Pub - Cyclopedia Its All About The Bike PDF

SPORTS
The world of cycling is one of death-defying feats and obscure mechanical

oddities, heroics and geekiness in equal measure. In Cyclopedia, renowned two-
wheel aficionado and acclaimed sportswriter William Fotheringham delves deep
into this world to unearth amazing facts and enthralling anecdotes.
This essential book is an A to Z compendium of everything you could ever want

to know about the bicycle, from the history of the Tour de France to Chris Hoy’s
dominance of the Beijing velodrome, from the origins of the quick-release
system to the diet that powered Graeme Obree to the world hour record, from
Lance Armstrong’s fabled career to the slang words used for performance-
enhancing substances, from the literature of cycling to the perils of vicious dogs.
Cyclopedia has all the equipment, the races, the chases, the faces,
the places, the drugs, the sex, and the scandals to convert any
amateur cyclist into a full-fledged bike expert.
WILLIAM FOTHERINGHAM has been a racing cyclist on road and track since 1981. He has
been cycling correspondent at the Guardian newspaper since 1994 and, since then, has
covered the Tour de France for them every year. In 1993 he was launch editor of Cycle Sport
magazine, and in 1998 he launched procycling magazine and website. His biography of Tom
Simpson, Put Me Back on My Bike, was acclaimed by Vélo magazine as “the best cycling
biography ever written.”
CYCLO_PRESS_FINAL_6 x 8.25_pages.indd 1 8/1/11 2:26 PM
Also by William Fotheringham
Put Me Back on My Bike: In Search of Tom Simpson
Roule Britannia: A History of Britons in the Tour de France
Fallen Angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi
A Century of Cycling
Fotheringham’s Sporting Trivia
Fotheringham’s Sporting Trivia:

The Greatest Sporting Trivia Book Ever II

Design and layout: www.carrstudio.co.uk
First published in the United Kingdom by Yellow Jersey Press in 2010

This substantially revised American edition published in 2011 by Chicago Review Press
Copyright © William Fotheringham 2010, 2011
All rights reserved
Illustrations copyright © Telegramme Studio 2010
All rights reserved
We are grateful to BBC Focus PDJD]LQHIRUSHUPLVVLRQWRXVHWKHSHGDOSRZHUGDWDÀUVW

published in the October 2009 issue.
Chicago Review Press Incorporated

814 North Franklin Street
Chicago IL 60637
ISBN 978-1-56976-817-4
Printed in the United States of America
5 4 3 2 1

PREFACE
T he particular joy of cycling

LVLQLWVLQÀQLWHYDULHW\LWV
seemingly boundless history.
helped to change the world and
it may yet help to save it from
environmental catastrophe.
Get on a bike and you can Bikes have carried politicians,
go anywhere, literally and soldiers, explorers, suffragettes,
metaphorically. Unlike a socialists, artists, and artisans.
football or a tennis racket, a Yet as cyclists we tend to exist
bike has multiple uses. It is in our own bubbles. We race,
simultaneously a piece of high- we ride to work, we may fret
tech sports gear, a means of over whether to buy carbon
transportation to work or the ÀEHURUWLWDQLXPZHSHGDORII
store, a way of discovering the WRSLFQLFVZHÀQGQHZSODFHV
world, an escape to solitude and For whatever reason we ride
nature, a social network that our bikes, and whatever the
beats any of the virtual variety, depth of our personal passion,
and a means of discovering your there will be sides of cycling, its
personal limits, whether by history, its culture, that we don’t
crawling up an Alpine pass or even know exist. There isn’t
shredding your nerves downhill time to go everywhere and the
on a mountain bike. Over the signposts are not always there
last 150 years cycling has LQWKHÀUVWSODFH$QGWKDWLV
v v

Preface
where this book may just be able to offer some signposts toward
to help, by giving some idea of what cycling has to offer, and
the multiplicity of areas—social, some guidance through a world
technical, sporting, cultural, of never-ending possibilities.
historical—to which two wheels If, after reading it, you want to
can transport us. try something new, go to a race,
There is one proviso. This or buy a book or DVD that you
ERRNFDQQRWKHOSEXWUHÁHFWP\ might not have known about, it
personal views on a world in will have served its purpose.
which I have been immersed
for two-thirds of my life, over Enjoy the ride.
30 years. No one will agree
ZLWKHYHU\WKLQJWKH\ÀQGKHUH William Fotheringham,
but that is how it should be. July 2010
The aim of this book is simply
v vi

A
ABDUZHAPAROV, Djamolidin he somersaulted over the bars
(b. Uzbekistan, 1964) and rolled down the road. He
had to be helped over the line,
Squat, tree-trunk thighed and was eventually awarded
sprinter from Uzbekistan who the points winner’s green jersey
was one of the biggest stars to three months later. This led
emerge from the Eastern bloc to him being nicknamed the
after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Terminator, because he got back
$EGX·ÀUVWFDPHWRSURPLQHQFHLQ up each time he was knocked
the British MILK RACE, winning down.
three stages in 1986, but it was in He went on to have a
the 1991 TOUR DE FRANCE where memorable feud with Italian
his unique style grabbed world sprinter Mario Cipollini—“send
headlines: he put his head down him back to Russia” was Cipo’s
low over the front wheel—a style line—and won a total of nine
later adopted to great effect by stages and three green points
MARK CAVENDISH—and zigzagged jerseys in the Tour. His career
XSWKHÀQLVKVWUDLJKWWHUULI\LQJ came to an end in 1997 after he
opponents and onlookers. tested positive for Bromantan,
He took two stages in the a drug used by Russian air force
1991 Tour but came to grief pilots; he retired to live on Lake
in dramatic style as a third Garda, where he tends pigeons.
win beckoned on the Champs- (SEE NICKNAMES FOR OTHER BIZARRE
Elysées: after colliding with an CYCLING MONICKERS, AND EASTERN
EUROPE FOR MORE INFO ON THE ORIGINS
oversized cardboard Coke can
OF ABDU’ AND HIS PEERS)
standing against the barriers
v 1

Aerodynamics
AERODYNAMICS If the strength that over 15 mph, overcoming

of any cyclist is a given on a wind resistance can account
particular day, several key for up to 90 percent of energy
variables determine how fast output. Estimates vary as to how
he or she can travel: friction much a contrary wind can affect
(resistance within the bearings speed: some say it slows a cyclist
and chain), the rolling resistance down by half the windspeed
of the tires on the road, gravity, (e.g., 2 mph for a 4 mph wind).
and air resistance. Of the four, Roughly a third of air resistance
air resistance is the hardest to is encountered by the bike,
overcome and has the greatest roughly two-thirds by the rider.
effect. The most obvious way to
Air or wind resistance counter air resistance is by
increases as a square of a sheltering, be it merely by riding
cyclist’s velocity; for every six close to the hedge when the
miles per hour faster a cyclist wind blows or choosing valley
travels, he must double his roads on a windy day. Riding
energy output. It is estimated in the slipstream of another
cyclist uses up about 25 percent
less energy depending on the
size of the rider in front (team
pursuit squads look for four
cyclists about the same height
and width to take advantage of
this) and is the key to most of
the tactical niceties of road and
track racing. A bunch of cyclists
riding together offers even
greater shelter, as does a pacing
motorbike such as a DERNY.
Before motor vehicles got too
quick, cyclists like FAUSTO COPPI
v 2

Aerodynamics
would go “truck-hunting” to get WKH\ZHUHÀUVWXVHGE\

in speed training. triathletes in the US in the
Changing handlebar position 1980s, were the next major
produces immediate results; development. They provided the
riding with the hands on the most dramatic recent illustration
“drops,” not the brake levers, of the power of aerodynamics
ÁDWWHQVWKHWRUVRDQGLQFUHDVHV when GREG LEMOND used a pair
speed by between 0.5 and WRRYHUWXUQDVHFRQGGHÀFLWLQ
1.25 mph. Tucking in any WKHÀQDOWLPHWULDORIWKH
loose clothing helps as well. TOUR DE FRANCE. The loser,
Shaving the legs produces LAURENT FIGNON, was not riding
QHJOLJLEOHEHQHÀWVVHHHAIR for the extensions, which allow the
other shaggy-cyclist stories), XVHUWRÁDWWHQWKHWRUVRDQGSXVK
but wearing an aerodynamic the arms forward along the lines
teardrop-shaped helmet helps of a downhill skier’s tuck.
considerably, as does wearing a Perhaps the ultimate tri-
one-piece skinsuit rather than bar position was achieved by
separate jersey and shorts, and CHRIS BOARDMAN in the mid-
putting covers over the shoes. 1990s. He said of his work in
So much for the basics. the windtunnel at the Motor
Most recent aerodynamic Industry Research Assocation
developments can be traced back in Birmingham, England: “They
to FRANCESCO MOSER and his discovered that if I folded up
attempts on the HOUR RECORD in my body position and tucked in
1982. The Italian used a Lycra my elbows the drag would be
hat, shoe-covers, a plunging considerably reduced. What I
frame to lower the angle of his learned was to reduce my frontal
WRUVRDQGUHGXFHWKHSURÀOHRI area. I have my handlebars
the bike, and solid disc wheels. DERXWIRXURUÀYHFHQWLPHWHUV
All became widely accepted ways lower than anybody else.” As
of reducing air resistance. a result, if you drove behind
Tri-bars, so-called because Boardman when he was riding
v 3

Aerodynamics
POWER CRANKS to ensure his

Percentage of drag in the following: power output was relatively
BODY: 80% constant. Under these controlled
WHEELS: 4% conditions, Obree’s tuck gave
FRAME: 5% EHWWHUDLUÁRZWKDQHLWKHUULGLQJ
on the drops on a conventional
Ways to improve aerodynamics:
bike or using triathlon
TRIATHLON BARS: 10%
handlebars. Obree later devised
DEP. ON BODY SIZE + SHAPE
a stretched position known as
TEAR-DROP HELMET: 2%
“Superman”; both this and the
ONE-PIECE SKINSUIT: 2%
tuck were eventually banned.
SHOE COVERS: 1%
In the 1990 and 1991 Tours,
SMOOTHED OUT CARBON FRAME: 2%
LeMond rode Drop-In bars,
DISC WHEELS: 2% DEP. ON WIND
which brought the tri-bar idea
DIRECTION
to road-racing bars; they had a
lowered central section enabling
a time trial, all that could be KLPWRJHWÁDWWHUDQGPDNHKLV
seen of him was his backside: elbows more narrow than on
his front end was completely conventional drops (they were also
ÁDWRUSRLQWLQJGRZQVOLJKWO\WR a handy location to put stickers
minimize air resistance. advertising his bar-makers, Scott,
The boundaries were for head-on television pictures);
pushed further by GRAEME in the mid-1990s there was a
OBREE in the build-up to his brief craze for short triathlon-
Hour attempt in 1993, when type extensions such as Cinelli’s
the Scot experimented with 6SLQDFLEDUVZKLFKFRXOGEHÀWWHG
a tuck position with his arms to the middle of road racing bars,
up close to his chest. Together again enabling the rider to lower
with his coach Peter Keen, KLVSURÀOH7KH\ZHUHEDQQHG
Boardman ran tests on the from 1998 by the UCI; Cinelli are
Manchester velodrome, riding still campaigning for the ban to be
in various positions and using lifted.
v 4

Aerodynamics
T he wind and the drag coefficient of the cyclist and the bike are not the only factors affecting
aerodynamics. Air resistance decreases as altitude is gained, because there are fewer
molecules in the atmosphere for the cyclist to push through; traveling at 30 mph at 2,000 m
above sea level should take about 20 percent less effort. Hence the choice of Mexico City and La
Paz for record attempts by riders like CHRIS HOY and EDDY MERCKX.
Air temperature matters too, with air resistance reducing by about 1 percent for every
increase of three degrees Celsius. It has been known for track meeting organizers to keep the
doors closed before the home team rides a qualifier in an event such as the team pursuit, so
they benefit from a higher temperature. They then open the doors shortly before their main rival
goes to lower the temperature by a few degrees. Barometric pressure has an effect as well: the
ideal weather conditions for recordbreaking are a high temperature combined with low pressure.
After tri-bars, the most vortexes that actually increase

HIÀFLHQWZD\WRLPSURYHWKH drag,” says Boardman. Every
DHURG\QDPLFSURÀOHRIDELNH part of the bike pulls on the
LVWRÀWGLVFZKHHOV7KHVH air; hence the British Olympic
eliminate the drag produced by a team’s return to the drawing
conventional wheel with spokes, board before the Beijing Games
which have an uneven drag when their technicians—led
SURÀOHEHFDXVHDVWKH\FRPH by Boardman and the carbon
forward at the top of the wheel frame specialist Dimitris
rotation they are going at twice Katsanis—assessed every last
the bike’s forward speed. SDUWRIWKHLUFDUERQÀEHUELNHV
Aerodynamic frame tubes The result was smoothed-out
also play a part: they should be handlebars, produced as a single
teardrop-shaped, but three and element with the stem; even the
a half times as long as they are ZKHHOQXWVZHUHUHFRQÀJXUHGWR
URXQGWREHPRVWHIÀFLHQW´,I save an estimated 0.005 percent
a tube is too round, instead of RIGUDJFRHIÀFLHQW
ÁRZLQJURXQGWKHWXEHWKHDLU (SEE BURROWS, RECUMBENTS, OLYMPIC
bounces off it and creates mini GAMES)
v 5

Africa
AFRICA Cycling is a vital Race in the World; they told

means of transport here and, him that cycling is the most
in addition, cycle racing goes popular sport in the country.
on in places and ways that few The TOUR DE FRANCE organizers
outside the continent know ASO recognize this by running
about. To take one example, in the annual Tour du Faso
(ULWUHDWKHLQÁXHQFHRI,WDOLDQ each autumn. Cycle racing in
colonists from the early 20th Burkina Faso goes back to the
century means that cycling is postwar era, when FAUSTO COPPI
the national sport, with some came to race there in a series
800 registered racers in the of criteriums in the capital,
capital Asmara. The Giro di Ouagadougou, to celebrate the
Eritrea was founded in 1946 country’s independence (it was
and relaunched in 2001, eight then known as Upper Volta);
years after the end of war with after one of the races, Coppi
Ethiopia. There are said to be caught the malaria which was to
about 100 professionals in the end his life.
country earning several times Colonialism was also
the average wage. An Eritrean responsible for bringing the
cyclist, Daniel Teklehaimanot, ÀUVW$IULFDQWRWKH7RXUGH
ÀQLVKHGWKLQWKHWLPHWULDO France: Abdel Kader Zaaf was
in the 2009 world under-23 road an Algerian who became French
race championships. national champion in 1942 and
Italian and French colonial 1947, and rode the Tour in 1950
LQÁXHQFHEURXJKWELNHUDFLQJ for a North Africa team. Zaaf
to the North African coast, was involved in a legendary
and the sport is also strong in episode when he was riding 16
other former French colonies minutes ahead of the bunch on a
such as Burkina Faso and Mali. baking hot stage in the South of
The Italian Marco Pastonesi France and was given a bottle of
interviewed Burkinabe cyclists wine by a spectator; the alcohol
for his 2007 book The Craziest affected him so badly that he
v 6

Africa
ended up riding the wrong way

down the road.
More recently, in 2007, the
South African team Barloworld
EHFDPHWKHÀUVWVTXDGIURP
the continent to race the Tour,
when Robbie Hunter—already
WKHÀUVW6RXWK$IULFDQWRVWDUW
WKH7RXULQ³ZDVWKHÀUVW
stage winner from the country
at Montpellier (see CAPE TOWN
to read about the biggest bike
race in Africa and the world).
7KHEHVW$IULFDQUDFHVÀJXUH
on the UCI’s Africa Tour that Leonard, was spotted when he
includes events in Cameroon, kept pace with the team while
Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Morocco, carrying 150 pounds of potatoes
Gabon, Egypt, and Libya. The on his bike. The project was set
2008–9 winner was Dan Craven, up by Tom Ritchey, one of the
a Namibian riding with British founding fathers of the MOUNTAIN
squad Rapha-Condor. BIKE, who set up a race, the
In 2009, there were projects Wooden Bike Classic, on which
under way to turn cyclists in Rwandans could race the basic
both Rwanda and Kenya into machines they used to carry
world-class roadmen. The FRIIHHIURPWKHÀHOGV7KHSURMHFW
Rwanda project was headed in Kenya, backed by a French
E\-RQDWKDQ%R\HUWKHÀUVW hedge fund, aims to transfer to
$PHULFDQWRÀQLVKWKH7RXU cycling the endurance skills the
de France. One of his riders, Kenyans have shown in running.
v 7

