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The inaugural Tour de France in 1903 was characterized by a lack of regulations and oversight. Riders competed on fixed-gear bikes across grueling distances, racing day and night in a fiercely competitive atmosphere that sometimes led to violent confrontations.
One of the most notorious early incidents involved Maurice Garin, who would later become infamous for his unsportsmanlike conduct. After a rival suffered stomach cramps from what was suspected to be poisoned lemonade given by a spectator, Garin seized the opportunity to dominate the competition. Full of determination to win the substantial prize of 6,000 francs (about $63,000 today), he employed increasingly sinister tactics to clear his path.