Nicknamed "Poupou", Raymond Poulidor never won the Tour de France or even wore the yellow jersey. The eternal second is still a legend of the competition to be on the podium eight times, a record never equalled.
Under the gaze of Jacques ANQUETIL, Raymond POULIDOR puts on an authentic yellow jersey from the Tour de France. He says all his emotion to put on him, he who was never able to carry him in the race.
The cyclist Raymond POULIDOR filmed on the slopes of the Tourmalet at training. As he climbed, he shared his impressions with the journalist and commented on the difficulty he experienced during the climb of this mythical pass of the Tour de France. The camera grabs him during the effort, in front of him in counter dive.
Recent winner of the Milan event-San Remo, Raymond POULIDOR returns to his parents' farm to meet his parents and brother, with whom he travels through the titles of the press dedicated to him and makes a short tour of his garden. Interviewed before the start of a race, Raymond POULIDOR answers questions from Robert CHAPATTE, his coach Lucien Magne at his side.
Raymond POULIDOR answers questions about his career, his satisfactions, his sacrifices and his status as a star of the peloton. On the side of the road, spectators watch the passage of their champion during a time trial. At the end of the race, children ask him for an autograph.
Today, Raymond POULIDOR celebrated his 80th birthday in Limoges during a party organized all day long with his friends, family, former partners or opponents. Interviews with Raymond POULIDOR, Jean-Marie LEBLANC, co-director of the Tour de France, Lucien AIMAR, winner of the Tour de France 1966, and Mathieu VAN DEN POEL, grandson of Poulidor, alternate with images from INA archives and Raymond POULIDOR in the middle of his guests and blowing out the candles of his birthday cake.