When René Vietto, the runner-up of 1939, captured the yellow jersey after his victory on the second stage, many thought he could remain first until the last day.

Vietto, a climber, was less optimistic and lost his first place to Italian Pierre Brambilla after the time trial in stage 19.

On the last stage, there was an unexpected attack, and little-known French cyclist Jean Robic captured the lead.

Robic had won the Tour de France without ever wearing the yellow jersey during the race, the first time that happened.

The rights on the Tour de France, previously owned by l'Auto, had been transferred to the French government.

[5] The teams entering the race were:[3] The 1947 Tour de France started on 25 June, and had five rest days, in Besançon, Briançon, Nice, Luchon and Vannes.

[6] The highest point of elevation in the race was 2,556 m (8,386 ft) at the summit tunnel of the Col du Galibier mountain pass on stage 8.

Because of the time bonuses for reaching the mountain tops first, he even won back more than fifteen minutes.

Robic and Fachleitner, fifth in the general classification, started to work together, and left Brambilla and Ronconi minutes behind.

Around 140 km before the finish, they were three minutes ahead of Brambilla, which made Robic the virtual leader of the race.

"[19] When they reached Paris, they had won 13 minutes on them, enough to make Robic the winner of the Tour de France.

Additionally, future exhibitions and endorsements due to the Tour victory would give him another 3 to 4 million francs.

[19] Later in his career, Robic wore the yellow jersey for one day in the 1953 Tour de France.