In 1983 I went with the Irish team to the Tour de l'Avenir, a fantastic event, it's actually U23 Tour de France, run by the Tour organisers (ASO). Although only two weeks long, it is one tough race, the 1983 race covering 1,922 Kms, and included three days of double stages.

I took some pictures along the way and after mislaying them for years I recently found them and with todays technology I can share them.

Irish Team: David Gardiner, Philip Cassidy, John McQuaid, Gary Thompson, Paul Kimmage and Raphael Kimmage.

Officials - Manager: John McCarthy, Masseur: Paddy Doran & Mechanic: Peter Purfield

Music: Duran Duran - 'Hungry Like the Wolf'

Photos & Video Compilation: Peter Purfield

1983 (21st) Tour de l'Avenir

FINAL GC

1 LUDWIG Olaf 45:55:36
2 CHAURIN Jean-François Sem - Mavic - Reydel 3:36
3 DUCROT Maarten 4:37
4 GUYOT Pascal La Redoute - Motobecane 7:30
5 MADIOT Yvon Renault - Elf - Gitane 9:41
6 MOTTET Charly Renault - Elf - Gitane 10:29
7 DROGAN Bernd 10:41
8 DE VOOGHT Fabien Wolber - Spidel 11:25
9 BOYER Jonathan Sem - Mavic - Reydel 12:15
10 KUMMER Mario 12:40
11 HEKIMI Siegfried Eorotex - Mavic 12:59
12 MATEJKA Libor 13:04
13 GUIMARAES José 14:19
14 ROUX Denis 14:52
15 IMBODEN Heinz
16 RAAB Uwe 14:58
17 DERNIES Michel Fangio - Tonissteiner - O.m.trucks - Mavic 15:34
18 LEVAVASSEUR Christian La Redoute - Motobecane 15:46
19 MOERLEN Patrick Sem - Mavic - Reydel 15:56
20 FLOREZ Alfonso 16:01
21 VICHOT Frédéric Coop - Mercier - Mavic 16:03
22 GAYANT Martial Renault - Elf - Gitane 16:16
23 ALVES Antonio 16:51
24 KOZÁREK Vladimír 18:24
25 HEGGLI Daniel 19:44