Bicycle Race: Queen, the Tour de France, and an ode to cycling

1978: A year of victories for Hinault and Queen

A journey through time:

The 1978 Tour de France marked a milestone in cycling history with the first victory of young Bernard Hinault, who at 23 years old led the Renault-Gitane team to glory. Hinault had already demonstrated his talent in the Vuelta a España that same year, winning five stages, two of them time trials.

Queen and the Tour: An unexpected encounter

As Hinault pedaled to victory in the Tour de France on the shores of Lake Geneva in Montreux, Switzerland, the British band Queen was recording their seventh album, "Jazz." The recording studio, Mountain Studio, was just 25 km from the finish of stage 18, which Dutchman Gerrie Knetemann would win.

Fascinated by cycling, Queen decides to experience it first hand.

The passion for cycling infected the members of Queen, who decided to attend the finish of stage 19 in Lausanne. Despite being more into football, as evidenced by anthems like "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions," the excitement of the Tour captivated them.

Bicycle Race: An ode to freedom and cycling

Inspired by the experience, Freddie Mercury wrote "Bicycle Race," a song that has become an anthem for cyclists. Some interpret it as an ode to freedom, while others see it as a play on words with "bi-cycle" and "bi-sexual."

The music video: A scandal on two wheels

For the music video for "Bicycle Race," Queen rented Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium and staged a peculiar "potope": a women's cycling race where the participants competed completely naked. Sixty-five models participated in the shoot, but the conservative press censored the video, and the bike warehouse refused to take them back for "hygienic" reasons. Queen had to pay for 65 new saddles.

Censorship and controversy: The album cover

Naked girls on their bikes were also the original image for the cover of the "Jazz" album, but the record label censored it. Instead, they opted for a more conservative image: a woman with her back to her bike, also naked.

Despite the controversy, "Bicycle Race" reached number 11 on the European charts and number 24 on the North American charts. In France and the Netherlands, countries with a long cycling tradition, it peaked at number 7.

Beyond Music: A Cultural Legacy

"Bicycle Race" is not just a song, but a symbol of 1970s pop culture. The song has been covered by several artists, and its music video remains iconic.

A tribute to cycling

Despite the controversy it generated at the time, "Bicycle Race" is a tribute to cycling and the passion for the sport. The song reminds us of the excitement of the races, the beauty of the landscape, and the strength and endurance of the cyclists.

You might want to read the story of the cyclist who saved hundreds of Jews from the Nazi Holocaust.

Curiosities:

• If you play GTA San Andreas and ride a bike while "Bicycle Race" is playing, you will see Dark Vader, Jesus, and Superman riding the bike.
• In 1978, Queen purchased Mountain Studio.
• In every city Queen toured, the bicycle bells were sold out.

Do you dare to get on a bike and pedal to the rhythm of Queen?