Alps
ALPS When the Alps were huge range of mass-participation

added to the TOUR DE FRANCE events (see CYCLOSPORTIVES). In
route in 1911, the idea of riding these events, the attraction lies
a bike over summits such in facing the same challenges as
as the 2,646 m high Col du the stars of cycling, at a different
Galibier seemed outlandish: speed.
such tracks connecting one The highest paved pass
mountain village with another in the Alps is the Cime de la
were barely passable on foot, Bonette, sometimes known
even in summer. When the as the Bonette-Restefonds. It
Tour went over that July, the actually consists of two roads,
Galibier was still covered in vast one of which crosses the Col de
snowdrifts and the road was a Restefonds at an altitude just
dirt track deeply rutted with below that of the Col d’Iseran;
streams of melt water. The road to create the highest pass in
has been improved, but cycling Europe, the local council added
to an altitude of nearly 9,000 ft a loop up around the black shale
remains an immense challenge. scree slopes of the Bonette peak,
7KHQWKH$OSVÀWWHGSHUIHFWO\ which is where the Tour goes.
with Tour founder HENRI Opinions vary, naturally, as to
DESGRANGE’s aim of producing the toughest climb in the Alps:
cycling supermen to captivate the north face of the Galibier, as
the readers of his paper L’Auto. climbed by the Tour in 1911, is a
Desgrange wanted to set his contender, because of the length
cyclists seemingly impossible of the ascent from Valloire over
tasks to perform amid epic the Col du Télégraphe before the
backdrops, to make the most steepest part actually begins.
dramatic copy possible for Another contender is the Joux-
his paper. Now, however, the Plane between Cluses and
mountains are accessible to Morzine in the northern Alps,
ordinary cyclists thanks to better which is unremittingly steep,
roads and the organization of a but toughest of all is probably
v 8

Alps
Mont Ventoux. This peak lies a events up the climbs, so that

little south of the main Alpine amateurs can measure their
massif. It is longer than the times against the professionals—
Joux-Plane but almost as steep, at l’Alpe d’Huez, for example,
with extreme conditions—heat this takes place every Monday
or cold—occurring frequently on through the summer.
the summit. (see TOM SIMPSON to There are two Raids Alpines
read the story of his death here). run along the lines of the better-
The great Alpine climbs are known RAID PYRENEAN. These
used by CYCLOSPORTIVE events, are informal challenges run
of which the best-known is by the cycling club in Thonon-
the Marmotte, which has been les-Bains. One route takes
run for over 30 years. The 174 cyclists from Lake Geneva to the
km course begins in Bourg Mediterranean Coast at Antibes
d’Oisansand goes over the Croix over 43 passes with a total of
de Fer and Galibier before 18,187 m climbing during the
ÀQLVKLQJXSO·$OSHG·+XH]/D 740 km journey; the other travels
Ventoux ascends the Ventoux from Thonon to Trieste, taking
at the end of a 170 km loop. On in 44 cols for a total of 22,131 m
some of the great climbs, local climbing in the 1,180 km route.
WRXULVWRIÀFHVUXQLQIRUPDOWLPHG
v 9

Alps
CLIMB LENGTH ALTITUDE HEIGHT GAIN NOTED FOR
Cime de la Bonette 23.8 km 2,802 m 1,582 m Highest pass in Europe if you include
(from Jausiers) the “loop to nowhere” at the top
Iseran 16 km 2,764 m 960 m Vast glaciers and a wild summit in the

(from Val d’Isère) Vanoise national park
Col Agnel 20.5 km 2,744 m 1,384 m In southern Alps, used by Tour for first
(from Chateau Queyras) time in 2008
Galibier 18 km 2,646 m 1,216 m Exposed scree slopes, a disused

(from Valloire) tunnel, memorial to Tour de France
founder Henri Desgrange
Izoard 31.7 km 2,360 m 1,438 m Death Valley–type pinnacles in

(from Guillestre) the Casse Deserte, Tour de France
museum at summit
Croix de Fer 31.6 km 2,067 m 1,502 m Massive lakes among epic glaciated
(from Rochetaille) rock formations, some downhill
stretches
Madeleine 19.3 km 1,993 m 1,523 m 40 bends, 20 years construction work,

(from La Chambre) stunning views through violet-filled
meadows
Mont Ventoux 21 km 1,909 m 1,610 m Bare moonscape at domed summit

(from Carpentras) with observatory, Tom Simpson
memorial
L’Alpe d’Huez 14.5 km 1,850 m 1,150 m Winners’ names on each of the 21

(summit finish) hairpins; timed climbs on Monday
evenings
Joux-Plane 11.8 km 1,691 m 988 m Insanely steep climb with views of

(from Samoens) Mont Blanc
v 10

Am aur y Spo r t O rg a n i sa t i o n ( A S O )
The passes in the south- history: see DOLOMITES for more

eastern section of the Alps, over details.
the Italian border from France, Further reading: Tour Climbs, Chris Sidwells
are a key element in the GIRO (Collins, 2008).
D’ITALIA, with their own cycling
AMAURY SPORT ORGANISATION

The ASO Roster
(ASO) The world’s leading
cycle race organizer, responsible
=
TOUR DE FRANCE
for the TOUR DE FRANCE, LIÈGE–
PARIS–ROUBAIX (PRO AND
BASTOGNE–LIÈGE and PARIS–
UNDER-23)
ROUBAIX, and other races (see
LIÈGE–BASTOGNE–LIÈGE
right) which make up the bulk
PARIS–TOURS (PRO AND UNDER-23)
of the French calendar. Based in
FLÈCHE–WALLONNE (PRO AND
Paris, the company also owns 49 WOMEN)
percent of the Vuelta a España, CRITÉRIUM INTERNATIONAL
and has partnerships with Tour PARIS–NICE
of California. In early 2010 it took DAUPHINÉ LIBÉRÉ
over the Dauphiné Libéré, giving it TOUR DE PICARDIE
a near monopoly on French races. ÉTAPE DU TOUR
ASO’s lineage goes back to TOUR DE L’AVENIR
the newspaper L’Auto, which TOUR OF QATAR (PRO AND WOMEN)
UDQWKHÀUVW7RXUGH)UDQFH TOUR DU FASO
Under HENRI DESGRANGE and PARIS–DAKAR MOTOR RACE
his successor Jacques Goddet, PARIS MARATHON
the paper organized the race FRENCH GOLF OPEN
until the outbreak of war in
v 11

Am aur y Spo r t O rg a n i sa t i o n (ASO)
1940. During the war, Goddet Jean-Marie Leblanc took over.

continued to publish, which ASO grew rapidly during
meant that after liberation, the 1990s, from less than 50
L’Auto could no longer appear as employees in 1992 to well over
all publications that had printed 200 in 2008, running 16 sports
under the Germans were shut events including the Paris–
down. After the war, the paper Dakar rally, athletics, golf, and
and its editor were charged equestrianism.
with collaboration, but cleared, After the 1998 doping scandal
and Goddet was given charge involving the Festina team,
of L’Equipe, a new paper that ASO became aware of the
was in essence L’Auto under dangers that drugs posed to its
a different name. He then ran races. The problem was that
the race jointly with Émilien as race organizers, its options
Amaury’s Le Parisien Libéré, were limited: Leblanc tried
with Félix Lévitan as codirector. refusing entry to those the race
Amaury bought L’Equipe in considered to be suspect, but
1965 and created a multimedia he had limited support from
promotional and publishing the UCI, and in any case it
empire that included venues was impossible to tell who was
such as the Parc des Princes suspect and who wasn’t. Leblanc
stadium in Paris. retired in 2005; since then the
Later the group’s cycling Tour has been run by former
promotions were split off into a television journalist Christian
separate company, the Société Prudhomme. (See section on the
du Tour de France; early in the UCI for how ASO fell out with
21st century this was merged cycling’s governing body between
into ASO, covering all Amaury’s 2005 and 2008.)
sports promotions. Goddet The Tour is ASO’s main source
remained in charge of the STF’s of income, estimated to bring in
races until his retirement in SHUFHQWRILWVSURÀWV
1989, when the former journalist
v 12

Anderson, Phil
ANDERSON, Phil (b. England, 1958) one-day CLASSICS (Amstel Gold

1985, Créteil–Chaville 1986);
Australian cycling’s second he was a member of two iconic
great pioneer, after Sir HUBERT teams, Peugeot and Panasonic,
OPPERMAN. A whole new and together with GREG LEMOND
antipodean audience became helped to drag European cycling
aware of cycling thanks to into the modern world.
Anderson’s achievements in $QGHUVRQZDVRQHRIWKHÀUVW
the 1980s, most notably his two riders to arrive at a contractual
stints in the Tour de France’s meeting with a lawyer in tow (“I
yellow jersey in 1981 and 1982. couldn’t read French but that
Neither a truly great time was the language of the contract
triallist, sprinter, or climber, so I turned up with a solicitor
Anderson epitomized the battling from Paris. He said it wasn’t
Aussie, winning races through worth the paper it was written
grit and racecraft. on,” he said in Rupert Guinness’s
An early member of the Aussie Aussie Aussie Oui, Oui,
FOREIGN LEGION, he was a young Oui). In addition, his relationship
pro with PEUGEOT when he with 7-Eleven SOIGNEUR Shelley
hung on to BERNARD HINAULT Verses in the late 1980s broke
at the Pla d’Adet climb in the the long standing taboo over
1981 Tour to become Australia’s SEX in cycling. He was also a
ÀUVWZHDUHURIWKHmaillot legendary hardman who late
jaune. Anderson went on to win in his career suffered from a
two Tour stages (Nancy 1982, loose shoulder-joint that would
4XLPSHUDQGÀQLVKHGLQ dislocate when he crashed;
WKH7RXU·VWRSÀYHWLPHVRQFH Anderson would simply put it
ZKLOHÀJKWLQJWKHSDLQIURPD back in by the roadside and get
broken sternum. He also won two back on his bike.
v 13

Anquetil, Jacques
ANQUETIL, Jacques Blond-haired and with chilly

blue eyes, Anquetil made his name
Born: Mont-St-Aignan, France, January 8, QV!IOMLWVTaJaJZMISQVO
1934 the HOUR RECORD, which had been
Died: Rouen, November 18, 1987 held by FAUSTO COPPINWZaMIZ[#
Major wins: Tour de France 1957, 1961–64, like the Italian, he won the Tour at
16 stage wins; Giro d’Italia 1960, 1964, PQ[ÅZ[\I\\MUX\+WXXQ_I[PQ[MIZTa
six stage wins; Vuelta a España 1963, one model in his approach to cycling,
stage win; Liège–Bastogne–Liège 1966; and like the CAMPIONISSIMO, he was
Ghent–Wevelgem 1964; Bordeaux–Paris a master of cycling style: always well
1965; GP des Nations 1953–58, 1961, dressed, with immaculately slicked-
1965–66; world hour record 1956 back hair, and with his glamorous
Nickname: Master Jacques wife, Jeanine, gracing his arm. He
Interests outside cycling: cards, alcohol, was respected rather than loved by
cigarettes, farming, women (especially French cycling fans, who found him
close family members) KTQVQKITIVL]VMUW\QWVIT#\PMTM[[
Further reading: Sex, Lies and Handlebar successful PouPou remains their
Tape, Paul Howard (Mainstream, 2008) favorite.
)VY]M\QT_I[\PMÅZ[\UIV\W_QV
A single image of the Norman Å^M<W]Z[PQ[JM[\^QK\WZQM[KWUQVO
strawberry-grower’s son is forever QV!_PMVPM\WWSJW\PUIRWZ
etched on France’s national UW]V\IQV[\IOM[IVLQV!_PMV
consciousness. The elbow-to-elbow his duel with Poulidor reached its
battle between “Monsieur Jacques” climax on the extinct volcano in the
and Raymond POULIDOR (nicknamed Massif Central. There, knowing he
PouPou) on the Puy-de-Dôme had to gain time on Anquetil before
UW]V\IQV\WXÅVQ[PQV\PM!TOUR \PMÅVIT\QUM\ZQIT8W]8W]I\\IKSML
DE FRANCE remains French cycling’s repeatedly and Monsieur Jacques
equivalent of the Stanley Matthews hung on for grim death. Just before
Cup Final. The RIVALRY between \PMÅVQ[PPMKZIKSMLJ]\PMTL\PM
the pair was one of the greatest that aMTTW_RMZ[Ma¸IVL\PMX[aKPWTWOQKIT
French sports has ever seen. _PQXPIVL¸JaR][\[MKWVL[
v 14

Anquetil, Jacques
Their rivalry was never personal, \ZQITTQ[\_QVVQVO[WTWZIKM[QV

as Anquetil later said: “Of course I his career. He could churn massive
would like to see Poulidor win in my gears in immaculate style, thanks
absence. I have beaten him so often to motorpaced training, and an
that his victory would only add to MNÅKQMV\IMZWLaVIUQKXW[Q\QWV
my reputation.” He made a point of ignoring
Anquetil managed the Giro–Tour KWV^MV\QWVIT_Q[LWUIJW]\LQM\¸
DOUBLE that year, but his most champagne, oysters, and whisky
I]LIKQW][NMI\KIUMQV!_PMV _MZMIUWVOPQ[NI^WZQ\M[¸XW[MLNWZ
he took back-to-back wins in the cigarette ads, and was notoriously
Dauphiné Libéré stage race and the open about his use of DRUGS, which
now defunct motorpaced Bordeaux– he viewed as being no more than
Paris (see CLASSICS for more on this _PI\Q\\WWS\WLW\PMRWJPM_I[
event). The Dauphiné is eight days of paid to do. He refused a drug test
ZIKQVO\PZW]OP\PM)TX[#\PMSU IN\MZPQ[[MKWVLPW]ZZMKWZL¸
¹,MZJaºTI[\MLPW]Z[<PM[\IOM _PQKP_I[VW\ZI\QÅML¸IVLTMLI
ZIKMÅVQ[PMLI\PM#*WZLMI]`· riders’ strike against drug tests in
Paris began at two o’clock the !0Q[LWUM[\QKTQNM_I[IT[W
following morning. Legend has it that unconventional (see SEX).
Anquetil spent the time between the A television commentator and
two races playing poker, but what is gentleman farmer in retirement, as
KMZ\IQVQ[\PI\PM_I[ÆW_VNZWU\PM well as director of the Paris–Nice
Alps to Bordeaux in a government stage race, he died of stomach
RM\_Q\P\PMJTM[[QVOWN /MVMZITLM KIVKMZQV! IVLQ[ZMUMUJMZML
Gaulle and then braved bone-chilling with an ornate gravestone in the
rain to win in Paris, having raced cemetery in his home village of
SUQVVQVMLIa[ 9]QVKIUXWQ`R][\W]\[QLM:W]MV
Anquetil was a supreme time (SEE ALSO MEMORIALS)
v 15

Antarctica
ANTARCTICA Not the most hospitable of cycling environments,

but during Sir Ernest Shackleton’s abortive attempt to cross the
continent in 1914–15 one of the more eccentric members of his crew,
Thomas Orde-Lees, got on a bike and rode on the pack ice while the
expedition’s ship Endurance was frozen in the Weddell Sea.
APPAREL
Team apparel, a selection of the good, the bad, and the ugly:
Bic: gloriously simple, amazingly orange, to set off the brooding

Hispanic looks of Luis Ocana, not to mention JACQUES ANQUETIL.
Brooklyn: Yankee stars and white stripes on a deep blue backdrop,

and CLASSICS specialist ROGER DE VLAEMINCK to wear it.
Z: moldbreakingly bonkers comic-book “kapow splash” on a blue

background. Crazy sponsor, crazy money for GREG LEMOND.
ONCE: dramatic yellow with “blind man” logo (or was it a lottery winner
taking a leak?); the pink design for the Tour never worked that well.
EMI: one for the connoisseur, black diamond amid black and
white hoops, worn by ace climber Charly Gaul, the “Angel of the
Mountains.”
St. Raphael: twirly lettering and the glamour of Jacques Anquetil

and TOM SIMPSON.
v 16

App a rel
La Vie Claire: groundbreaking Mondrian-style interlocking

rectangles that took team jersey design away from the “name on
colored background” template when BERNARD HINAULT began wearing
it in 1984.
Saeco: the uniform itself was routine red, but the crazy variants
created for wacky sprinter Mario Cipollini were unique, perhaps
fortunately. Green with a peace symbol for Peace in Ireland, Julius
Caesar’s “veni vidi vici,” tiger stripes, “X-ray” showing internal
organs, and so on. Impactful yes, tasteful no.
Carrera Jeans: basic blue-shoulders-on-white design that was

