despite the rivalry, perhaps heightened by coppi's victory in the 1949 giro, bartali supported coppi's bid in the 1949 tour de france. the two italian teammates destroyed the race as a contest in a mountainous alpine stage over the col de vars and col d'izoard. when coppi had a puncture on the izoard, bartali waited for him, then bartali did the same and coppi waited. on the final climb to briançon, coppi allowed bartali to win (on his 35th birthday) and take the yellow jersey. but coppi assumed the "maillot jaune" the following day after bartali had a puncture with 40 km of the stage still to race. coppi retained the lead to paris, while bartali took second place.