicycle History: A Chronological History of People, Races and Technology is available in both print and Kindle eBook formats. To get your copy just click on the Amazon link on the right.
The race:
The Chrono des Nations is a single-day individual time trial run in the town of Les Herbiers, in the Vendée, France. The Vendée is in west-central France with its western border on the Atlantic coast.
The Chrono des Nations replaces the venerable Grand Prix des Nations time trial. I've included the results for both events on the page, starting with the first GP des Nations in 1932, won by Maurice Archambaud. A look at the distances of those early GP de Nations leaves one in awe of their length and the challenge the riders faced.
During the Second World War, there were two editions of the GP des Nations. One was held in the occupied zone of France (northern and western France) and the other in the free zone (southern France). The races for that period are labeled "OZ" and "FZ", respectively.
Also, a look at the riders names of the GP des Nations podium shows the race was truly important. The greatest riders of their times competed in this race.
The Chrono des Nations was originally named Chrono des Herbiers and when it merged with the GP des Nations in 2006, the name was changed to Chrono des Nations.
Complete Podium history:
Year |
1st Place |
2nd Place |
3rd Place |
Distance |
Average Speed |
Grand Prix des Nations | |||||
1932 | Maurice Archambaud 3hr 49min 28sec |
Alfredo Bovet @ 6min 5sec |
Léon Le Calvez @ 8min 2sec |
142 km | 37.129 |
1933 | Raymond Louviot 4hr 2min 25sec |
Léon Le Calvez DQ from 1st for changing bike |
Marinus Valentijn @ 2min 1sec |
142 km | 35.194 |
1934 | Antonin Magne 3hr 35min 57sec |
Amadée Fournier @ 59sec |
Luciano Montero @ 4min 49sec |
140 km | 38.703 |
1935 | Antonin Magne 3hr 50min 45sec |
Edgard De Caluwe @ 3min 15sec |
Luciano Montero @ 4min 9sec |
140 km | 36.621 |
1936 | Antonin Magne 3hr 45min 54sec |
Pierre Cogan @ 2min 8sec |
Luciano Montero @ 3min 13sec |
142 km | 37.720 |
1937 | Pierre Cogan 3hr 44min 30sec |
Maurice Archambaud @ 1min 18sec |
Georges Speicher @ 1min 56sec |
142 km | 37.951 |
1938 | Louis Aimar 3hr 54min 10sec |
Gerrit Schulte @ 1sec |
Amédée Fournier @ 3min 14sec |
146 km | 37.407 |
1939 1940 |
Race not held | ||||
1941 OZ |
Louis Aimar 3hr 2min 27sec |
Yvan Marie @ 37sec |
Louis Gauthier @ 2min 2sec |
116 km | 38.147 |
1941 FZ |
Jules Rossi | Fernand Mithouard @ 2min 7sec |
Ferdi Kubler @ 2m 7sec |
||
1942 OZ |
Emile Idée 3hr 45min 41sec |
Odiel Van den Meerschaut @ 2min 19sec |
Jules Rossi @ 2min 50sec |
142 km | 37.750 |
1942 FZ |
Jean-Marie Goasmat 3hr 42min 11sec |
Eugène Galliussi @ 1min 12sec |
Pierre Cogan @ 1min 58sec |
140 km | 37.807 |
1943 | Joseph Somers 3hr 32min 18sec |
Jules Rossi @ 41sec |
