This picture is from 1934 and the well-versed will recognise the hunched figure as Rene Vietto. It’s not his face that reveals his identity, but the picture in its entirety. Vietto is the “the wall guy”. A darling of French cycling and an early influence on the code of the domestique. Vietto was responsible for
There is no other role quite like the cycling domestique. The name conjures up an image of a rider freewheeling aside their team car stuffing back pockets with drink bottles and searching for ways to carry that one extra bidon. They’ll often be the wheel giver. Their team leader should never suffer a stranded existence
