Old Tour De France Drugs

Before EPO and amphetamines there were these gems

info taken from A Synthetic Environment blog

Ethanol
Ethanol was used to obtain a fuddled state and relief pain.

The Algerian Abdel-Kader Zaaf drank two bottles of wine in the tour of 1950. He fell asleep under a tree. When he woke up he got on his bike again but proceeded to ride the wrong way on the course.


Chloroform
Used to fight pain. Henri Pelissier admitted the use of chloroform (and cocaine) after the tour of 1924.


Strychnine
A powerful and deadly stimulant. This highly toxic alkaloid was injected. A large dose was not recommended.

Nitroglycerin
Nitroglycerin capsules were taken to increase the heart rate and open the airways. Bumpy rides were not recommended.