Maurice Clautier @ 2min 22sec |
140 km | 39.566 |
1944 | Emile Carrara 2hr 17min 29sec |
Jules Rossi @ 4min 26sec |
Emile Idée @ 5min 31sec |
85 km | 37.095 |
1945 | Eloi Tassin 3hr 48min 32sec |
Emile Carrara @ 1min 39sec |
Albert Dubuisson @ 3min 5sec |
140 km | 36.756 |
1946 | Fausto Coppi 3hr 41min 46sec |
Emile Idée @ 1min 49sec |
André Mahé @ 7min 19sec |
140 km | 37.880 |
1947 | Fausto Coppi 3hr 38min 25sec |
Emile Idée @ 8min 14sec |
Fiorenzo Magni @ 9min 0sec |
140 km | 38.456 |
1948 | René Berton 3hr 34min 32.6sec |
Ferdi Kübler @ 5min 6.8sec |
Eloi Tassin @ 7min 36.6sec |
140 km | 39.152 km/hr |
1949 | Charles Coste 3hr 41min 32sec |
Wim van Est @ 13sec |
Maurice Blomme @ 17sec |
141.3 km | 38.267 |
1950 | Maurice Bloome 3hr 41min 52sec |
René Berton @ 4min 18sec |
Antonin Rolland @ 6min 47sec |
141.3 km | 38.210 |
1951 | Hugo Koblet 3hr 31min 50sec |
Fausto Coppi @ 1min 42sec |
René Berton @ 2min 7sec |
140.3 km | 39.738 |
1952 | Louison Bobet 3hr 39min 2sec |
Maurice Blomme @ 42sec |
Yvon Marrec @ 3min 2sec |
140.3 km | 38.432 |
1953 | Jacques Anquetil 3hr 32min 25sec |
Roger Creton @ 6min 41sec |
Agostino Coletto @ 7min 35sec |
140.3 km | 39.630 |
1954 | Jacques Anquetil 3hr 30min 58sec |
Jean Branckart @ 22sec |
Isaac Vitré @ 3min 32sec |
140.3 km | 39.898 |
1955 | Jacques Anquetil 3hr 29min 16sec |
Albert Bouvet @ 2min 46sec |
Marcel Janssens @ 5min 3sec |
140.3 km | 40.226 |
1956 | Jacques Anquetil 2hr 22min 10sec |
Albert Bouvet @ 4min 19sec |
Miguel Bover @ 8min 19sec |
100 km | 42.202 |
1957 | Jacques Anquetil 2hr 22min 12sec |
Ercole Baldini @ 3min 10sec |
Aldo Moser @ 5min 20sec |
100 km | 42.191 |
1958 | Jacques Anquetil 2hr 19min 1sec |
Gérard Saint @ 3min 58sec |
Michel Vermeulin @ 6min 27sec |
100 km | 43.160 |
1959 | Aldo Moser 2hr 23min 18sec |
Roger Rivière @ 4sec |
Alcide Vaucher @ 1min 25sec |
100 km | 41.869 |
1960 | Ercole Baldini 2hr 23min 8sec |
Joseph Vloeberghs @ 3min 54sec |
Raymond Mastrotto @ 3min 54sec |
101 km | 42.334 |
1961 | Jacques Anquetil 2hr 17min 38sec |
Gilbert Desmet @ 9min 7sec |
Aldo Moser @ 10min 3sec |
100 km | 43.591 |
1962 | Ferdinand Bracke 2hr 22min 8sec |
Jean-Claude Lebaube @ 31sec |
Claude Valdois @ 1min 39sec |
100 km | 42.213 |
1963 | Raymond Poulidor 2hr 21min 48sec |
Ferdinand Bracke @ 3min 15sec |
Walter Boucquet @ 6min 22sec |
100 km | 42.311 |
1964 | Walter Boucquet 2hr 22min 50sec |
Arie den Hartog @ 2min 6sec |
Claude Valdois @ 2min 25sec |
100 km | 42.007 |
1965 | Jacques Anquetil 1hr 34min 24sec |
Rudi Altig @ 3min 9sec |
Raymond Poulidor @ 4min 58sec |
73.7 km | 46.843 |
1966 | Jacques Anquetil 1hr 38min 17sec |
Felice Gimondi @ 1min 51sec |
Eddy Merckx @ 3min 7sec |
72 km | 43.954 |
1967 | Felice Gimondi 1hr 34min 42sec |
Bernard Guyot @ 1mn 57sec |
Robert Hagmann @ 4min 1sec |
73.2 km | 46.378 |