VLPSOLFLW\LWVHOIDQGZDVÀQHLQLWVÀUVWLQFDUQDWLRQZRUQE\STEPHEN
ROCHE. But then the company decided to bring in “denim” shorts
complete with fake pockets and rivets.
Le Groupement: a psychedelic nightmare of red, yellow, green,

purple, and blue splotches worn inter alia by ROBERT MILLAR. A
merciful deliverance when the pyramid sales group went bust in July
1995.
Great Britain, 1997: who can forget the green snot color that
replaced good old blue with red shoulders. It certainly made the point
that GB had broken with the past when lottery funding started (see
GREAT BRITAIN).
Scotland, 1998: tartan shorts no less. Nationalists dreamed this one

up, aesthetes just covered their eyes.
(SEE SPONSORS FOR A LIST OF WEIRD AND WONDERFUL CYCLING BACKERS; TEAMS FOR
HOW THEY DEVELOPED PLUS SOME OF THE ICONIC NAMES AND THEIR COLORS)
v 17

Armstrong, Lance
ARMSTRONG, Lance \WTLPMPILIXMZKMV\KPIVKMWN

survival but in fact the doctors did
Born: Dallas, Texas, September, 18, 1971 not expect him to come through.
Major wins: Tour de France 1999–2005, Vicious courses of chemotherapy
22 stage wins; world road race followed, but there was never any
championship 1993; San Sebastian doubt about whether he would
Classic 1995, Flèche Wallonne 1996 ZM\]ZV\WKaKTQVOI[PQ[ÅZ[\\PW]OP\
Nicknames: Big Tex, Mellow Johnny, Le Boss when he was diagnosed had been for
Further reading: It’s Not About the Bike, his sport. “When they told me about
Lance Armstrong and Sally Jenkins, the cancer I can’t remember which
Berkley Trade, 2000; Lance Armstrong’s PQ\UMÅZ[\"1UQOP\LQMWZ1UQOP\
War, Daniel Coyle, Harper Paperbacks, lose my cycling career.” But while
2006; Lance: The Making of the World’s he was in remission, no team would
Greatest Champion, John Wilcockson, Da gamble on signing him as they were
Capo Press, 2010; Comeback 2.0: Up worried his comeback would end in
Close and Personal, Lance Armstrong with failure.
Elisabeth Kreutz, Touchstone, 2009 Armstrong eventually signed
for the relatively small US Postal
There are two sides to the record Team and remained bitterly angry
winner of the Tour de France: a with the European managers who
hero to cancer survivors worldwide PILZMRMK\MLPQU*a[XZQVO!!
IVLIPQOPTaLQ^Q[Q^MÅO]ZM_Q\PQV PM_I[ZIKQVOIOIQVIVLQV!!!
his sport. Armstrong will always he won the Tour, sealing victory
JMLMÅVMLJaPQ[KWUMJIKSNZWU with a crushing mountaintop win
severe testicular cancer, diagnosed at the Italian ski resort of Sestrière.
QV;MX\MUJMZ!!_PMVPM_I[ Suddenly, he was cycling’s biggest
WVTaJ]\PMPILITZMILa_WVI ever star: his autobiography It’s Not
_WZTLKPIUXQWV[PQX!!IJZIKM About the Bike topped the bestseller
of one-day CLASSICS, and a stage TQ[\[JaPQ[MIZVQVO[_MZM
QV\PM!!TOUR DE FRANCE. With M[\QUI\MLI\UQTTQWVIVL
lesions in his lungs, stomach, and XZM[QLMV\[+TQV\WVIVL*][PR]UXML
brain as well as one testicle, he was on the bandwagon.
v 18

Armstrong, Lance
To complete the dream story, as well as Crow, comedian Robin

)ZU[\ZWVOUIZZQMLPQ[ÅIVKuM Williams and actor Jake Gyllenhaal
Kristin Richards, and they had three came in Armstrong’s wake. Damien
children, conceived in vitro from Hirst customized a bike for him,
sperm he had banked before his while George W. Bush put him on a
chemotherapy began. His cancer cancer commission.
charity Livestrong was a rapid For all the celebrity sheen,
success, with its most successful Armstrong can be vindictive toward
promotion a distinctive yellow IVaWVM_PWKZW[[M[PQU"RW]ZVITQ[\[
_ZQ[\JIVLTI]VKPMLQV5Ia WNÅKQIT[NWZUMZ\MIUUI\M[IVL
IVLZM\IQTQVOI\WVMLWTTIZ7^MZ other cyclists, as his exchanges with
million have been snapped up to date, )TJMZ\W+WV\ILWZIN\MZ\PM!
_Q\P]X\W[WTLWVI[QVOTMLIa Tour showed. During his run of
QV\PM!<W]ZLM.ZIVKM [M^MV<W]Z_QV[I\MIUXZM[[WNÅKMZ
Dominating the Tour in the early kept a blacklist of media “trolls,”
years of the new century, Armstrong and he crossed swords regularly
took cycling to a new audience with the WADA head Dick Pound
worldwide and particularly in the over the latter’s views on doping.
USA, popularizing the sport to the 1V\PM<W]Z\PM<MÌV_IOML
extent that a time trial up l’Alpe a personal campaign against the
d’Huez in his seventh successive Italian Filippo Simeoni, because he
^QK\WZQW][<W]Z_I[[PW_V PIL\M[\QÅMLIOIQV[\\PMQZ\ZIQVMZ
live on a big television screen in MICHELE FERRARI in a drugs trial.
Times Square. By then, however, Armstrong was accused of
his private life had unraveled: he DOPING on several occasions. In
PILLQ^WZKMLNZWU3ZQ[\QVQV PQ[ÅZ[\<W]Z_QV!!!\ZIKM[WN
and would subsequently date rock corticosteroids were found in his
singer Sheryl Crow and various urine, but a prescription indicated
Hollywood starlets before starting Q\KIUMNZWUI[SQVKZMIU1V
a second family with Anna Hansen French police investigated packaging
QV2]VM!0Q[[\WZaJZW]OP\ and bloodied compresses dumped
the Tour onto the celebrity circuit: by personnel from his team, but
v 19

Armstrong, Lance
found nothing. When samples from HINAULT questioned his comeback,

\PM!!!<W]ZLM.ZIVKM_MZM the Texan responded on his Twitter
tested retroactively for EPO during feed that the Badger was a “wanker.”
ZM[MIZKPQV[M^MZITITTMOMLTa In the background, as well, were
showed traces of the drug, but an KWV[\IV\LW]J\[IJW]\\PMÅVIVKQIT
inquiry concluded that no action status of the backer Astana, a
should be taken. Questions were consortium of companies based in
frequently asked about his close Kazakhstan. When money failed to
working relationship with Ferrari. turn up to pay the riders, Armstrong
He also won a case brought by the ZM[XWVLMLJaZQLQVOQVIRMZ[Ma_Q\P
insurance company that guaranteed none of the Kazakh sponsors’ names
his win bonuses, alleging he had used visible on it. Shortly before the Tour,
banned practices to take his Tour the team was within hours of being
wins. His response was consistently LMKTIZMLÅVIVKQITTa]V^QIJTM
the same: he was the most tested <PM!<W]Z_I[LWUQVI\ML
athlete in the world and had nothing by Armstrong’s battle for leadership
\WPQLM1VWVPQ[ZM\QZMUMV\ within Astana with Alberto
standing on the winner’s podium +WV\ILWZ\PM<W]Z_QVVMZ
on the Champs-Elysées, he bitterly <PM;XIVQIZLPIL\PMTMO[#
attacked those who had doubted his Armstrong had the experience,
probity and that of his colleagues. the backing of team manager
Armstrong returned to Johan Bruyneel, and the ability to
KWUXM\Q\QWVQV!IN\MZ\PZMM wage psychological war. Although
seasons out. It was a lively year: a Contador ended up the winner,
team of French drug testers claimed Armstrong became one of the oldest
that Armstrong had breached cyclists to get on the podium when
protocol by taking a shower before PMÅVQ[PML\PQZL)\\PMMVLWN \PM
IZIVLWU\M[\#\PM<MÌVJWaKW\\ML season he and Bruyneel quit Astana
the press during the Tour of Italy to start their own team, sponsored
after falling out with the organizers, by Radioshack.
and when the equally combative <MIU:ILQW[PIKS_WV\PM
Å^M\QUM[<W]Z_QVVMZBERNARD Tour de France team prize, although
v 20

Art
)ZU[\ZWVOXTIKMLZLQVXIZ\L]M
\WI[MZQW][KZI[PWV[\IOM 0M
announced that after the January ART FACTOID
<W]Z,W_V=VLMZPM_W]TL At the end of 2009 six bikes
KWVÅVMPQ[ZIKQVO\W\PM=VQ\ML decorated by contemporary
States. In the meantime, the FDA artists for Lance Armstrong to
is investigating whether Armstrong ride during his comeback season
was involved in an organized doping were auctioned at Sotheby’s in
operation as a member of the US aid of the Texan’s Livestrong
8W[\IT;MZ^QKM\MIUJM\_MMV!!! charity. A Damien Hirst machine
IVL decorated with butterflies sold
(SEE ALSO UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, for $500,000.
CHARITIES, LONGEVITY, RIVALRIES)
4
ART The best-known cycling The Tandem shows two hirsute,

work of art is probably La Chaine muscly men—a self-portrait
Simpson, a poster produced by of Casas and his fellow artist
the cycling mad impressionist 3HUH5RPHX³LQIXOOÁLJKW
Henri de TOULOUSE-LAUTREC Dali, for his part, produced an
in 1896, while bikes are also RIÀFLDOSRVWFDUGIRUWKH
featured in the work of Salvador Tour de France—which no one
Dali and Picasso. The Catalan seems able to locate today—and
impressionist painter Ramon produced several works featuring
Casas y Carbo (1866–1932) cyclists, such as Sentimental
produced images similar to those Conversation (1944), in which a
of Toulouse-Lautrec. The Repair KRVWRIGHDWKO\ÀJXUHVRQELNHV
perfectly captures the moment ride across the canvas past a
when a cyclist bends down to grand piano.
his or her wheel to adjust a nut There are also a host of cycle
or a valve. Woman on a bike is specialist artists active today.
a cartoon of a lady tricyclist; For example, in the United
v 21

Art
States, Brooklyn-based artist with thewashingmachinepost.

Taliah Lempert has been net as an “explosion of color and
exhibiting since 1996 and is lines, there’s lots of movement.”
well known for her paintings, In Great Britain, Cornish
sketches, and prints of bicycles artist Peg Jarvis has produced
of all kinds: racers, shopping a body of work featuring track
bikes, kids’ playbikes, and cyclists including the award-
classic Bianchis and Masis. winning etching Pursuit 3. “I
Some of her work uses oils on particularly love the track; it
large canvases containing a reminds me of Roman chariot
single bicycle against a semi- racing—the excitement, the
neutral background, with the sound, the fact that you can
emphasis on the machine as a see everyone and everything. I
work of art in itself, akin to a need to see the cyclists at work,
sculpture with its graded lines. warming up, warming down.
Other works feature details As an artist, you need to draw
of cut-out lugs and individual something 100 times before it
items such as waterbottles. sinks into the memory; on the
In a 1999 interview, Lempert road, they go past so quickly that
said she does not work from they are no use to me.”
photographs or slides, but only Jarvis has moved from
from original bikes, which she drawings to etching, in some
rides in order to get a feel for cases manipulating photographic
the character of the machine: negatives and shining them
worn, shiny, pristine, etched onto light sensitive metal plates,
with street grime. Lempert’s in others simply sitting by the
work includes tangled piles of trackside and scratching onto
bikes such as might have been huge metal plates. More recently
found outside a velodrome in the she has used watercolors; she is
halcyon days of the sport, and particularly proud of a painting
“blind drawings,” loosely drawn WKDWXVHGWKHSKRWRÀQLVK
and impressionistic in style; she image of Olympic cyclist Jason
v
described these in an interview Kenny’s crash in Manchester
22

ASO
as its starting point. The photo and the British landscape that
was blown up, manipulated, appeared in the pages of Cycling
and subdivided into sections magazine and the CTC journal
that included artifacts such as The Gazette from 1893. Patterson
parking tickets and stamps in ZDVKXJHO\SUROLÀFZRUNLQJ
order to illustrate its interaction for other magazines owned by
with her own life. Temple Press, which published
Jarvis cites among her Cycling; his total number of
LQÁXHQFHV,WDOLDQDQG5XVVLDQ drawings was estimated at about
futurists, for the way they 26,000 in his 59-year career.
attempted to capture speed and Pattersons are beautifully and
power: the best-known images precisely drawn, with an element
of this kind include Umberto of the draftsman to them.
Boccioni’s Dynamism of a Cyclist They are bucolic, romantic,
(1913) and Au Velodrome by the occasionally humorous, and now
cubist Jean Metzinger, which look distinctly old-fashioned
includes cut-outs of words from and even mannered, with their
newspapers glued onto the walls clubmen smoking pipes and
of the track. wearing plus fours, bicycles
The British artist Frank leaning against a convenient
Patterson (1871–1952) has a tree while they admire the view.
devoted following for his pen- There is a timeless and very
and-ink drawings of cyclists British charm about them.
ASO See AMOURY SPORT ORGANISATION.
AUDAX The term is used to dates back to a group of Italian

denote long group rides covered cyclists who rode from Rome to
in a set time in a single day and Naples—230 km—in June 1897.
v 23

Au d a x
The newspapers referred to those DU TOUR in that in theory their

who completed the distance as events have to be ridden at a
audace—audacious—and when predetermined average speed—
Neapolitan cyclists made the this was 18 kph until 1945—and
return trip they formed a club there may be a “ride leader”
for riders who could do over 200 who cannot be overtaken. The
km in a day; the newspaper idea is to discourage racing.
term was translated into Latin, In practice there has been a
audax, and the group called itself rift in the movement and this
Audax Italiano. The rides are is not universally followed.
called Randonnées—a French PARIS–BREST–PARIS, the largest
term meaning an outing using and oldest Audax Randonnée,
any means of transport—and the is not run on this basis; unlike
riders randonneurs. cyclosportives, however, riders
The notion of group rides within are set a minimum time, which
a certain time, halfway between means that superfast cyclists
leisure and pure competition, may have to wait for controls to
gained pace internationally when open. Additionally, while some
the TOUR DE FRANCE’s father, ’sportives have assistance cars
HENRI DESGRANGE, founded a and are fully signposted, Audaxes
French body in 1904. Desgrange’s HPSKDVLVHVHOIVXIÀFLHQF\
paper L’Auto—organizer of the Today, Audaxes are run over
7RXU³UDQWKHÀUVW$XGD[HYHQW the set distances of 200, 400, and
LQZKLFKPHGDOVDQGFHUWLÀFDWHV NPTXDOLÀFDWLRQIRUPDMRU
ZHUHDZDUGHGWRÀQLVKHUV\HOORZ events such as Paris–Brest–
the color of L’Auto’s pages and Paris depends on completion of a
the leader’s jersey in the Tour, certain number of distance rides,
remains the color of 200 km which is checked by reference
medals. to the rider’s brevet book, which
Audax rides differ from is stamped by the organizers.
the more recently invented Events are thus sometimes also
CYCLOSPORTIVES such as L’ÉTAPE known as brevets.
v 24

Aus t ra l i a
AUSTRALIA The bicycle has

a long history here, beginning
with its use in the 1880s by
gold prospectors in the bush.
Cycles were also used for early
postal services and by groups of
itinerant sheep-shearers. Track
racing began early in Australia
with the Austral run in 1887
by the Melbourne Bicycle Club
at the MCG over two miles;
the discipline would remain
important for the next 120 years.
7KHÀUVW$XVWUDOLDQF\FOLQJ
star was a SIX-DAY rider in the :DUUQDPERRO²0HOERXUQHÀUVW
heyday of the American events, run in 1895 and now the longest
Reggie MacNamara, known one-day race in the world at 299
as the Iron Man. He moved to km, as well as the second oldest.
the US in 1912 and rode 115 of By 1909, the Australasian road
the events. His was one of the championship was drawing
longest pro careers ever: he did over 500 entries. But Australia
not retire until 1939 when he enjoyed only a sporadic
was 50 years old. By then he had international presence, simply
made a fortune but he ended because it was so far from the
his days penniless, working as a European heartland. In 1920,
doorkeeper at Madison Square for example, the sprinter Bob
Garden, his stomach so damaged Spears, son of a sheep farmer,
by the lifestyle and the drugs became world champion in the
that he could not keep food down discipline and made headlines
for more than half an hour. at French tracks for giving
7KHÀUVWURDGUDFHLQWKH boomerang lessons in between
Southern Hemisphere was races.
v 25

