Walkowiak became only the second rider, after Firmin Lambot in the 1922 Tour de France, to win without taking a single stage.

France additionally sent five regional teams from 10 cyclists each, divided into North-East/Centre, South-East, West, Île-de-France and South-West.

[2] The teams entering the race were:[2] The winner of the three previous editions, Louison Bobet, was absent because he had surgery.

The most favourite of these was probably Charly Gaul, who had won the 1956 Giro d'Italia, although he was in a weak team, and would also be aiming for the mountains classification.

[1] The 1956 Tour de France started on 5 July, and had two rest days, in Bordeaux and Aix-les-Provence.

[4] The highest point of elevation in the race was 2,360 m (7,740 ft) at the summit of the Col d'Izoard mountain pass on stage 17.

[1] In the third stage, a small group escaped and finished with a margin of fifteen minutes; Gilbert Desmet became the new leader.

In the second part of the fourth stage, Roger Hassenforder escaped, and a took a group with him, including Darrigade.

[1][11] In the seventh stage, the peloton broke in two, and a large group of 31 cyclists finished more than 18 minutes ahead.

Most Tour followers thought it was due to a doping practice that went wrong, but officially it was attributed to food poisoning.

[1] During the seventeenth stage, there was yet another escape, which included leader Wagtmans and Walkowiak, in fifth position in the general classification.

The surprise of the day was that Walkowiak had been able to remain with Bahamontes, whereas Wagtmans (normally a decent climber) lost eight minutes more.

The award for most bad luck during the entire Tour de France went to Fernand Picot.

[18] The Souvenir Henri Desgrange was given in honour of Tour founder Henri Desgrange to the first rider to pass a point on stage 2 in village of Cysoing in the far north, marking 200,000 kilometres travelled in Tour de France history.

His name entered the French language in the phrase "á la Walko", which means "won by an undeserving or unknown rider".

[1] Walkowiak was unhappy about how the people reacted to his Tour win, and for many years did not want to discuss it.