1968 | Felice Gimondi 1hr 32min 48sec |
Herman van Springel @ 2min 52sec |
Luis Ocana @ 4min 3sec |
73.5 km | 47.518 |
1969 | Herman van Springel 2hr 19min 16sec |
Raymond Poulidor @ 28sec |
Davide Boifava @ 2min 19sec |
100 km | 43.078 |
1970 | Herman van Springel 2hr 12min 56sec |
Ole Ritter @ 2min 15sec |
Luis Ocana @ 3min 5sec |
101 km | 45.575 |
1971 | Luis Ocana 1hr 40min 45sec |
Joop Zoetemelk @ 3min 1sec |
Leif Mortensen @ 3min 3sec |
76 km | 45.260 |
1972 | Roger Swerts 1hr 46min 49sec |
Joop Zoetemelk @ 32sec |
Yves Hézard @ 50sec |
78 km | 43.814 |
1973 | Eddy Merckx 1hr 46min 28sec |
Luis Ocana @ 2min 48sec |
Joop Zoetemelk @ 2min 55sec |
80 km | 45.084 |
1974 | Roy Schuiten 2hr 1min 40sec |
Dirk Baert @ 3min 39sec |
Paul Lannoo @ 3min 44sec |
90 km | 44.383 |
1975 | Roy Schuiten 2hr 0min 3sec |
Joop Zoetemelk @ 4min 29sec |
Bernard Thévenet @ 5min 59sec |
90 km | 44.981 |
1976 | Freddy Maertens 2hr 2min 26sec |
Roy Schuiten @ 1min 58sec |
Joop Zoetemelk @ 2min 4sec |
90 km | 44.104 |
1977 | Bernard Hinault 2hr 9min 19sec |
Joop Zoetemelk @ 3min 15sec |
Jorgen Marcussen @ 3min 58sec |
90 km | 41.757 |
1978 | Bernard Hinault 2hr 6min 35sec |
Francesco Moser @ 56sec |
Hennie Kuiper @ 1min 29sec |
90 km | 42.650 |
1979 | Bernard Hinault 2hr 3min 57sec |
Francesco Moser @ 1min 45sec |
Joop Zoetemelk @ 3min 12sec |
90 km | 43.565 |
1980 | Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke 2hr 6min 3sec |
Daniel Gisiger @ 2min 56sec |
Francesco Moser @ 3min 0sec |
90 km | 42.840 |
1981 | Daniel Gisiger 2hr 5min 42sec |
Stephen Roche @ 37sec |
Hans-Henrik Oersted @ 1min 34sec |
90 km | 42.959 |
1982 | Bernard Hinault 2hr 6min 34sec |
Daniel Gisiger @ 2min 0sec |
Bert Oosterbosch @ 2min 29sec |
90 km | 42.665 |
1983 | Daniel Gisiger 3hr 3min 43sec |
Greg LeMond @ 1min 47sec |
Bert oosterbosch @ 2min 52sec |
89 km | 43.163 |
1984 | Bernard Hinault 2hr 0min 50sec |
Sean Kelly @ 1min 34sec |
Stephen Roche @ 1min 46sec |
89 km | 44.193 |
1985 | Charly Mottet 2hr 10min 3sec |
Thierry Marie @ 4min 43sec |
Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke @ 4min 56sec |
89 km | 44.114 |
1986 | Sean Kelly 2hr 4min 21sec |
Laurent Fignon @ 5sec |
Jean-François Bernard @ 18sec |
89 km | 42.943 |
1987 | Charly Mottet 2hr 0min 36sec |
Jean François Bernard @ 3min 12sec |
Marino Lejarreta @ 3min 29sec |
89 km | 44.776 |
1988 | Charly Mottet 1hr 58min 46sec |
Laurent Fignon @ 2min 40sec |
Michael Wilson @ 4min 10sec |
89 km | 44.962 |
1989 | Laurent Fignon 1hr 56min 57sec |
Thomas Wegmuller @ 22sec |
Charly Mottet @ 53sec |
89 km | 45.660 |
1990 | Thomas Wegmuller 1hr 57min 57sec |
Erik Breukink @ 1min 47sec |
Tony Rominger @ 2min 15sec |
89 km | 45.268 |
1991 | Tony Rominger 1hr 20min 40sec |
Erik Breukink @ 58sec |
Thomas Wegmuller @ 2min 8sec |