Aus t ra l i a
Professionals Don Kirkham talented track riders such as

and Snowy Munro did manage to Russell Mockridge, who won the
ÀQLVKWKH7RXULQKDYLQJ Olympic kilometer title in 1952
spent the season racing in DQGÀQLVKHGWKH7RXUWKUHH\HDUV
Europe as part of an Australian later, but internationally, the
squad, riding classics such as turning point came in the 1980s.
Milan–San Remo and Paris– In 1981 PHIL ANDERSON wore the
Roubaix. Kirkham and Munro \HOORZMHUVH\EULHÁ\LQWKHTOUR
rode the Tour as domestiques DE FRANCE, while in 1987 under
to the Frenchman Georges the guidance of Charlie Walsh
Passerieu; no Australian would the Australian Institute of Sport
again attempt the race until began a cycling program that
SIR HUBERT OPPERMAN made FKXUQHGRXWGURYHVRIÀQHWUDFN
headlines in Europe and back racers—who dominated racing
home in the 1930s. at the 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES—
Australia continued to produce and guided their riders to the
Australian Cycle Racing at a Glance

=
Biggest race: Tour Down Under
Biggest star: Phil Anderson
First Tour stage win: Anderson, Nancy, 1982
Tour overall wins to 2010: none
Australia has given cycling: Cadel Evans, sprinters on road and track, a sunny start to
the professional season, and Mulga Bill’s Bike (see BANJO PATERSON for this contribution to
cycling culture)
Further reading: Aussie Aussie Aussie Oui, Oui, Oui by Rupert Guinness (Random
House Australia, 2003)
v 26

Aus t ra l i a
road through the formation of a truly international stature came

European academy in Tuscany, onto the calendar in 2005 with
and a pro team sponsored by the promotion of the Tour Down
GIANT. Under, which opens the UCI’s
Anderson had already been ProTour calendar in January.
followed to Europe by talented With Cadel Evans, meanwhile,
racers such as Allan Peiper (a $XVWUDOLDÀQDOO\IRXQGDULGHU
member of the FOREIGN LEGION), capable of challenging for overall
Stephen Hodge, and Neil titles in major Tours. Evans
Stephens, but the AIS program began racing as a mountain-
produced so much talent that by biker, winning the World
the late 1990s and early years of Cup in 1998 and 1999 before
the 21st century, Australia was transferring to the road with
a stronger presence—certainly Saeco and Mapei then T-Mobile.
in performance terms, and He is a volatile character not
sometimes even numerically— exactly popular with the media,
in the Tour de France than who were hardly charitable to
traditional cycling nations such him as he came close to winning
as Belgium and Holland. both the 2007 and 2008 Tours
Robbie McEwen twice won the de France: his moodiness
Tour’s most prestigious stage earned him the nickname
ÀQLVKRQWKH&KDPSV(O\VpHV “Cuddles.” Late 2009 saw him
(1999 and 2002) and won the truly make history with a late
green jersey in the latter year; solo attack to win Australia’s
Stuart O’Grady managed two ÀUVWZRUOGWLWOHLQWKHPHQ·V
spells in the yellow jersey (1998 elite race at Mendrisio (see
and 2001), while Brad McGee DOGS to learn how his love for
landed the prologue time trial his pet colored his relations
in 2003. An Australian event of with the media).
v 27

B
BAHAMONTES, Federico off incident, as Bahamontes
(b. Spain, 1928) explained in an interview: “one
of my spokes broke on the way
6SDLQ·VÀUVWTOUR DE FRANCE up [the Galibier], so I attacked
ZLQQHUDQGRQHRIWKHÀQHVW so that the repair could be done
mountain climbers the sport has at the top. But the team car with
ever produced. The “Eagle of the spare was stuck behind the
7ROHGRµZDVWKHÀUVWULGHUWREH bunch, so I bought an ice cream
crowned King of the Mountains to pass the time.”
in all three major Tours, a feat Bahamontes turned to cycling
emulated only by LUIS HERRERA as a way of escaping starvation
of Colombia. He won the best- during the Spanish civil war,
climber award in the Tour de ZRQKLVÀUVWUDFHDWDQG
France six times, a record that was King of the Mountains in
stood for 40 years. He is also one WKH7RXUDWKLVÀUVWDWWHPSWLQ
of the few cyclists to race the 1954. He was received by the
Vuelta, Giro, and Tour in the dictator General Franco after
VDPH\HDUÀQLVKLQJWKWK winning the Tour in 1959. His
and 8th in the three events in victory came partly thanks to a
1958. stalemate in the French team,
Bahamontes is celebrated which had two leaders, JACQUES
as the rider who would race ANQUETIL and Roger Rivière,
DZD\IURPWKHÀHOGRQWKH neither of whom would work
Tour’s great passes, then would with the other. Bahamontes was
stop and eat an ice cream at a nervous, irrritable man who
the top. That’s actually one of threw his bike into a ravine in
the race’s great myths, a one- the 1954 Tour because he was
v 28

Bal l ant i n e, R i ch a rd
fed up and once chased a rival a bike shop in his home town.
through the peloton brandishing
(SEE ALSO SPAIN, WAR, POLITICS)
a pump. After retirement he ran
BALLANTINE, Richard
Contender for the title of cycling’s biggest-selling author, Ballantine

introduced generations of Britons and Americans to cycling as a
lifestyle through his million-selling Richard’s Bicycle Books series,
ZKLFKKDYHEHHQPDUNHWOHDGHUVVLQFHWKHÀUVWRQHZDVODXQFKHGLQ
%DOODQWLQHZDVDQDGHSWWUHQGUHDGHUIRXQGLQJWKH8.·VÀUVW
glossy cycling magazine for the general market—Bicycle Magazine in
³DQGLPSRUWLQJVRPHRIWKHÀUVWMOUNTAIN BIKES to the UK.
Prompted by the 1970s oil crisis, Ballantine was an early advocate
of cycling as part of a green lifestyle, arguing strongly against the
universal use of motor vehicles and suggesting that cycling was
life-enhancing and liberating. The Bicycle Book, a practical guide to
cycling for the novice, has been compared to Alex Comfort’s Joy of Sex
for the way it changed mindsets and established a whole new market.
Its great strengths are the accessible way that essential cycling
knowledge is presented and Ballantine’s passion and humor about
everything two-wheeled—one section in the Commuting chapter is
simply labelled “Joy.”
It also includes a robust section on dealing with DOGS, a guide
to the dangers of cars, and argues strongly for DEFENSIVE CYCLING.
Ballantine’s latest work is City Cycling, which caters for the fast-
growing cycle-commuter market.
v 29

Bar t al i , G i n o
BARTALI, Gino urinating during races. Bartali

was courted by Benito Mussolini’s
Born: Ponte a Ema, Italy, July 18, 1914 NI[KQ[\[¸1T,]KMX]\XZM[[]ZMWV
Died: Ponte a Ema, Italy, May 5, 2000 PQU\WZQLM\PM!<W]Z¸J]\PM
Major wins: Tour de France 1938, 1948, refused to wear the party insignia.
12 stage wins; Giro d’Italia 1936–7, 1946, Like Coppi he lost the best years
17 stage wins; Milan–San Remo 1939–40, of his career to the Second World
1947, 1950; Giro di Lombardia 1936, ?IZ,]ZQVO\PMKWVÆQK\PMKIZZQML
1939–40; Championship of Zurich 1946, letters and forged documents
1948; Tour of Switzerland 1946–7 PQLLMVQVPQ[JQSM#PMIXXMIZML\W
Nicknames: the Pious One, the Iron Man, be merely training but was in fact
the Old One acting as a courier for a Catholic
network that was smuggling Jews
The Italian remains the oldest man out of Italy. The material was used
to win the TOUR DE FRANCE in the to forge passports.
XW[\_IZMZI\ZQ]UXPQVOQV! I\ Postwar he became friendly with
\PMIOMWN aMIZ[IN\MZPQ[ÅZ[\ the Christian Democrat Italian
victory in the event. His career was prime minister Alcide de Gasperi.
WVMWN KaKTQVO¼[TWVOM[\!aMIZ[ Bartali’s victory in the Tour in
[XIVVQVO\PZMMLMKILM[#PM_WVPQ[ ! KIUMI[1\ITaLM[KMVLMLQV\W
ÅZ[\1\ITQIVVI\QWVIT\Q\TMQV! chaos and near revolution following
PQ[TI[\QV![MMLONGEVITY for the attempted murder of the
other durable cyclists). Communist party leader Palmiro
Bartali was famed for his epic Togliatti. Before the critical stage
RIVALRY with FAUSTO COPPI and through the ALPS, de Gasperi called
for his fervent CATHOLICISM¸PM Bartali at his hotel in Cannes and
had a private chapel in his home asked him to win for his country.
in Tuscany and famously attended He broke away through the Alps
mass before stage starts in the Tour to win the critical mountain stage,
and Giro. He was also said never and the revolution was averted.
to have sworn once in seven years, Although historians contend that
and to disapprove of fellow cyclists the tumult in Italy might well have
v 30

Bauer, Steve
died away whether or not Bartali prevented a revolution by winning it.

had triumphed in the Tour, he has (SEE ALSO WAR, POLITICS)
become celebrated as the man who
BAUER, Steve (b. Canada, 1959) Tour de France riding for the
Helvetia team run by Hinault’s
While Alex Stieda has the old manager Paul Koechli; he
KRQRXURIEHLQJWKHÀUVW7RXU then wore the yellow jersey for
de France yellow jersey wearer ÀYHGD\V/DWHUWKDW\HDUKH
from CANADA, Bauer blazed a was involved in one of the most
lone trail as the country’s Tour controversial incidents seen in
de France star through the late any WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS,
1980s and early 1990s, spending when he and Claude Criquielion
a total 14 days in the maillot of Belgium collided while
jaune, and achieving Canada’s VSULQWLQJIRUWKHÀQLVKRIWKHSUR
KLJKHVW7RXUÀQLVKRIIRXUWK road race in Ronsse, Belgium.
in 1988. He was also Canada’s Criquielion sued Bauer for
ÀUVWCLASSIC winner, taking the assault and the case dragged
Championship of Zurich in 1989, on for three years before going
and his career at the highest Bauer’s way.
level lasted from his silver medal In 1990 Bauer was on the
ride in the 1984 OLYMPIC GAMES wrong end of perhaps the closest
road race at Los Angeles to the ÀQLVKWRPARIS–ROUBAIX, coming
1996 Games in Atlanta, the year second to Eddy Planckaert by
he retired. a few millimeters, but later
Bauer turned professional for that year he was one of four
the La Vie Claire team alongside riders who gained 10 minutes
BERNARD HINAULT in 1985, and LQWKHÀUVWVWDJHRIWKH7RXU
ZRQWKHÀUVWVWDJHRIWKH de France, and he ended up in
v 31

BBAR ( Br i ti s h B est A l l R o u n d er)
the yellow jersey for nine days an Eddy Merckx machine with
EHIRUHHYHQWXDOO\ÀQLVKLQJ a drastically relaxed seat angle
27th overall. In 1993, riding nicknamed the stealth bike. It
for Motorola, Bauer turned up had a massively long wheelbase,
at Paris–Roubaix on one of the a lengthened chain, and a special
strangest bikes ever seen there— saddle with a raised back.
BBAR (British Best All Individual clubs also run their

Rounder) The BBAR is own BBAR contests.
the mainstay of British TIME The BBAR was founded by
TRIALLING, a season-long contest the magazine Cycling in 1930,
to decide the best endurance DQGWKHÀUVWZLQQHUZDV)UDQN
specialist of the year. The Southall, who went on to win
rankings are decided according the contest four times in a row.
to average speeds set over After the war, the time trialling
three disciplines—50 and 100 governing body, the Road Time
miles and 12 hours for men, Trials Council, took over the
and 25, 50, and 100 miles for contest; until 1976, the average
women. Men who achieve an speed calculations were made by
average of over 22 mph are a Manchester cyclist named Tom
JLYHQFHUWLÀFDWHVIRUZRPHQWKH Barlow using a slide rule. The
cutoff is 20 mph. There are also women’s contest was dominated
team and veteran rankings and for a quarter of a century by the
competitions for school-age boys late BERYL BURTON, a record that
and girls over shorter distances. stands out in all sports.
BICYCLE From the Latin “two claims that LEONARDO DA VINCI

wheels.” Although there are dreamed up a bike, the earliest
v 32

Bi cy cl e
two-wheeled human-powered patented, many for tricycles

machines were produced at the and quadricycles, none of which
VWDUWRIWKHWKFHQWXU\³ÀUVW caught on.
the DRAISIENNE or HOBBY HORSE, In the early 1840s
which didn’t have any pedals, KIRKPATRICK MACMILLAN and the
and later the BONESHAKER, Frenchman Alexandre Lefebvre
which did. What followed was a both produced rear-wheel-
constant search for improvement driven machines that never
in any area where mechanics became popular; instead the
came into play, from industry to HIGH-WHEELER took over before
personal transport, and a wide WKHÀUVWSAFETY BICYCLES were
variety of cycle designs were produced in the 1880s, with the
v 33

Bicycle Lanes
GHÀQLWLYHSDWWHUQVHWE\JAMES investment in facilities and things

STARLEY’s Rover in 1885. have hardly improved since.
Radical variations on this basic Every urban cyclist has their
bike design, truly established own horror story of cars parked
at the end of the 19th century, where they shouldn’t be, lanes
have been relatively rare. The that lead onto main thoroughfares
Moulton small-wheeler from the and stop just when they are most
1960s is one departure that has needed, and lanes that last, oh,
enjoyed enduring popularity. The two meters if you are lucky. The
BMX bike and rear-suspended SKHQRPHQRQZDVVLJQLÀFDQW
cross-country mountain bike are enough that it generated its own
others, while MIKE BURROWS’s pocket novelty book, Crap Cycle
Lotus monocoque and GRAEME Lanes. We read it and wept.
OBREE’s cross-beamed frame are
reminders that we should never BINDA, Alfredo
be content with the status quo.
(SEE MOULTON, OBREE, PEDERSEN FOR Born: Cittiglio, Italy, August 11, 1902
INVENTORS WHO TRIED TO BREAK THE Died: March 30, 1986
MOLD; BRAKES, GEARS, WHEELS, TIRES,
Major wins: World road title 1927, 1930,
FRAMES FOR HOW THESE COMPONENTS
DEVELOPED)
1932; Giro d’Italia 1925, 1927–9, 1933,
41 stages; Milan–San Remo 1929, 1931;
Giro di Lombardia 1925–7, 1931
BICYCLE LANES Famously crap, Nickname: Mona Lisa
except in HOLLAND (go to that
FRXQWU\·VVHFWLRQWRÀQGRXWZK\ One of the CAMPIONISSIMO, the
WKLVLVWKHFDVH7KHÀUVWF\FOH ÅZ[\XZWNM[[QWVIT_WZTLKPIUXQWV
lane in Britain opened in 1934, a great team manager, and the only
alongside the A40 in West London man to be paid not to ride the Giro
and was two and a half miles long d’Italia, because he was so good
and 2.5 m wide on either side that the organizers were worried
of the road. Even then cyclists he would kill off any interest in the
were complaining of a lack of race. By curious coincidence, he was
v 34

Binda, Alfredo
IT[W\PMÅZ[\UIV\WJMWNNMZML[\IZ\ UWVMa¸IVL\PM[MKZM\MUMZOML
money to ride the TOUR DE FRANCE. WVTaQV!
Binda began working life as )N\MZZM\QZMUMV\QV!*QVLI
a bricklayer and developed his became Italian national team
sprinting speed with track racing manager, with the task of keeping
_PMVPM_I[aW]VO.ZWU!\W FAUSTO COPPI and GINO BARTALI
!PM_I[ITUW[\]VJMI\IJTM from falling out when their rivalry
taking the inaugural professional was at its height. He led the
world road race title on the elaborate negotiations to ensure the
Nürburgring in Germany ahead of XIQZ_W]TLZQLM\PM!!<W]Z]VLMZ
the other campionissimo of the time, Italian colors, then was responsible
Costanta Girardengo. He won the for persuading Coppi to stay in the
/QZWQV!IVLNZWU!\W race after he crashed on the stage to
!!_Q\P[\IOM_QV[QV\PM!! Saint-Malo and became convinced
race, but was discreetly requested he should quit. He also had to deal
VW\\W[\IZ\\PM!ZIKMIVLOQ^MV with little matters like his deputy
\PMMY]QÎTMV\WN ÅZ[\XZQbM[Q`[\IOM (Coppi’s trade team manager) failing
wins, and the bonus he would have to provide Bartali with a feed bag,
won. “My best Giro,” he said later. and the fact that on the decisive day
¹1KWV[QLMZ1_WVQ\Å^MIVLIPITN in the ALPS, neither would cooperate
times.” with the other.
At that year’s Tour de France, on Binda also oversaw Coppi’s
the other hand, HENRI DESGRANGE [MKWVL<W]Z_QVQV!IVL
badly needed him to lend some guided Italy to world titles with
luster to the event, being run for the +WXXQIVL-ZKWTM*ITLQVQQV!
ÅZ[\\QUM_Q\PVI\QWVITZI\PMZ\PIV IVL! 4I\MZPMZIVIKWUXIVa
trade teams. Binda was paid a daily that made shoes, which was best
rate, won two stages, and quit so known for producing toestraps,
he could prepare to win a second the universal way of attaching
world title. He was sworn to silence cycling shoes to pedals until ski-type
W^MZ\PMNMM¸,M[OZIVOMPILJMMV bindings became popular in the late
adamant he would never pay start ! [
v 35

