The question of the start of the first Tour de France in 1903, which reportedly took place in Montgeron at the 'Le Réveil-Matin' café, deserves clarification. A circular from the Préfecture de la Seine dated June 17, 1896, generally prohibited cycling competitions in the department, except with special authorizations. As Prefect Lépine did not grant an exception for the Tour's start, organizers had to find a departure city other than Paris for the first stage to Lyon. Their choice fell on Montgeron, then in Seine-et-Oise.
Montgeron already had considerable experience in organizing cycling competitions, with a café named 'Le Départ'. However, it was not this café that was chosen as the starting point, but 'Le Réveil-Matin', located on the road to Corbeil. The newspaper 'L'Auto' on July 1, 1903, announced the start at the exit of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, at the intersection of the roads to Melun and Corbeil, opposite the inn. This crossroads is located within the commune of Montgeron.
However, articles published on July 2 in 'L'Auto' and 'Le Petit Journal' revealed that due to roadworks on the road to Corbeil, the actual start was postponed by 500 to 600 meters. The distance between 'Le Réveil-Matin' and the official start was covered at a slow pace. The official start therefore took place on the road to Corbeil, approximately at the level of the Leclerc shopping center.
The initially planned starting point was about 30 meters from the border of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. To reach 'Le Réveil-Matin' by train from Paris, it was more practical to alight at Villeneuve-Saint-Georges station, which was not subject to Prefect Lépine's circular. This situation caused some confusion, with 'Le Petit Journal' and 'La Vie Illustrée' referring in 1903 to a start in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, even though the road to Corbeil does not pass through this commune.
In summary, the riders of the first Tour de France did indeed start from 'Le Réveil-Matin', but the official start took place a little further down the road to Corbeil. As both these locations are within the commune of Montgeron, the town rightly prides itself on being the starting city of this first edition.
“"As both these locations are within the commune of Montgeron, the town rightly prides itself on being the starting city of this first edition."
