The water bottles, caps, musettes and gloves - 9
ITEM N° 733
"Tour de France" style water bottle
1970s
This vintage plastic water bottle features a design directly inspired by the Tour de France. Its motif combines a stylised map of France with the image of a cyclist in the thick of the race. The inscription ‘Type Tour de France’ likely indicates a promotional model evoking the famous race, though it does not identify it as an official water bottle of the organisation.
The bottle has an ivory-coloured cylindrical body, topped by rounded shoulders and a neck sealed with a flat cap. Several horizontal ribs reinforce the upper section and make it easier to grip. A small side clip was used to secure the cap and prevent it from being lost during the race.
The dirt, scratches and patina visible on its surface bear witness to its age and prolonged use. The red and blue graphics, now partially faded, remain clearly legible, however, and retain all the charm of 1970s cycling accessories.
Carried in a bottle cage attached to the bike frame, this type of container accompanied riders during training sessions and competitions. Its sturdy shape and large capacity are reminiscent of a time when water bottles were bulkier and stiffer than today’s flexible models.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël Grégoire Collections, this water bottle offers an interesting insight into the influence exerted by the Tour de France on equipment and promotional items aimed at cycling enthusiasts. Its distinctive design serves as a lasting illustration of the popular imagery associated with the Grande Boucle.
ITEM N° 734
"Perrier" water bottle used in the Tour de France
Used in the Tour de France from the 1930s to 1984 and from 2001 to 2003
This vintage plastic water bottle bears the name ‘Perrier’ twice, printed vertically in dark green. Its ivory-white body is reinforced by two wide bands with a diamond pattern, making it easy to grip. It is fitted with a push-button cap and a side clip designed to secure the closure. Signs of wear and a slight patina bear witness to its age.
For several decades, Perrier held an iconic place on the roads of the Tour de France. The brand took part in the advertising caravan and also provided water at the finish lines of each stage. Its vehicles, billboards and representatives, wearing caps in the brand’s colours, became familiar sights along the route of the Grande Boucle.
At the finish line, a particularly effective promotional ritual directly linked Perrier to the day’s winner. Even before the interviews and official ceremonies, a brand representative would approach the rider to hand him a small bottle or a glass of Perrier. Photographers and news camera operators would then film the champion quenching his thirst, under the watchful eye of the famous ‘Monsieur Perrier’, recognisable by his cap. This scene, repeated over many editions, was one of the first notable forms of product placement in cycling.
The photograph accompanying the item shows José Nazabal, winner in Vitoria during the 1977 Tour de France, drinking after the finish in the presence of a Perrier representative. It serves as a reminder that the brand was not confined to the advertising caravan: it was also present right alongside the riders and stage winners.
Housed in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël Grégoire Collections, this water bottle bears witness to the importance commercial partners have held in the history of the Tour de France. Beyond its function as a source of refreshment, it evokes the entire finish-line ceremony and an era in which the image of the winner drinking his Perrier was an integral part of the spectacle of the Grande Boucle.
ITEM N° 735
"Contrex" water bottle used in the Tour de France
Used in the Tour de France from 1975 to 1984
This white plastic rider’s water bottle features the old blue Contrex logo twice, arranged vertically. Its cylindrical body is topped by rounded shoulders, a narrow neck and a push-top cap fitted with a black nozzle. The horizontal ribs reinforce the upper section and make it easier to grip during the race.
This design corresponds to the model distributed at the Tour de France between 1981 and 1984. The scratches, minor marks and patina visible on its surface are characteristic of an antique item that has seen prolonged use. With a capacity of approximately half a litre, it could be fitted into the bottle cage attached to the bicycle frame.
Contrex first appeared on the Tour’s routes in 1975. Until 1984, the Vosges-based brand was the official supplier of water bottles for the riders. It succeeded other major French mineral water brands previously associated with the Tour de France and accompanied the peloton throughout the entire race.
A photograph of the refreshment station on the second stage of the 1977 Tour shows the riders helping themselves from large bottles bearing the brand’s name.
In addition to this sporting role, Contrex enjoyed significant advertising visibility amongst spectators. Its name appeared on water bottles, refreshment equipment and promotional materials along the route. This presence directly linked the image of the mineral water to endurance, physical exertion and the hydration needs of the champions.
In 1985, Coca-Cola replaced Contrex as the supplier of water bottles for the Tour, bringing an end to ten consecutive years of partnership. Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël Grégoire Collections, this example therefore bears witness to the final seasons during which a French mineral water brand officially supplied the water bottles for the peloton of the Tour de France.