B MX
BMX Bicycle motocross entered Shanaze Reade. “You get a real

the mainstream in 2008 when rush of adrenaline when the
it was part of the program at start gate drops because you
the Beijing OLYMPIC GAMES. The have only got 45 seconds to get
hackles of traditionalists were everything out.”
raised, because the event it BMX began in the 1970s in
ousted, the kilometer time trial, California when kids used to
was one of the classic disciplines. mess around on dirt tracks,
But the appeal was obvious. inspired by the skill and speed
Run over short obstacle courses of motocross racers. Today, races
using scaled-down bikes, BMX consist of heats for up to eight
is accessible, spectator friendly, riders over a short purpose-built
and spectacular for television course (300–400m) including
viewers. It’s also indelibly banked curves (berms), humps,
imprinted in the minds of anyone and jumps. The riders line up
ZKRZDWFKHGWKHVFLHQFHÀFWLRQ with their wheels against a start
ÀOPE.T. “It’s a power sport that gate that drops to launch them
calls for skills and nerve as well,” down a start ramp. Usually this
says the British world champion ramp is only a few meters high,
v 36

B MX
Basic techniques include

BIZARRE wheelies, bunnyhops, and
BMX FACTOID manualing—when the rider
lifts the front wheel of the bike
Nicole Kidman had her first
over a jump with the back wheel
starring role in the 1983 film
still on the ground—as well as
BMX Bandits in which she
slide braking, in which the bike
played a bouffant-haired, crime-
is pushed sideways around the
fighting, BMX-riding teenager.
corner, with the rider on the very
See FILMS for other two-wheeled
movies. edge of losing control. Contact
is important as well, because on
4
WUDFNWKHULGHUVÀJKWIRUSRVLWLRQ
going into and out of the bends.
but at the Olympic Games, to World championships have
make it a livelier spectacle for been held in BMX since 1982,
WHOHYLVLRQULGHUVÁHZGRZQD while Freestyle BMX—doing
vertiginous eight-meter-high tricks on the bike along the
ramp with a slope of 33 percent. lines of skateboarding or
That meant the riders hit the snowboarding—is a staple at the
course at over 30 mph, enabling annual extreme sports X Games.
WKHPWRJHWXSWRÀYHPHWHUVLQWR But the sport really gained
the air over the jumps. credibility when it became part
Crashing is an ever-present of the Olympic program in 2008.
ULVNVRWKHULGHUVZHDUORRVHÀW To assist Reade in her build-up
clothing and full motorcycle- for gold, the GREAT BRITAIN team
style helmets. Bikes are small- built her a course in Manchester
wheeled—20 or 24 inches—with that included an extremely steep
one brake and fat tires, and Olympic standard start ramp.
are small-framed with a huge Unfortunately she crashed
amount of clearance between seat out when going for gold; the
and saddle so that the riders can inaugural Olympic champions
throw the bike about more easily. were Anne-Caroline Chausson,
v 37

Bo ar dm a n , C h ri s
a former MOUNTAIN-BIKE 2002 Tour de France; CHRIS HOY,

downhiller from France, and Scottish track sprinter who
Maris Strombergs of Latvia. took three gold medals at the
Former BMX champions who 2008 Olympics; and Jamie Staff,
have made it in other disciplines BMX world champion who
include: Robbie McEwen, won Olympic gold on the track
Australian road sprinter who in 2008.
won the green jersey at the
BOARDMAN, Chris and amazing mind for detail. His

interest in cycling stemmed purely
Born: Hoylake, England, August 26, 1968 from a love of competition rather
Major wins: Olympic pursuit gold 1992; than the act of riding a bike. “I’m
Olympic time trial bronze 1996; world time not a cyclist,” he said. “I rode bikes.
trial gold 1994; world pursuit champion Ninety percent of me said ‘I don’t
1994, 1996; world hour records 1993, JMTQM^M1¼UPMZM¼XMZKMV\[IQL1
1996; three stage wins in Tour de France; had to do it. I was a visitor, which
MBE 1992 was a shame because [cycling] is a
Further reading/viewing: Chris lovely sport.”
Boardman, the Complete Book of Cycling, Boardman began his career as a
Partridge Press, 2000; DVDs: Battle of the British TIME-TRIALLINGKPIUXQWV¸
Bikes; The Final Hour _QVVQVO\PMUQTMIVLPQTTKTQUJ
\Q\TM[¸\PMV\IZOM\ML\PMQVLQ^QL]IT
<PMÅZ[\*ZQ\Q[P7TaUXQKKaKTQVO pursuit at the Barcelona Olympics,
gold medalist of the modern era and _PMZMPQ[OWTL_I[\PMÅZ[\JaI
one of the men behind the sport’s *ZQ\Q[PKaKTQ[\[QVKM!<W[WUM
great revival in GREAT BRITAIN in extent, the feat was overshadowed
\PM[\KMV\]Za*WIZLUIVQ[UQTLTa by the fact that he won the pursuit
dyslexic, with an investigative brain on a radical aerodynamic bike with
v 38

Bo ar dma n , C h ri s
IKIZJWVÅJMZUWVWKWY]MNZIUM crashed out of the Tour four times

made by Lotus and designed by in six starts.
MIKE BURROWS#*WIZLUIV_WV 1V!!*WIZLUIV_WV
the race, but the bike grabbed the the inaugural time trial world
headlines. KPIUXQWV[PQXIVLQV!!PM_WV
While his time-trialling RIVALRY an Olympic bronze medal at the
with GRAEME OBREE made news discipline, then set what is now the
in Britain he and his trainer, Peter LMÅVQ\Q^MLQ[\IVKMI\\PMPW]Z_Q\P
Keen, turned their attention to the SU)N\MZ\PMZ]TM[OW^MZVQVO
HOUR RECORD, which he broke the hour record were changed, he
QV!!MIZVQVOIXZWNM[[QWVIT decided to end his career with an
contract with the French team GAN. attempt under the new system and
1VPQ[ÅZ[\<W]ZLM.ZIVKMQV!! managed to beat EDDY MERCKX’s
his time-trialling skill secured him !LQ[\IVKMWN !SUJaI
\PMaMTTW_RMZ[Ma_PMVPM_WV\PM UMZMU
prologue time trial. He also took the Boardman was unlucky to race at
WXMVQVO[\IOMQV!!IVL!! J]\ a time when DOPING_I[ZIUXIV\#
v 39

Bo be t, L o u i so n
he found out late in his career After a few years in retirement,

that he suffered from a hormone Boardman went to work on the
LMÅKQMVKa\PI\KI][M[W[\MWXWZW[Q[ British Lottery-funded Olympic
and that it could only be treated track racing program founded by
_Q\PQVRMK\QWV[WN \M[\W[\MZWVM Keen. When not devoting time to
a banned drug. Following the M`\ZMUM[K]JILQ^QVO¸PQ[XMZ[WVIT
.M[\QVILWXQVO[KIVLITWN !! \PM WJ[M[[QWV¸IVLPQ[TIZOMNIUQTa
authorities did not feel they could Boardman mentored gold medalists
let him use the drug, so he could such as BRADLEY WIGGINS, devised
only take up the treatment after coach management systems, became
retirement. He is perhaps the only one of the program’s
cyclist to quit racing in order to use core management quartet, and
banned drugs. was one of the “secret squirrels”
Boardman and Keen had been who researched aerodynamic
highly inventive in their approach uniforms in the run-up to the
to training, using a treadmill to *MQRQVO/IUM[WN
simulate mountain climbs and (SEE ALSO AERODYNAMICS, GREAT
focusing on quality not volume. BRITAIN, OLYMPIC GAMES)
BOBET, Louison Nickname: the Baker of St. Meen

Further reading: Tomorrow We Ride, Jean
Born: St Méen le Grand, France, March 12, Bobet, Cordee, 2008
1925
Died: Biarritz, France, March 13, 1983 First man to win the TOUR DE
Major wins: World road race, 1954; Tour FRANCE in three consecutive
de France 1953–55, 11 stage wins; King aMIZ[!·#\PM*ZM\WV_I[
of the Mountains 1950; Milan–San Remo a tenacious cyclist who learned
1951; Tour of Flanders 1955; Paris– his trade alongside FAUSTO COPPI
Roubaix 1956; Giro di Lombardia 1951; in Italy and was also capable of
Bordeaux–Paris 1959 UIRWZWVMLIa_QV[[]KPI[MILAN–
v 40

Bo ne sh a k er
SAN REMO!\PMTOUR OF again (see SADDLE SORES for other

LOMBARDY!PARIS–ROUBAIX nether nasties).
!IVL\PM_WZTLZWIL\Q\TM Bobet was celebrated for his
! determination and ended his
Bobet is also famous for a curious career with perhaps the bravest
MXQ[WLMQV\PM!<W]Z_PMVPM ÅVITIK\KaKTQVOPI[[MMV1V\PM
ZMN][ML\WX]\WV\PMaMTTW_RMZ[Ma !!<W]ZPM_I[QTTIVL[]NNMZQVO
because it was made of synthetic but forced himself to complete
UI\MZQIT#PM_I[_WZZQMLQ\UQOP\ U]KPWN \PMZIKMÅVITTaZQLQVO\W
irritate his skin. Perhaps his nerves the top of the highest pass in the
were understandable: he completed event, the Col de l’Iséran (see ALPS
the Tour with a severe saddle boil, \WÅVLW]\PW_PQOPIVLPIZL\PQ[
which was operated on after the one is relative to other cols). There
ZIKM#PMKIUMJIKS\WKWUXM\Q\QWV he climbed off his bike, never to
too soon and was never the same race again.
BONESHAKER Generic term for but they were also simple to use
early front-wheel bicycle similar and speedy compared to walking.
to the machines invented in Michaux understood the
1861 by the Frenchman Pierre value of publicity; he supplied a
Michaux and his son Ernest, not bike to the French head of state
dissimilar to the DRAISIENNE, but Napoleon III and supplied JAMES
it was powered by pedals on the MOOREZLWKRQHIRUWKHÀUVW
axle of the front wheel, “like the RIÀFLDOF\FOHUDFHLQ:LWK
crank handle of a grindstone” some outside investment from
as Pierre put it; in 1865 his Olivier Brothers, his company
company turned out 400 of the pushed up production to 200 a
things in their workshop near day; there were by now 60 other
the Champs-Elysées. They were boneshaker makers in the capital
unforgiving and hard to steer, and upmarket models were being
v 41

Bo ne sh a k er
made with steel frames, ebony use stuttered with the onset
wheels, and ivory grips on the of the Franco–Prussian war in
handlebars. 1870, and the political turmoil
,Q1RYHPEHUWKHÀUVW that followed.
cycling magazine, Le Vélocipede In Britain the Midlands, and
Illustré, and Olivier Brothers Coventry in particular, rapidly
ran the Paris–Rouen race, won became the center for velocipede
by Moore (see ROAD RACING) production. Gradually, the
using the machines. By now design changed: the unpowered
race meetings were drawing up back wheel of the Michaux-type
to 300 competitors, including machines was shrunk, to save
women, and as many as 10,000 weight, frames became more
spectators. The vogue for the nimble, and the front wheel
machines spread rapidly, to grew, to a limit set by the inside
Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, leg of the rider. The boneshaker
Germany, Britain, and the US. disappeared, and the HIGH-
In France, however, velocipede WHEELER was born.
v 42

Bo o ks —F i ct i o n
BOOKS—FICTION North was researching the work

are known to scrutinize the book
A subjective selection in no FORVHO\WU\LQJWRÀJXUHZKRLV
particular order who. Trivia lovers note: there is
a William Fotheringham in the
The Wheels of Chance, H.G. Wells pages, but he’s sports editor of
+DUGWRÀQGWXUQRIWKHFHQWXU\ the Guardian. We emphasize
novel in which Wells’s hero, WKDWLWLVÀFWLRQ
Hoopdriver, undertakes a 10-
day cycle tour of Britain’s South Bad to the Bone, James Waddington
Coast and falls in love with Surreal novel published by
a fellow cyclist, one of many happy coincidence in 1998, the
women given freedom by their year of the Festina scandal,
newfound mobility. Beautiful in which top cyclists in the
portrait of cycling in the TOUR DE FRANCE are offered a
formative years of the pastime, Faustian pact by a sports doctor:
with acute observation of the a wonder drug which will make
blurring of class distinctions the them unbeatable, but which
bicycle brought with it. has horrendous side effects.
,W·VÀFWLRQ+RQHVW3URF\FOLVWV
Cat, Freya North would never go so far—would
Since its publication in 1999 they?
this chick-lit tale of bedhopping
on the Tour (as the author puts The Rider, Tim Krabbe
it, “big egos and bigger bulges Cult novella with a popular
in the lycra shorts”) is probably English translation from
WKHELJJHVWVHOOLQJF\FOLQJÀFWLRQ 2002. Goes inside one rider’s
work ever: 10 years later, almost PLQGGXULQJDÀFWLRQDOUDFH
every British thrift store and somewhere hilly in the South
teenage female babysitter seem of France—the only issue being
to have a copy. Tour journos who that if any cyclist actually
were on the 1998 race when La thought that much he’d be too
v 43

Bo o ks — N o n f i ct i o n
distracted to compete. Totally glory days of Bobet and Robic,

compulsive: you either love it or but is unlikely to cut much ice
it leaves you cold. with the PlayStation generation.
The Yellow Jersey, Ralph Hurne

Possibly the least politically BOOKS—NONFICTION
correct cycling work ever, what
with the big-breasted, topless The Great Bike Race, Geoff Nicholson
lady (alongside the Condor bike) Masterly history of the Tour de
on the Pan paperback, and the France crafted around the 1976
constant references to potential race, oozing humor and glorious
sexual partners as “it.” Get past detail without a hint of self.
that and this 1973 novel is a
hilarious, racy, suspenseful gem:
you can’t help but get drawn in
as Terry Davenport, jaded ex-pro
and womanizer, gears up for one
last Tour and suffers like hell in
the process. The bit where the
WRSÀYHULGHUVLQWKHUDFHDOOWHVW
positive is amusingly prescient.
Written with two endings, one
for the British market, one for
the US.
The Big Loop, Claire Huchet Bishop

Published in 1955, offering a
Parisian teenager’s view of a
cycling career from aspirant
without a bike to Tour winner.
It has a certain charm as a
portrait of French cycling in the
v 44

Bo o ks — N o n f i ct i o n
Nicholson, God rest his soul, was Read and judge Le Boss for
a writer who topped the Galibier yourself.
while the others were toiling
up the Télégraphe. His sequel, Major Taylor, Andrew Ritchie
Le Tour, did not quite hit these Ritchie set the standard for
heights. cycling biography with this
account of the life of one of
Wide-Eyed and Legless, Jeff Connor $PHULFD·VÀUVWQRQZKLWHVSRUWV
No journalist will ever get as stars. Impeccable research and
close to a team as Connor got a lively re-creation of cycling’s
to ANC-Halfords in the 1987 HEROIC ERA.
Tour de France, and no squad
will want them to, given the Kings of the Road, Robin Magowan and
stuff he picked up thanks to Graham Watson
his inimitable eye for detail. This 1985 opus is the best
The gradual implosion of the integrated words-and-pictures
ÀUVW%ULWLVKWUDGHWHDPWRULGH book about professional cycle
the Tour is dissected in all its racing. Some of the content is
quarrelsome, anarchic glory. dated but GRAHAM WATSON’s
Connor’s attempt to ride a Tour photos and the pen-portraits of
stage is the hilarious high point. ROBERT MILLAR, SEAN KELLY,
PHIL ANDERSON, and GREG
Lance Armstrong’s War, Daniel Coyle LEMOND are timeless.
The best way to learn about
LANCE ARMSTRONG and 21st Kings of the Mountains, Matt Rendell
century pro cycling, through Exhaustive and intense
the eyes of a wry outsider investigation into cycling
given inside access to Planet in COLOMBIA. Like Ritchie’s
Lance. Brilliantly observed, Major Taylor, it extends way
hilariously written, but above beyond things two-wheeled and
all dispassionate, neither for nor offers a superb insight into a
against the controversial Texan. controversial, colorful nation.
v 45

