It is an iconic image from cycling history: a sweaty winner climbing onto the podium and receiving, alongside the coveted trophy or jersey, a lavish bouquet of flowers and two kisses from a charming lady. The Ronde Miss (or Miss Étape in French) has been an inseparable part of the race for decades. But where does this tradition actually come from? In anticipation of our photo exhibition, we delved into history!
From olive branch to flower bouquet
The honoring of winners literally dates back centuries. As early as antiquity (around 752 BC), Olympic champions were presented with a crown of wild olive branches and a palm branch. If we look specifically at cycling, we see that the German Josef Fischer – winner of the very first Paris-Roubaix in 1896 – is already flaunting two beautiful flower bouquets in the illustrations. And in 1903, Maurice Garin, winner of the first Tour de France, also received beautiful flowers. A wonderful extension of that classic palm branch, then. But flowers don't make a Tour de France beauty queen. And that kiss… when was that added?
The entrance to the 'Reine'‘
In the photos of the first award ceremonies before 1900, we mainly see serious gentlemen with substantial moustaches in sharp suits. Perhaps, in their enthusiasm, they occasionally handed out a kiss to the winner, but that certainly doesn't make them a Ronde Miss!
The first fair lady did not appear until 1928. In a finish photo taken in the French seaside resort of Les Sables d'Olonne, you can see stage winner Hubert Opperman being officially congratulated by a genuine 'Reine des Sables' (Queen of the Sands). A few years later, in 1930, the Tour returned to the same location. André Leducq, who would win not only the stage but later the entire Tour, was given extra special treatment: he received no fewer than two kisses, from two local queens! From that moment on, the tone was set. Increasingly often, young ladies (often in local traditional dress) presented the bouquet of flowers, accompanied by a kiss on the cheek. Incidentally, it was no coincidence that this coincided with the emergence of the very first beauty pageants, including the Miss France competitions from the late 1920s.
Heyday and the rise of commerce
The Rondemiss quickly became a fixture at every finish line. From the grand Tour de France to the cozy local fair races around the corner, the term 'Rondemiss' became ingrained, and the traditional 'kissing photo' was the absolute favorite of all local and national newspapers. This did not go unnoticed by the commercial world either. In the 1960s, sponsors realized that that radiant smile next to the champion was the perfect place to showcase their brand as well, hoping to capture some of that winner's aura.
With the advent of live television, this phenomenon took on even larger proportions. In the 1970s and 1980s, we see beautifully dressed ladies, clad in the colors of clothing, beverage, or banking brands, cheerfully positioning themselves next to the winner. What many people do not know, however, is that the work behind the scenes was subject to strict rules. For instance, it was strictly forbidden for the winner (under penalty of dismissal) to strike up a conversation with the riders. Yet, every now and then, something beautiful blossomed: for instance, American rider George Hincapie eventually did marry 'his' Tour Miss!
Keeping up with the times
Until the early 2000s, the Rondemiss remained undiminished in popularity. But times change. Critical voices were heard increasingly often: the concept, in which women were primarily used for their looks, was perceived by many as outdated. Additionally, there were unfortunately incidents involving riders who did not know how to behave on the podium. While proponents defended the phenomenon for a long time as innocent and cheerful cycling heritage, more and more organizations decided to change course. In 2020, the Tour de France definitively announced the end of the traditional Rondemiss. Nowadays, in major international races, a presenting duo of one man and one woman hands out the flowers and trophies. Without the famous kisses on the cheek.
A cheerful wink: come to the Kissing Gallery!
However you look at it, the Ronde Miss is and remains an iconic part of our cycling history. At Tour de Retro, we cherish that touch of nostalgia and view this tradition with a cheerful wink. We therefore love keeping the atmosphere of yesteryear alive!
That is why we are presenting a special photo exhibition during our event on Sunday, September 6: the Kissing Gallery. A colorful parade of the most beautiful, historical images of the Tour Misses of yesteryear. Come by, soak up the retro atmosphere, and admire cycling history in all its glory!
