On July 13, 1967, professional cycling crossed a line it had been approaching for decades. British cyclist Tom Simpson collapsed and died during the ascent of Mont Ventoux  in the Tour de France, one of the most unforgiving climbs in the sport. His death was not the result of a crash or mechanical failure, but of a system that glorified suffering, ignored medical warning signs, and normalized dangerous practices in the pursuit of victory. Simpson was 29 years old. He was the