Bo o ks — M e m o i r s/ A u t o b i o g ra p h y
Greg Lemond: The Incredible scene where Armstrong has to

Comeback, Samuel Abt masturbate into a cup so that
The best work from one of the he can bank sperm before his
great cycling writers of the last testicular cancer operation. A
quarter-century. This 1990 key element in the Big-Tex myth.
account of LeMond’s return from
near-death to win the best Tour Flying Scotsman, Graeme Obree
de France ever is as good at it For my money the rawest and
gets. best cycling autobiography.
Graeme Obree tells his story
Sean Kelly: A Man for All Seasons, uncut, without the intermediary
David Walsh of a ghost writer, and tells of
7KHGHÀQLWLYHDFFRXQWRIWKH sexual abuse and attempted
great man’s rise in the early suicide with not a hint of self-
1980s; Walsh is superbly SLW\$ORQJVLGHWKLVWKHÀOP
observant, can work out the of the same name is distinctly
deals his fellow Irishman is insipid.
VWULNLQJDQGEHQHÀWVIURP
unlimited access. Those were Rough Ride, Paul Kimmage
the days. As with Armstrong, you swoon
or swear at this up and (let’s
face it, mainly) down account of
BOOKS—MEMOIRS/
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
It’s Not About the Bike, Lance Armstrong

Love or loathe Lance Armstrong,
you can’t ignore one of the
biggest-selling cycling books
ever, because of the visceral
emotions it brings. The detail
is telling, most notably the
v 46

Bo o ks — M e m o i rs/ A u t o b i o g ra p h y
Paul Kimmage’s career as a pro elegantly crafted, tugs at the

in the mid-1980s. Great inside heartstrings, and sums up why
stuff, but his drug “revelations” we all ride bikes.
seem timid now, though at the
time they were scandalous. No A Dog in a Hat, Joe Parkin
one describes suffering on a bike The life and times of a mediocre
quite so well; brutally debunked American pro in Belgium is
the “glamour” of pro life, even if one of the most compelling
it is a bit Gone with a Whinge. memoirs of its time, mainly
because of Parkin’s sheer love
The Escape Artist, Matt Seaton of Flandrian cycling culture
Elegiac telling of Matt Seaton’s and the pure weirdness of pro
discovery of cycling against a racing. The high point comes
background of serious “stuff of early on, when Parkin reads the
life,” namely his wife’s death lyrics to “Jumping Jack Flash”
of cancer. Beautifully written, handwritten on Bob Roll’s tires.
MEMOIRS A brief selection:
For the Love of Jacques Sophie Anquetil 2004

Glory Without the Yellow Jersey Raymond Poulidor 1977
Boy Racer Mark Cavendish 2009
Cycling Is my Life Tom Simpson 1966, 2009
The Fastest Bicycle Racer in the World Major Taylor 1928
In Pursuit of Glory Bradley Wiggins 2008
Personal Best Beryl Burton reiss. 2008
Le Peloton des Souvenirs Bernard Hinault 1988
We Were Young and Carefree Laurent Fignon 2010
The Autobiography Chris Hoy 2009
v 47

Bo o ks— Tra v el
The spate of drug scandals since 1998 has given rise to a small
DQGKLJKO\SURÀWDEOHJHQUHFRQIHVVLRQDOPHPRLUVE\DGUXJWDNHU
or provider. First came Secret High by the almost unknown Erwann
Mentheour, followed by Massacre à la Chain (translated as Breaking
the Chain, Yellow Jersey, 2000) by the soigneur Willy Voet of
Festina, which sold over 300,000 copies. Others to tell their stories
in print included Jerome Chiotti, a mountain-bike world champion
ZKRUHWXUQHGKLVJROGPHGDODIWHUFRQIHVVLQJWRGUXJXVHWKH&RÀGLV
professional Philippe Gaumont, the Festina manager Bruno Roussel
and the team’s leader Richard Virenque. The latter’s book, My
Truth, explained how he had not taken drugs, and was published
before he changed his mind and confessed. Christophe Bassons, an
anti-drugs campaigner and former Festina professional, wrote the
ironically titled Positif.
BOOKS—TRAVEL Round Ireland in Low Gear, Eric Newby

Pretty eccentric tale, as the
French Revolutions, Tim Moore travel-writing great sets off in
A cycling novice takes on a the depths of winter with wife
bonkers task: riding around Wanda to contend with Irish
France, loosely based on the weather, Irish signposts, and
2000 Tour route. Moore has their shared lack of cycling
no inhibitions about his own experience.
failings and, unlike others who
use the “I” word to destruction, Round the World on a Wheel, John
he gets away with it because Foster-Fraser
KLVVHQVHRIKXPRUQHYHUÁDJV Kipling or Baden Powell should
Probably the best constructed have written this account of one
HQGLQJDPRQJDOOWKHÀQHWRPHV RIWKHÀUVWDURXQGWKHZRUOG
listed here. trips. If you want to get an idea
v 48

Borysewicz, Eddie
of the mindset that made the septic leg oozing pus. You won’t
British Empire what it was—in complain about riding your bike
the best and worst senses—it’s to the store again.
all there in this book, reissued
in 1982. An excellent Boys’ Own- Full Tilt: Dunkirk to Delhi by Bicycle,
style caper at the time, now a Dervla Murphy
period piece. Setting off in the depths of
Britain’s hardest winter of the
Into the Remote Places, Ian Hibell 20th century, 1963, Murphy
One of the original and best made it all the way to India
“ridden there” books. Hibell with her bike, producing an epic
cannot match Moore for humor, account of cycling through Iran,
or Newby for observation, but no Afghanistan, Pakistan, and
holds are barred, from bust-ups Kashmir that offers much food
with his (male) companions, to for thought given the current
his love affair with a (female) political situation.
companion, not to mention the (SEE LITERATURE FOR HOW CYCLING FITS
extreme experience of crossing INTO THE LITERARY WORLD OF HENRY
MILLER, FLANN O’BRIEN, AND ALFRED
the Darien Gap, slashing the
JARRY)
jungle, bike on his back, with a
BORYSEWICZ, Eddie (b. Poland, 1939) that eventually became US

Postal Service. Borysewicz was
Groundbreaking US national born in Poland, where he was
coach who masterminded the a national junior champion
medal-winning performances before moving to coaching after a
at the Los Angeles Olympics, tuberculosis infection. He was on
furthered the careers of GREG the Polish team staff at the 1976
LEMOND and LANCE ARMSTRONG, Olympic Games in Montreal and
and initially managed the team joined the US Cycling Federation
v 49

Borysewicz, Eddie
as head coach the following year, the medals at the Panamerican

thanks to a chance meeting in *DPHVDQGLQWRLWVÀUVW
a bike shop with the USCF’s Olympic medals since 1912, with
competition head Mike Fraysse. WKHVTXDGWDNLQJÀYHJROGVLQ
Borysewicz spoke no L.A. That triumph was, however,
English and initially relied on marred by the subsequent
the 12-year-old son of Polish revelation that some of the
friends for translation. The team had used blood doping, a
riders nicknamed him Eddie practice that was not illegal at
B because they could not the time but was later banned.
pronounce his surname. He Borysewicz denied involvement.
bought his own desk at the He left the US team in 1987
Olympic Training Center in and founded an amateur team
Squaw Valley and booted out backed by Montgomery Securities
most of the established national that included Lance Armstrong
team, telling many of the riders among its members. Subaru-
they were too fat. Compared Montgomery raced the European
to established practices in circuit in 1993 without great
EASTERN EUROPE, however, this success, but the Montgomery
was standard procedure. His head Thomas Weisl stuck
ÀUVWVHDVRQLQFRPPDQGZDV with the squad and it acquired
marked by silver medals on backing from the US Postal
track and road for Sue Novara Service in 1996. After quitting
and CONNIE CARPENTER, but professional cycling, Eddie B
another big breakthrough came coached the Polish national team
with LeMond’s junior world in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing
road title in 1979. Four years Olympics. Borysewicz was
later, Borysewicz guided the inducted into the US Bicycling
US team to a clean sweep of all Hall of Fame in 1996.
v 50

Bo y e r , J o n a t h a n
BOYER, Jonathan (b. Moab, Utah, 1955) actually a marketing ploy by the
race organizers. In 1982 he was
)LUVW$PHULFDQWRÀQLVKWKH7RXU in contention for a medal at the
GH)UDQFHDQGRQHRIWKHÀUVW world road race championships
to forge a career in Continental in Goodwood, England, but
Europe. Boyer was born in LeMond rode past en route to
Utah, raised in Monterey, and the silver medal. In 1983 he
moved to France in 1973 to rode to his best Tour placing,
join the ACBB cycling club in 12th overall; his only major win
3DULVDQRXWÀWWKDWKDGKRVWHG in Europe was a stage of the
Irish pioneer Shay Elliott in the Tour of Switzerland in 1984.
1950s and would subsequently Later, Boyer was a member of
become celebrated for producing the 7-Eleven team managed by
many of the FOREIGN LEGION of JIM OCHOWICZ in its early years
British, Irish, and Australian racing the European circuit.
pros. Boyer turned pro for the In November 2002 he was
Lejeune-BP squad in 1977 but convicted of lewd behavior with
was subsequently hired by the a minor and served a year in jail
Renault-Elf squad to assist DQGÀYH\HDUVSUREDWLRQ6LQFH
Greg LeMond on his entry to his release, Boyer has completed
European racing. He completed the Race Across America—which
KLVÀUVW7RXULQZHDULQJ he won in 1990—and has been
a jersey with a stars and stripes active with mountain bike
design that suggested he was guru Tom Ritchey in promoting
US national champion, but was cycling in Rwanda.
BRAKES Early bicycles had tires, sometimes with a lever

crude braking devices consisting pushed by the foot. Pneumatic
of rod-operated spoons or rollers tires, invented in the 1890s,
that pushed onto their solid were more fragile, so rim brakes
v 51

Bra k es
were developed, still powered offer; they were used on early

by levers and rods; at the same mountain bikes.
time, the development of early Until the end of the 1970s,
free wheels resulted in the road racers chose between
invention of the coaster brake, side-pull callipers, as made
which meant the cyclist could by CAMPAGNOLO from 1968,
brake by backpedalling. On a and center-pulls, in which the
À[HGZKHHOELNHWKHULGHUFDQ callipers crossed in a shallow
use inertia to slow down—the X, of which the best were made
passive resistance of the legs as by British company GB and
the pedals push them around—
or for more rapid braking can
try to slow down the pedals by
pushing against the motion.
Rim brakes operated by
various designs of calliper have
been in use since 1879, when
JAMES STARLEY patented the
Grip with brass brake shoes;
the stirrup brake, using levers
and rods to pull the stirrup
mounting for the shoes, came
in early in the 20th century.
Cantilever brakes—in which
small callipers and brake shoes
are attached to braze-on bosses
on either side of the rim—have
been used since the 1890s,
and have always been popular
on CYCLO-CROSS machines
because of their great stopping
power and the clearance they
v 52

Br i g h t o n
)UHQFKÀUP0DIDF,QWKHHQG and produced such power that

side-pulls became universal, seat-stays could be seen bending
mainly because of their under the strain. To counter this,
greater simplicity, although they were sometimes backed up
Campagnolo’s elegant, if heavy, with metal bridging plates.
Delta brake of the 1990s was Drum brakes had been used
in essence a center-pull with a RQWKHYHU\ÀUVWPRXQWDLQELNHV
parallelogram-shaped linkage. but their weight was a handicap;
The MOUNTAIN BIKE brought the best design has proved to be
innovation in this area as well lightweight hydraulic disc brakes
as others. First came powerful UHÀQHGIURPPRWRUELNHPRGHOV
hydraulic brakes—the best made offering one great advantage over
E\)UHQFKÀUP0DJXUD³ZKHUH rim brakes: they do not lose any
the cables were replaced with HIÀFLHQF\LQWKHZHWZKHQLWLV
ÁXLGÀOOHGFRQWUROOLQHVWKHVHVDW HVWLPDWHGWKDWZDWHUÁRZLQJRYHU
on the same bosses that would the rim can cause the loss of up to
have taken cantilever brakes 60 percent of braking power.
BRIGHTON Finish point for one of the world’s largest mass bike rides,
WKH/RQGRQWR%ULJKWRQRQHRIWKHÀUVWHYHQWVRILWVNLQG7KHULGH
was founded in 1975 as a demonstration of pedal power; 34 cyclists
FRYHUHGWKHPLOHURXWH)URPLWZDVUXQRIÀFLDOO\LQDLGRI
the British Heart Foundation. Now about 27,000 cyclists, of all ages
DQGRQDOONLQGVRIELNHVVWUXJJOHXSWKHÀQDOFOLPERYHUWKH6RXWK
'RZQ·V'LWFKOLQJ%HDFRQMXVWEHIRUHWKHÀQDOVZRRSWRWKHÀQLVKRQ
Madeira Drive. Since 1980 almost 40 million dollars has been raised
for the BHF, while an estimated 650,000 cyclists have taken part.
,W·VQRWFOHDUZKRZDVWKHÀUVWF\FOLVWWRULGHWRWKH6RXWK
&RDVWUHVRUWEXWRQHRIWKHÀUVWZDV-RKQ0D\DOZKRVHWRXWLQ
v 53

Burrows, Mike
February 1869 on an old ordinary to get there in a day. It took him

approximately 20 hours. London to Brighton and back remains one of
the British RECORDSRIÀFLDOO\OLVWHGE\WKH5RDG5HFRUGV$VVRFLDWLRQ
WKHFXUUHQWUHFRUGIRUDELNHGDWHVEDFNWR3KLO*ULIÀWKV
hours 15 minutes 8 seconds).
%ULJKWRQZDVWKHYHQXHIRUD%ULWLVKVWDJHÀQLVKLQWKH7RXU
de France, when the peloton rode over Ditchling, and the resort hosted
a World Cup Classic for several years (see HEIN VERBRUGGEN’S entry
for the history of the World Cup).
BURROWS, Mike (b. England, 1943) tube, which set the tone for most
top-end road bikes in the early
Groundbreaking English bike 21st century. Burrows is also
designer who produced two a stalwart of the RECUMBENT
GHÀQLWLYHGHVLJQVWKHFDUERQ bike movement, producing one
ÀEHUPRQRFRTXHHQJLQHHUHG of the most popular designs, the
by the Lotus car company on Windcheetah (see END TO END for
one of the most surprising feats
achieved on the machine).
Burrows began experimenting
with smoothed out steel and
FDUERQÀEHUIUDPHVIRUTIME
TRIALLING in the 1980s but the
/RWXVZDVWKHGHÀQLWLYHGHVLJQ
a cross-shaped frame based on
which CHRIS BOARDMAN rode to a single colossal smoothed-out
an Olympic gold medal in 1992, strut running from the head tube
and the early TCR compact bike to the rear hub, with extensions
for GIANT, with a sloping top for the bottom bracket and
v 54

Burton, Beryl
saddle, and monoblade forks at the 8Freight has an eight-foot

front and rear. When Boardman ZKHHOEDVHDQGWKLQSURÀOHVRWKDW
won the gold medal, the bike it can be ridden down bike lanes.
received more attention than He has raced successfully on
he did; it was estimated that the Windcheetah, twice winning
Lotus gained about £100 million the European Human Powered
worth of free advertising. A road Vehicle championships.
version was produced in 1994, (TO READ ABOUT ANOTHER BIKE DESIGNER
and Boardman used it to win the WHO BROKE THE MOLD, SEE SIR ALEX
MOULTON; TO READ ABOUT ANOTHER
prologue time trial of the TOUR
RECUMBENT FAN, SEE RICHARD BALLANTINE)
DE FRANCE at record speed. On
the downside, he went through a
dozen of the frames; they were, BURTON, Beryl
he said, “neither robust nor
reliable.” In 1993, Burrows also Born: Halton, England, May 12, 1937
produced a bike for Boardman’s Died: Yorkshire, England, May 8, 1996
big rival GRAEME OBREE, but the Major wins: World road race champion
Scot preferred to stick to his own 1960, 1967; world pursuit champion
machine. 1959–60, 1962–63, 1966; 72 British time
Burrows has also produced a trial titles; 25 British Best All-Rounder
folding bike, the Giant Halfway, titles; 26 national pursuit and road titles;
which uses his trademark one- national record (men and women)
piece forks to make the bike 12 hours 1967, MBE 1964, OBE 1968
ÁDWWHUZKHQLWLVIROGHGDQGD Further reading: Personal Best,
super-thin bike, the 2D, that is autobiography reissued by Mercian
intended to be stored in a narrow Manuals 2009
hallway. He stopped working for
Giant in 2001. )Å`\]ZMQV_WUMV¼[ZIKQVONWZ
Burrows now builds his own aMIZ[IVLIU]T\QXTM_WZTL
recumbent bikes such as the champion, the West Yorkshire racer
Ratracer, and also makes a was one of many cyclists done
freight bike for courier companies: a disservice by the exclusion of
v 55