64 km | 47.603 |
1992 | Johan Bruyneel 1hr 9min 0sec |
Tony Rominger @ 5sec |
Viatcheslav Ekimov @ 16sec |
56.2 km | 48.860 |
1993 | Armand De Las Cuevas 1hr 20min 54sec |
Stephen Hodge @ 1min 2sec |
Eddy Seigneur @ 1min 27sec |
62.5 km | 46.354 |
1994 | Tony Rominger 1hr 47min 41sec |
Francis Moreau @ 3min 48sec |
Thierry Marie @ 4min 13sec |
84.5 km | 47.082 |
1995 | Race not held | ||||
1996 | Chris Boardman 1hr 25min 39sec |
Bjarne Riis @ 4min 51sec |
Abraham Olano @ 5min 11sec |
70 km | 49.031 |
1997 | Uwe Peschel 1hr 30min 52sec |
Marc Streel @ 24sec |
Chris Boardman @ 44sec |
72 km | 47.542 |
1998 | Franciscque Teyssier 1hr 30min 16sec |
Gilles Maignan @ 21sec |
Marc Streel @ 47sec |
72 km | 47.859 |
1999 | Serhey Honchar 1hr 28min 40sec |
Chris Boardman @ 6sec |
Jens Voigt @ 32sec |
71 km | 48.045 |
2000 | Lance Armstrong 1hr 31min 5sec |
Raivis Belohvosicks @ 1min 41sec |
Laszlo Bodrogi @ 2min 34sec |
75 km | 49.404 |
2001 | Jens Voigt 1hr 34min 13sec |
Laszlo Bodrogi @ 11sec |
Jean Nutti @ 39sec |
74 km | 47.124 |
2002 | Uwe Peschel 1hr 24min 4sec |
Laszlo Bodrogi @ 36sec |
Yuriy Krivtsov @ 54se |
67 km | 47.819 |
2003 | Michael Rich 1hr 31min 1sec |
Bert Roesems @ 1sec |
Serhiy Honchar @ 53sec |
70 km | 46.145 |
2004 | Michael Rich 1hr 8min 24sec |
Uwe Peschel @ 10sec |
José Ivan Gutierrez @ 36sec |
54 km | 47.368 |
Chrono des Herbiers | |||||
1988 | Pascal Lance 1hr 5min 50sec |
Thomas Hartmann @ 32sec |
Philippe Bouvatier @ 37sec |
48.4 km | 44.111 |
1989 | Marco Jeletich 1hr 3min 59sec |
Bernard Richard @ 41sec |
Thierry Dupuy @ 43sec |
48.4 km | 45.386 |
1990 | Jan Karlsson 1hr 3min 38sec |
Francis Moreau @ 36sec |
Michael Rich @ 59sec |
49.5 km | 46.673 |
1991 | Jan Karlsson 1hr 0min 53sec |
Thierry Marie @ 5sec |
Hervé Garel @ 1min 56sec |
47.5 km | 46.810 |
1992 | Arturas Kasputis 1hr 2min 54sec |
Marek Lesniewski @ 52sec |
Jan Karlsson @ 1min 24sec |
48.4 km | 46.168 |
1993 | Chris Boardman 1hr 0min 52sec |
Pascal Lance @ 59sec |
Eddy Seigneur @ 1min 52sec |
47.525 | 46.848 |
1994 | Pascal Lance 1hr 0min 34sec |
Thierry Marie @ 1min 13sec |
Jan Karlsson @ 1min 40sec |
48.050 | 47.600 |
1995 | Pascal Lance 1hr 3min 25.16sec |
Marek Lesniewski @ 4.76sec |
Nicolas Aubier @ 17.63sec |
48.3 km | 45.697 |
1996 | Chris Boardman 58min 56.89sec |
Laurent Brochard @ 2min 56.93sec |
Neil Stephens @ 3min 14.48sec |
48.3km | 49.162 |
1997 | Serguei Honchar 1hr 0min 10.44sec |
Tony rominger @ .34sec |
Francisque Teyssier @ 46.21sec |
48.3 km | 48.160 |
1998 | Serguei Honchar 59min 20.34sec |
Gilles Maignan @ 1min 14.03sec |
Francisque Teyssier @ 1min 26.05sec |
48.3 km | 48.838 |
1999 | Serguei Honchar 1hr 0min 23.44sec |
Gilles Maignan @ 31.44sec |
Christophe Moreau @ 56.98sec |
48.15 km | 47.838 |
2000 | Jean Nuttli 59min 48.42sec |
Serguei Honchar @ 55.83sec |
