The 1985 Tour de France took place between 28 June and 21 July of that
year. The course (map pictured) ran over 4,109 km (2,553 mi) and
consisted of a prologue and 22 stages. The race was won by Bernard
Hinault (of team La Vie Claire), who equalled the record by Jacques
Anquetil and Eddy Merckx of five overall victories. Hinault's teammate
Greg LeMond was second, and Stephen Roche (La Redoute) was third.
Hinault took the race leader's yellow jersey on the first day, in the
opening prologue time trial, but lost the lead to Eric Vanderaerden
(Panasonic–Raleigh) after stage 1 because of time bonuses. He
regained it in stage 8, and held it the rest of the way despite
bronchitis, which severely hampered his performances. For LeMond's
assistance, Hinault pledged to support him for overall victory in the
following year's race, which LeMond won. The large number of time trials
in the 1985 edition of the race were key to its outcome, leading to a
decrease in time-trial kilometres for subsequent Tours.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_Tour_de_France>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1776:
American Revolutionary War: The militia of the Province of
South Carolina repelled a British attack on Charleston.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sullivan%27s_Island>
1911:
The Nakhla meteorite (fragments pictured), the first meteorite
to suggest signs of aqueous processes on Mars, fell to Earth in Abu
Hummus, Egypt.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakhla_meteorite>
1950:
Korean War: South Korean forces began the Bodo League massacre,
summarily executing tens of thousands of suspected North Korean
sympathizers.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodo_League_massacre>
2016:
Gunmen attacked Istanbul's Atatürk Airport, killing 45 people
and injuring more than 230 others.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Atat%C3%BCrk_Airport_attack>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
gaydar:
(slang) The supposed ability to detect whether or not a person is gay by
observing that person's appearance, mannerisms, etc.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gaydar>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Comedy is a weird but very beautiful thing. Even though it seems
foolish and silly and crazy, comedy has the most to say about the human
condition. Because if you can laugh, you can get by. You can survive
when things are bad when you have a sense of humor.
--Mel Brooks
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mel_Brooks>
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