Burton, Beryl
women from the OLYMPIC GAMES hours, beating the men’s distance
]V\QT! *WZV*MZaT+PIZVWKS _Q\PUQTM[IVLW^MZ\ISQVO
and introduced to cycling by her the men’s champion Mike
P][JIVL+PIZTQMQV!*]Z\WV McNamara along the way.
was a fearsome presence on the “Mac” had started two minutes
international stage, taking two world IPMILWN *]Z\WV#[PMW^MZPI]TML
\Q\TM[QV\PMZWILZIKM!! PQUQV\PMÅVITPW]ZIVL[PM
IVLUMLIT[QV\PMQVLQ^QL]IT later recalled the moment in her
X]Z[]Q\QVKT]LQVOÅ^MOWTL[0MZ autobiography Personal Best: “‘I’ll
feats were recognized in France at have to pass him,’ I thought. ‘Poor
least, where she was invited to ride Mac, it doesn’t seem fair.’. . . ‘Mac
\PM/ZIVL8ZQ`LM[6I\QWV[¸I raised his head slightly and looked
Classic normally limited to the best at me. Goodness knows what was
UITMXZWNM[[QWVIT[¸QV! :QLQVO going on in his mind but I thought
JMNWZM\PMXZWNM[[QWVITÅMTL*]Z\WV some gesture was required on
_I[[WUMUQV]\M[[MKWVL[ my part. I was carrying a bag of
slower than the great Italian Felice liquorice allsorts in the pocket of
/QUWVLQW^MZ\PMUQTMKW]Z[M UaRMZ[MaIVLWVQUX]T[M1OZWXML
She combined her racing with into the bag and pulled one out. It
ÎZQW][RWJ[QVKT]LQVOTIJWZQVOWV was one of those swiss-roll shaped
a fruit farm run by her Morley CC ones, white with a coating of black
clubmate Nim Carline. No cosseted liquorice. ‘Liquorice allsort, Mac?’
XZWNM[[QWVIT_PMV\ISQVOPMZÅZ[\ I shouted and held it towards him.
_WZTL\Q\TMQV4QMOMQV!![PM He gave a wan smile. I put my head
contributed expenses from her own down and drew away.”
pocket, and on returning home That year, she was awarded
to Yorkshire she had to hitch a lift an OBE and was elected British
to her house from Leeds station. Sportswoman of the year. Burton’s
She dominated women’s racing daughter Denise also competed, and
QV*ZQ\IQVNWZaMIZ[J]\PMZ mother and daughter both rode the
ÅVM[\M`XTWQ\KIUMQV!_PMV world road race championships in
[PMJZWSM\PM*ZQ\Q[PZMKWZLNWZ /IXQV!
v 56

C
CAMPAGNOLO, Tullio (b. Italy, 1901, “When we saw a good-looking
d. 1983) girl at the roadside, we’d say she
was Campag,” recalled the 1950s
Founder of cycling’s most champion Raphael Geminiani.
celebrated component makers “Why is the name the most
and the man behind a host mythical in cycling? It’s simple:
of innovations that are now Tullio changed the lives of cycling
universal in cycling, most greats by producing cutting-edge
notably the quick-release components, and ordinary cyclists
hub and a parallelogram rear want to be like the greats.”
derailleur that was not the All this dates back to one
ÀUVWEXWZDVFRSLHGZRUOGZLGH day, and one snow-hit race.
During Campagnolo’s 50- Campagnolo was an amateur
year manufacturing career racing cyclist who was riding
he patented 135 inventions the Gran Premio della Vittoria
and bikes were transformed: over the Croce d’Aune pass in
from lumpen machines that the Dolomites on November 4,
had barely moved on since the 1924, when he had to change
invention of the safety bike, they gears. This involved undoing the
EHFDPHMHZHOOLNHÀQHO\FUDIWHG wingnuts on his back wheel and
pieces of lightweight engineering. moving the chain to a different
The company remains highly sprocket. The wingnuts had
secretive: for example, no one frozen up and his hands were too
outside its factory knows what cold to turn them; he was unable
goes into its legendary off-white to change gear and was deprived
grease. of the win.
v 57

Cam pag n o l o , Tu l l i o
Tullio’s father owned an iron-

monger’s in Vicenza, northern
Italy, where Campagnolo began
experimenting. Over the next six
years, he came up with the quick
release mechanism, in which a
hinged lever is turned inward
against the wheel drop-out to
hold the wheel spindle. The spin-
dle is hollow, and when the lever
is undone, springs on either side
push the holding mechanism
outward so the spindle remains
centerd.
Next Tullio came up
with various DERAILLEUR innovation was a key element
mechanisms, culminating in in Italian cycling’s golden years,
the radical Gran Sport (see when the rivalry between FAUSTO
time line on page 60). After the COPPI and GINO BARTALI was at
Second World War Campagnolo its height. Both men raced on
was carried along by the Campagnolo products, and Tullio
massive industrial growth was in constant contact with
that transformed Italy from a them and their mechanics to use
nation devastated by war to a WKHLUH[SHULHQFHLQWKHÀHOGWR
dynamic modern society based drive the manufacturing process
on specialist manufacturing. The forward. “The key one was the
company worked with sports VDGGOHÀ[LQJµVDLG*HPLQLDQL
car makers Alfa, Ferrari, and “Tullio brought in a two-pin
Maserati at various times; the cradle which meant everything,
company’s rapid expansion— how far back the saddle was,
from 1 employee in 1940 to how it sloped, could be adjusted
123 by 1950—and constant to the millimeter.” The Gran
v 58

Sport derailleur, and the 1956 rivals. Tullio Campagnolo died

racing pedal and seatpost, all in 1983 just as his company was
became classic designs copied by celebrating its 50th anniversary;
many other manufacturers. a groupset specially produced for
By the start of the 1970s, the occasion was presented to
&DPSDJQRORKDGGLYHUVLÀHG the pope. By then, the company’s
into motor parts, mainly wheels range was becoming unwieldy,
and brakes. In cycling, thanks and the advent of MOUNTAIN-
to the constant consultation BIKING in the US meant that
with the best racers and their road racing was no longer the
mechanics—whose comments cutting edge of componentry:
were recorded in Tullio’s progress was now driven by
notebook—Campagnolo had mountain-bike makers, and
become preeminent, constantly production of all but high-end
pushing forward with greats equipment was moving to the
such as EDDY MERCKX using the Far East.
components. “When I raced, By the 1980s the most
15 was the smallest sprocket,” radical road developments no
recalled Geminiani. “Tullio longer came from Campagnolo.
brought out the 13 for Anquetil, 6KLPDQRUDFHGDKHDGÀUVW
and the 12 for Merckx.” In a with indexed shifting, in which
similar vein, in 1996 Tullio’s son the derailleur clicked into
Valentino traveled to the TOUR predetermined positions so that
DE FRANCEZLWKWKHÀUVWQLQH shifting was no long a matter
speed gear for eventual winner of guesswork; that in turn led
Bjarne Riis. to gear changers that were
In the 1970s, however, serious integrated into brake levers, the
competition emerged in the Shimano STI. Clipless pedals
form of Japanese companies were produced by the French
SunTour and SHIMANO, leading companies Look and Time,
to battles on the road between while Shimano and SunTour
Merckx and Shimano-sponsored dominated the mountain-bike
v 59

Campagnolo Time Line

=
1930—Tullio Campagnolo patents quick release hub.
1933—Campagnolo srl founded, first derailleur patented.
1943—Campagnolo logo featuring winged wheel appears for first time.
1948—Gino Bartali wins Tour de France using a cambio corsa derailleur.
1949—Parallelogram Gran Sport derailleur appears at Milan trade show; the definitive
design appears in 1951.
1953—Fausto Coppi wins world championship using Gran Sport derailleur. Range now
includes four rear derailleurs and two front, bar-end and down-tube shifters, hubs,
dropouts, and various tools.
1958—Record name appears on five-pin cotterless crankset and hubs; soon features on
track and road component groups. The range expands through the 1960s.
1966—Self-centring wine bottle opener patented.
1974—Super Record road and track groups appear, with titanium beginning to feature.
1980—Tullio Campagnolo oversees his last project, the Campagnolo freewheel.
1982—Range now includes Super Record, Nuovo Record, and Gran Sport, plus BMX
componentry and promotional items including corkscrew and nutcracker.
1984—Seven-speed freewheel introduced.
1987—Last year Super Record produced until 2008.
1989—Mountain-bike groupset appears.
1992—Ergopower handlebar shifters introduced.
1994—Campagnolo leaves mountain-bike business.
1997—Nine-speed shifting brought in.
2000—Ten-speed shifting appears.
2004—Compact drivetrain brought in, featuring small chainrings, for cyclosportive events.
2008—Top-end groupsets now feature 11 sprockets.
v 60

Cam pi o n i ssi mo
market. It took several years for own niche, pushing road racing
the Italian company to catch up, technology forward with the
and in the meantime it brought H[WHQVLYHXVHRIFDUERQÀEHUD
out abortive products such as move to 11-speed gearing, and
various unwieldy mountain-bike compact gearing, which enables
groupsets, the bizarre Delta very low gears to be used in
parallelogram brakes, and heavy sportive events.
clipless pedals. Campagnolo initiated the
Campagnolo was revitalized in move to factory-built wheels
the early 1990s by the invention with its groundbreaking Shamal
of the Ergopower handlebar/ although it appears to have
brake lever gear changers that fallen behind Shimano on
took Shimano head-on. The rise electric gear-shifting. Its core
of CYCLOSPORTIVE events in that value, however, remains its
decade also put the focus back relationship with professional
on the road; in 1994 Campagnolo cyclists; one company insider
abandoned mountain-biking. estimated that 50 had been
Since then it has not attempted consulted before new 11-speed
to take on Shimano in a straight Ergopower changers were
ÀJKWEXWKDVFDUYHGRXWLWV produced in 2008.
CAMPIONISSIMO Italian term meaning champion of champions,

coined in 1919 when Costante Girardengo won the GIRO D’ITALIA,
taking 7 stages out of 10. The runner-up commented, “I’ll never be a
campionissimo but the names of a few pretty girls are etched on my
heart.” The second campionissimo was ALFREDO BINDA³ÀYHWLPHV
a Giro winner, with a record 12 stages in 1927—but most often the
term is used to refer to FAUSTO COPPI, although Italians would also
use it when talking about EDDY MERCKX.
v 61

Can a d a
CANADA While all of Canada mostly by CCM, while just

is not wilderness perpetually 29,354 bicycles were imported.
blanketed under ice and snow, After World War II, time
there are good reasons why ice trialling and road racing
hockey is the country’s dominant developed in many parts of
sport. Nevertheless, for much of Canada largely thanks to a wave
cycling’s history, it was arguably of immigrants from Britain and
more robust in many parts of Italy. But cycling never regained
Canada, particularly Quebec, the mass popularity it enjoyed
than it was in the United States. during the height of the six-day
TRACK in particular dominated era.
cycling’s early history in Canada. As is often the case with
The biggest draw at SIX-DAY Canadian matters, the
races was William Peden. Known predominately French-speaking
as Torchy for his red hair, Peden province of Quebec remained
won 38 six-days between 1929 an exception. Racing there
and 1948, including 10 in 1932 experienced much less of a
alone. decline between the end of the
Like many leading Canadian war and the second great bicycle
riders, Peden’s bikes came boom of the 1970s. From the
from the Canadian Cycle and mid-1950s through the 1960s,
Motor Co., or CCM as it was Yvon Guillou organized the
EHWWHUNQRZQ&DQDGD·VÀYH Tour du Saint Laurent, a stage
largest bicycle makers merged race that attracted a variety of
operations to form CCM in 1899 European amateur teams. It was
when the initial bicycle boom EULHÁ\VXFFHHGHGE\DSURVWDJH
waned. Although the company race, the Tour de la Nouvelle
struggled initially, high import France, in the 1970s, which
tariffs eventually enabled it to again featured European teams
dominate the Canadian market. and prominent riders.
In 1950, for example, 130,413 Since the 1980s, Serge
bicycles were made in Canada, Arsenault has continued to bring
v 62

Cape To w n
pro racing to Quebec primarily Clara Hughes found cycling

with one-day races on a taxing fame in an unusual, and very
circuit in downtown Montreal, Canadian, way. After winning,
a city that hosted the world among many other titles, bronze
championships in 1899 and 1974. medals in the road race and time
Perhaps surprisingly, trial at the 1996 Olympics, she
however, the best known switched back to speed skating,
Canadian cyclists have not KHUÀUVWVSRUW6KHVXEVHTXHQWO\
been from Quebec. Both won gold, silver, and bronze
STEVE BAUER, Canada’s most Olympic medals on ice, making
successful road rider, and Gord KHUWKHÀUVW&DQDGLDQWRZLQ
6LQJOHWRQWKHÀUVW&DQDGLDQ medals at both the summer and
world champion (KEIRIN, 1982), winter games.
come from near Niagara Falls.
Bauer was initially coached by
Colin Hearth, who also guided
Singleton on the track.
Jocelyn Lovell was as irascible
as he was successful, winning CAPE TOWN Site of the
four gold medals in track events biggest competitive bike
at the COMMONWEALTH GAMES in ride in the world: the Argus
the 1970s. During a training ride Pick’n’Pay Tour, which has
in 1983, however, he was hit by about 40,000 participants.
a truck; the accident left him a It usually takes place on the
quadriplegic. second Saturday in March and
Canadians have also been covers a 109-kilometer course
prominent in MOUNTAIN BIKING, VWDUWLQJDQGÀQLVKLQJLQ&DSH
most notably British Columbia’s Town, South Africa. Celebrity
Alison Sydor, a three-time world participants have included
champion in cross country and MIGUEL INDURAIN, GREG LEMOND,
the winner of 17 World Cup the Rugby World Cup-winning
races. Springbok captain François
v 63

Carpenter, Connie
Pienaar, and EDDY MERCKX. The

course record was set by South
African Robbie Hunter in 2008
with 2 hours 27 minutes.
The Cape Argus was the
ÀUVWHYHQWRXWVLGH(XURSHWREH
part of the UCI’s Golden Bike
series (see CYCLOSPORTIVES to
read about the others). It is the
centerpiece of a week of cycle
events on the Cape including a
PRXQWDLQELNHFKDOOHQJHDÀYH
day professional stage race, and
children’s events.
The event has its roots in
late 1978 when cycle activists
staged a mass ride as part of
a campaign for cycle paths in
Cape Town. By the mid-1980s CARPENTER, Connie (b. Madison,
the event had become the Wisconsin, 1957)
$UJXV&\FOH7RXUDQGWKHÀHOG
was up to several thousand, :LQQHURIWKHÀUVW2O\PSLF
passing 20,000 by 1994. In 2002 Games road race gold medal
the event was stopped due to for women in 1984, Carpenter
extreme heat, while the toughest was one of a group of US cycling
climb on the course, Chapman’s, team members who sparked
has been ruled out on occasion the revival in the sport in the
due to landslides. The 2009 early 1980s and is arguably
event was run off in winds up the greatest US women’s bike
to 60 mph. racer to date. The former
(SEE AFRICA TO READ ABOUT CYCLING IN speed skater is also one of a
OTHER PARTS OF THE CONTINENT) rare breed: an athlete who
v 64