Laszlo Bodrogi @ 1min 25.06sec |
48.15 km | 48.305 |
2001 | Jean Nuttli 59min 45.17sec |
Laszlo Bodrogi @ 26.90sec |
Serguei Honchar @ 50.98sec |
48.349 km | 48.150 |
2002 | Michael Rich 59min 45.36sec |
Fabian Cancellara @ 8.97sec |
Bert Roesems @ 29.42sec |
48.15 km | 48.346 |
2003 | Michael Rich 1hr 0min 23.98sec |
Bert Roesems @ 32.53sec |
Uwe Peschel @ 1min 7.93sec |
48.15 km | 47.831 |
2004 | Bert Roesems 1hr 1min 19.6sec |
Vladimir Gusev @ 10.38sec |
Sebastian Lang @ 1min 3.6sec |
48.15 km | 47.108 |
2005 | Ondrej Sosenka 1hr 0min 18.69sec |
Michael Rogers @ 2.80sec |
Vladimir Gusev @ 18.96sec |
48.15 km | 47.901 |
Chrono des Nations | |||||
2006 | Raivis Belohvosciks 1hr 0min 2.7 sec |
Brian Vandborg @ 27.75sec |
Matti Helminen @ 1min 51.5sec |
48.15 km | 48.113 |
2007 | Laszlo Bodrogi 59min 18.2sec |
Raivis Belohvosciks @ 20sec |
Stef Clement @ 36sec |
48.32 km | 48.890 |
2008 | Stef Clement 1hr 0min 58.41sec |
Manuel Quinziato @ 2sec |
Raivis Belohvosciks @ 3sec |
48,5 km | 47.731 |
2009 | Alexandre Vinokourov 1hr 0min 9.05sec |
Jean-Christophe Péraud @ 1min 7sec |
Yuriy Krivtsov @ 1min 12sec |
48.5 km | 48.379 |
2010 | David Millar 58min 53.27sec |
Edvald Boasson Hagen @ 2min 19sec |
Lieuwe Westra @ 3min 6sec |
48.5 km | 49.420 |
2011 | Tony Martin 56min 20.84sec |
Gustav-Erik Larsson @ 2min 3sec |
Alex Dowsett @ 2min 50sec |
48.5 km | 51.657 |
2012 | Tony Martin 58min 7.16sec |
Sylvain Chavanel @ 41sec |
Taylor Phinney @ 42sec |
48.5 km | 50.072 |
2013 | Tony Martin 1hr 10min 48.64 sec |
Gustav-Erik Larsson @ 14sec |
Sylvain Chavanel @ 45sec |
57.025 km | 48.326 |
2014 | Sylvain Chavanel 1hr 4min 19sec |
Jérémy Roy @ 53sec |
Reidar Bohlin Borgersen @ 2min 3sec |
51.53 km | 48.084 |
2015 | Vasil Kiryienka 1hr 4min 36sec |
Marcin Bialoblocki @ 1min 12sec |
Johan Le Bon @ 1min 37sec |
51.53 km | 47.861 |
2016 | Vasil Kiryienka 1hr 4min 8.41sec |
Jonathan Castroviejo @ 5sec |
Martin Toft Madsen @ 59sec |
51.53 km | 48.209 km/hr |
2017 | Martin Toft Madsen 59min 59sec |
Mikkel Bjergg @ 1min 22sec |
Jonathan Castroviejo @ 1min 25sec |
49.7 km | 49.715 km/hr |
2018 | Martin Toft Madsen 54min 1sec |
Mikkel Bjergg @ 7sec |
Stephane Rossetto @ 1min 39sec |
46.3 km | 51.239 km/hr |
2019 | Jos Van Emden 55min 2sec |
Filippo Ganna @ 11sec |
Primoz Roglic @ 19sec |
46.3 km | 50.478 km/hr |
2020 | Race not held | ||||
2021 | Stefan Küng 51min 46sec |
Martin Toft Madsen @ 36sec |
Alessandro De Marchi @ 1min 16sec |
44.49 km | 51.566 km/hr |
2022 | Stefan Küng 53min 29sec |
Tobias Foss @ 2sec |
Matteo Sobrero @ 11sec |
45.43 km | 50.965 km/hr |
2023 | Joshua Tarling 52min 2sec |
Remco Evenepoel @ 13sec |
Stefan Bissegger @ 1min 10sec |
45.43 km | 52.386 km/hr |
2024 | Stefan Küng 51min 53sec |
Jay Vine @ 4sec |
Johan Price-Pejtersen @ 5sec |
45.43 km | 52.537 km/hr |