A HELLISH F1 track at the base of a volcano was used during the first mountain stage of the Tour de France this week.
Simon Yates came out on top on Bastille Day, while Ben Healy wrestled the yellow jersey from three-time general classification winner Tadej Pogacar.
Stage 10 of the Tour de France passed through a doomed F1 track[/caption]
The track is located near the mountains of Clermont-Ferrand in central France[/caption]
Clermont-Ferrand hosted the French GP four times but safety concerns surfaced[/caption]
Stage 10 of the Tour de France shook up the race on Monday, featuring eight gruelling climbs.
And McLaren and Ferrari made way for Team Sky and Movistar as the riders made their way up and over the famous Circuit de Charade.
The now abandoned F1 track – better known by many as Clermont-Ferrand – hosted the French Grand Prix in 1965, 1969, 1970 and 1972.
Three of those races were won by British drivers, with Jim Clark triumphing on its debut before Sir Jackie Stewart added a further two wins.
But Charade’s most notable moment came when it ended the career of current Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.
The Austrian driver was hit in the head by a dark volcanic rock thrown up by the car in front, driven by Bengt Peterson.
The stone then pierced through Marko’s visor, permanently blinding the two-time Le Mans winner in the left eye.
Years before in 1959, British F2 racer Ivor Bueb lost his life during a race after being thrown from his car.
Current Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko lost sight in one eye at the Circuit de Charade[/caption]
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The treacherous turns and volcanic debris littering the track were concluded as the main cause of the deadly crash.
As years went by the circuit started to become a safety hazard to spectators.
Tour de France general classification after stage 10
1. Ben Healy (Ire/EF Education-EasyPost) 37hrs 41mins 49secs
2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +29secs
3. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal Quick-Step) +1min 29secs
4. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 46secs
5. Matteo Jorgenson (US/Visma-Lease a Bike) +2mins 6secs
6. Kevin Vauquelin (Fra/Arkea-B&B Hotels) +2mins 26secs
7. Oscar Onley (GB/Picnic PostNL) +3mins 24secs
8. Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull – Bora-hansgrohe) +3mins 34secs
9. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull – Bora- hansgrohe +3mins 41secs
10. Anders Johannessen (Nor/Uno-X Mobility) +5mins 3secs
As a result, Formula One left the mountains of Clermont-Ferrand in central France and never returned after 1972.
The French GP moved back to Paul Ricard the following year, where it rotated on an annual basis with the Circuit Dijon-Prenois.
With no F1 races, the Circuit de Charade was forced to adapt, hosting track days, driving courses and historic motorsport events.
And now cycling stars Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, and others ripped around the tarmac on which F1 cars once danced.