Car t o o n i st s
has competed at both Summer time triallist and track racer,

and Winter Olympic Games. was world pursuit champion
Carpenter was one of a bunch in 2009 and 2010, and turned
of US athletes who excelled at professional in 2011 for the BMC
both speed skating and cycling team run by JIM OCHOWICZ.
(see the UNITED STATES entry
IRUPRUHRQWKHVHÀQLVKLQJ
seventh in the 1,500 m at the CARTOONISTS There is a rich
1972 Winter Games at the age of vein of cycling cartoons, dating
14. Carpenter moved to cycling back to the pioneering era,
after an ankle injury cut short when cycling was just another
her skating career in 1976; the social phenomenon lampooned
following year she raced to a affectionately in the pages of
silver medal in the world road magazines such as Punch. That
race championships. She became tradition is maintained today by
a multiple US champion on road a string of cartoonists of whom
and track and in 1978 and 1979 the best known is probably
competed prominently in varsity Frenchman Jean-Jacques Sempé,
rowing for the University of whose beautifully detailed and
California. In 1983 she became frequently poignant work has
the world 3 km track pursuit appeared on the cover of the New
champion, following that up in Yorker magazine since 1978,
1984 with the road world title and has also been regularly
and the Olympic road title in a featured in Paris-Match and
two-up sprint with her fellow l’Equipe magazines. Bikes are
American Rebecca Twigg. prominent subjects in Sempé’s
Carpenter retired two days later. cartoons of French life, such
She had earlier married her as the couple on a bike that
fellow Olympian Davis Phinney, forms the cover for his collection
who was to win a stage of the Displays of Affection. While
Tour de France in 1987. Their Sempé’s best-known creation
son Taylor Phinney is a strong is Le Petit Nicolas, among
v 65

Car to o n i st s
his work is the graphic novel European cycle racing cartoonist

Raoul Taburin Keeps a Secret was the Swiss-domiciled French
(published in France in 1995 as artist Pellos, who enjoys a
Raoul Taburin: une bicyclette similar place in French cycling
à propos de son père), the story culture to the writer Antoine
of the great Ralph Sprockett, Blondin. Both were key parts of
an expert bike mechanic who the sport’s heyday in the 1950s
knows all there is to know about and 1960s. His caricatures of
bikes apart from how to ride the greats appeared in French
one. Four volumes of his work magazines such as Match, Miroir
are available in English, and Sprint, and Miroir du Cyclisme
there is also a range of stationery from 1931 to 1982. Pellos was
based on his collection A Simple the pen name of Rene Pellarin
Question of Balance. The US (b. 1900, d. 1988), who competed
cycling scene has produced its in the 1924 Olympic Games in
own cartoonists, with Patrick the javelin, 800 m, and shot put
O’Grady being one of the leaders. before taking up drawing full-
An avid cyclist himself who has time.
been writing as well as drawing Pellarin also drew rugby and
for VeloNews magazine since boxing, and was one of the most
1989, O’Grady regularly pokes successful French 20th-century
subversive, merciless fun at his cartoon artists, producing
fellows. His work includes the GHÀQLWLYHVWULSVLQFOXGLQJLes
collection The Season Starts pieds nickelés (which roughly
When? (1999, Velopress). Bikes translates to Silver Feet), about
are also important subjects, if in three youths who are constantly
more surreal style, in the work of involved in various crazy
US illustrator Neal Skorpen, and, schemes, which ran for 30 years.
frequently with an environmental For cycling, he could produce
slant, in the drawings of the evocative line illustration, but
British illustrator Brick. most often his work evokes the
Further back, the best-known characteristics journalists and
v 66

Catho l i ci sm
fans saw in the stars and the biking sheep, is quite relevant
sport’s backdrops: Tom Simpson to its time. Mint was created in
is depicted as a beatnik, Jacques 1988 by the Brighton cartoonist
Anquetil sitting on a bottle of Jo Burt, initially for Bicycle
champagne, Mont Ventoux as a Action magazine, and has
monstrous torturer compared to appeared in Mountain Biking
the benign smiling Alps. UK for over 20 years. Burt cites
British cycling has produced Krazy Kat and Calvin & Hobbes
two longstanding cartoon strips DPRQJKLVLQÁXHQFHVWKHUHLV
that epitomize two radically DVWURQJP\VWLFDO&HOWLFÁDYRU
different eras and cultures. to the strips, which incorporate
Honk, drawn by the club rider rock lyrics for added effect. Mint
Johnny Helms for Cycling also stars Coleman, a mountain-
magazine from the 1940s to biking cow, Mint’s girlfriend
the 1980s, was a whimsical Oonagh Herdwick, and a black
character of the kind that could sheep with horns named Chipko.
only appear in England. Honk There’s a dreamy babe named
has adventures with wayward Summer—this being a British
dogs and punctures and FDUWRRQVKHLVDÀFNOHFUHDWXUH³
curious things happen to him DQGD*ULP5HDSHUÀJXUHZKRLV
in cafés and on tandem bikes always out to get Mint, but never
with smiling clubgirls. Helms quite manages to.
continued to produce cartoons
for Cycling until his death in
November 2009 at the age of CATHOLICISM Is cycling the
85, by which time he had been UHOLJLRQ·VRIÀFLDOVSRUWRULV
working for the magazine for 63 Catholicism cycling’s semi-
years, and his drawings looked RIÀFLDOUHOLJLRQ"
somewhat outdated.
On the other hand, the other
The pope frequently receives
the peloton in the GIRO
notable British cartoon, Mint D’ITALIA, most notably before
Sauce, which stars a mountain- the 2000 start, when among
v 67

Cavendish, Mark
the blessed was MARCO

PANTANI, fresh from being
The Catholic church
attempted to force FAUSTO
thrown off the 1999 race due COPPIto return to his wife
to a failed blood test. during his divorce in 1954.
7KHÀQLVKFOLPEDWWKH)OqFKH
Wallonne CLASSIC has the
Cycling writers use religious
imagery: a painful race is
stations of the cross at each a Calvary; Coppi has been
hairpin. compared to Piero della
The Euskaltel team from Francesco’s tortured Christ.

Spain would receive a priest’s
blessing before traveling to
GINO BARTALI had a chapel in
his house and went to Mass
major races. each morning before he raced.
Pope Pius XII designated the

Madonna del Ghisallo the
Most of the greats of cycling
have donated jerseys, bikes,
cyclists’ CHAPEL; it has since or both to the chapels at
been visited by Paul VI and Ghisallo and Labastide
John Paul II. d’Armagnac.
CAVENDISH, Mark Highly talented and volatile

sprinter from the Isle of Man who
Born: Isle of Man, May 21, 1985 spearheaded the cycling renaissance
Major wins: World Madison champion in GREAT BRITAINQV ·!IVL
2005, 2008; Milan–San Remo 2009; 10 _I[[M\\WLWUQVI\M\PMÅVQ[P
stage wins in Tour de France to 2009; five [\ZIQOP\NWZaMIZ[\WKWUM*a!
stage wins in Giro d’Italia Cavendish had set a new British
Interests outside cycling: design, record for TOUR DE FRANCE stage
ballroom dancing, FIAT 500s _QV[¸QVR][\\_W<W]Z[¸
Further reading: Boy Racer, Mark and had become, together with
Cavendish, Velo Press, 2010 Tom Simpson, the only Briton to
v 68

Cavendish, Mark
win a cycling MONUMENT in the in the OLYMPIC GAMES1V!PM

UWLMZVMZI#PM_I[IT[W\PMÅZ[\ surprised many continental followers
British cyclist to take victory on the with a last-gasp victory in the sprint
Champs-Elysées in the Tour de that decided MILAN–SAN REMO#Q\
.ZIVKM0MVW\KPML]XW^MZXZW was, however, the fruit of detailed
_QV[QV IVL!I planning together with Ellingworth.
XZWTQÅKZMKWZL\PI\JWZMKWUXIZQ[WV At that year’s Tour, he was more
with the likes of EDDY MERCKX and dominant than any sprinter since
Freddy Maertens. 5IMZ\MV[QV!IVL!
Cavendish came out of the winning stages by huge margins.
British Olympic program’s He also wrote a MEMOIR, Boy Racer,
IKILMUaNWZ]VLMZZQLMZ[ which detailed his adventures at the
where he was initially considered academy and pulled no punches
underpowered. He worked in a when it came to former coaches and
JIVSWV\PM1[TMWN 5IV\WÅVIVKM adversaries.
his racing trips to the “mainland” There are various reasons for
and credited the academy’s founder Cavendish’s success. One is his
Rod Ellingworth with turning background in track racing, which
him from a “fat banker into a means he can spin the pedals faster
_WZTLKPIUXQWVº*aPMPIL than the opposition. Another is
become Madison world champion his small size, which enables him
(see TRACK RACING for more details \WOM\TW_MZWV\PMJQSM#PMPI[
WN \PQ[M^MV\IVLQVPM worked with his coaches to get so
turned professional for T-Mobile far forward over the front wheel that
and started the Tour de France, his handlebars and front forks have
crashing heavily twice before to be reinforced. This gives him a
pulling out in the Alps. XMZKMV\AERODYNAMIC advantage
His breakthrough year was over his rivals. His Columbia team
_Q\P\_W[\IOM_QV[I\\PM has put in a huge amount of work
GIRO D’ITALIA and four at the to give him a perfect “lead-out”
Tour, although he was bitterly \ZIQV¸[WUM\PQVO+IÎKSVW_TMLOM[
disappointed not to win a medal IN\MZM^MZa_QV¸_PQTM+I^MVLQ[P
v 69

Cha p el s
himself prepares every race in detail winning Legnano and a futuristic

with Ellingworth. machine used by FRANCESCO
Outside cycling, Cavendish has MOSER for an hour record. The
a collection of iconic Italian design cyclists who have donated jerseys
items that includes vintage Fiat include BERNARD HINAULT, Mario
[IVL4IUJZM\\I[0MTQ^M[QVIV Cipollini, MIGUEL INDURAIN, and
apartment near the British base in MARCO PANTANI.
Quarrata, Tuscany. The Madonna del Ghisallo
was known as a patroness of
travelers; in the 1940s the local
priest, Don Ermelindo Vigano,
CHAPELS Not surprisingly for suggested that his church
a sport that has close links to should be the site of a cyclists’
CATHOLICISM, there are several shrine, as the climb up from
cyclists’ chapels across Europe. the lakeside was the decisive
The best known is at Madonna point in the Tour of Lombardy.
del Ghisallo above Lake Como Leading cyclists including
in Italy, which stands next to Coppi signed a petition, and the
a spacious, modern museum of Madonna was designated the
F\FOLQJDQGKDVDÀQHVWDWXH patroness of cyclists in 1949
of FAUSTO COPPI outside its by Pope Pius XII, who also
front door. Inside the chapel blessed the GIRO D’ITALIA and
are bikes and jerseys donated received Coppi and Bartali at
by many of the greats of the the Vatican. The “race of the
sport, and a panel on the wall falling leaves” still passes the
bearing photographs of cyclists, Ghisallo, where the bell rings as
professional and amateur, who the racers toil up the hill.
have died on the roads of Europe, In southwest France, a similar
going back to the 1930s; GINO chapel at Labastide-d’Armagnac
BARTALI’s brother Giulio is among dating back to the 12th century
them. The bikes on display has been known as Notre
include Bartali’s 1948 Tour- Dame des Cyclistes since Pope
v 70

Cha ri t i es
John XXIII made the church a CHARITIES While the

National Sanctuary for Cycling Livestrong charity founded
and Cyclists in 1959. Like the by LANCE ARMSTRONG is the
Ghisallo, Notre Dame includes best-known fundraising body
a cycling museum including linked to the sport, there are
jerseys donated by Hinault, EDDY several others. The Amy Gillett
MERCKX, JACQUES ANQUETIL, Foundation was launched after
RAYMOND POULIDOR, and TOM the Australian rower-turned-
SIMPSON. There is also a stained- cyclist was knocked down by a
glass window donated by the 1964 car and killed in Germany in
world champion Henri Anglade. 2005 while out training with the
The Tour de France began a stage national team. It has as its main
in the village in 1989. goal to “reduce the incidence
In Spain, the patroness of of injury and death caused
cycling is the Virgin of Dorleta; by the interaction between
one sanctuary of Our Lady of cyclists and motorists.” Patrons
Dorleta is in the Basque Country include Tour de France stars
village of Leintz-Gatzaga Phil Anderson and Cadel Evans
(Salinas de Léniz in Spanish). and the Formula One driver
There are shrines to the Dorleta Mark Webber, and it funds two
virgin across Spain, including scholarships, one to support
one in Andalucia on the Suspiro talented young cyclists and the
del Moro pass south of Granada, other to research cycle safety.
where the inscription reads: The Fabio Casartelli
Foundation was formed after
Our Lady of Dorleta, patron the death of the 1992 Olympic
of Spanish cyclists. Maria, champion from head injuries
queen of the world, protect in the 1995 Tour de France
earthly roads in all ways for and has goals that include
cyclists who love nature’s supporting ex-cyclists and
great works created by our emerging talent. It runs a
Lord. Gran Fondo every year.
v 71

Cha ri t i es
MARCO PANTANI, the Tour 2008 diners—Hoy, indeed,

winner who died of drug went to the dinner rather than
addiction in 2004, has also the British Cycling function,
inspired a fondazione, which in the year of his Olympic
variously supports the disabled, triumph. Braveheart invested
has funded a school for partially over £35,000 in Scottish cycling
sighted cyclists, runs youth in 2009, with cash going to
training camps, and donates 13 cyclists aged 15 to 23, and
money to a team in the war- to another 3 with a chance of
hit city of Vinkovci in Croatia. riding at the Commonwealth
It also runs a Gran Fondo and Games in 2010.
supports another two, all named Livestrong, however, is
after Pantani. the daddy of all cycling-based
In Yorkshire, meanwhile, charities. Founded in 1998 after
the Dave Rayner Fund was LANCE ARMSTRONG’s recovery
begun in 1993 after the death from cancer, it invested $21
of this talented young cyclist; it million dollars in research in its
raises money to help talented ÀUVW\HDUVRIH[LVWHQFHDQG
young cyclists who wish to race relies heavily on Armstrong’s
abroad and supported 25 of them leverage with politicians and
in 2009. Among its activities is business people. Armstrong
a fundraising dinner attended has worked on cancer panels
by various celebrities and the at national level and is
organization of the Étape du renowned worldwide as a cancer
Dales Sportive. campaigner. The charity turned
The Braveheart Fund the yellow Livestrong wristband
plays a similar role in Scotland; into a must-have item for
as with the Rayner Fund, its celebrities and politicians; they
dinner is one of the highlights sell at one dollar each and were
of the British winter cycling developed by Nike and their
calendar, with CHRIS HOY and ad agency. They have sparked
MARK CAVENDISH among the controversy over pirating and
v 72

Classics
SURÀWHHULQJWKURXJKH%D\KDYH the French-speaking area

spawned hundreds of multicolored of Wallonia. Finishes at the
imitators, and were even spoofed town of Huy on top of the
by comedian Stephen Colbert. steep climb up the “Wall.”
(SEE POLITICS FOR A LIST OF LEADERS
WHO HAVE JUMPED ON THE BANDWAGON)
Amstel Gold (f. 1966): A complex
series of many loops around
the Dutch province of
Limburg crossing a multitude
of tiny climbs.
CLASSICS The term used for
the sport’s major one-day races
Paris–Tours I$ORQJÁDW
autumn event known as the
LQFOXGLQJWKHÀYHMONUMENTS: “sprinters’ classic” that until
Milan–San Remo, Tour of KDGWKHORQJHVWÀQLVK
Flanders, Paris–Roubaix, Liège– straight in cycling: 2.5 km up
Bastogne–Liège and the Tour Avenue de Grammont. In 2010
of Lombardy (see their separate WKHÀQLVKZDVFKDQJHGDVD
entries; see COBBLES for Classics streetcar route is constructed.
that include this nasty road
surface).
GP Ouest France (f. 1931): Held
in Brittany in August at the
Major one-day races come and bike-mad village of Plouay.
go but other Classics include:
Milan–Turin (f. 1876): The oldest
Het Volk (founded 1945): Held in

Belgium in early March using
one-day race still on the
calendar, although not run
many of the climbs from the continuously since that date:
Tour of Flanders. culminates with a climb to the
Ghent–Wevelgem (f. 1934): Superga monastery.

Another Flandrian race,
it goes over the steep
Giro del Piemonte (f. 1906): A race
through the Alpine foothills
Kemmelberg, with its First around western Italy, also
World War ossuary. ÀQLVKLQJLQ7XULQ
Flèche Wallonne (f. 1936): On

the other side of Belgium in
Giro del Lazio (f. 1935): A loop
around Rome.
v 73

Classics - Defunct
Scheldeprijs
cycle race in
(f. 1907): The oldest
, held
FLANDERS
sponsors over a course in
the city that includes the 17
around Antwerp. percent grade Manayunk Wall.
GP Frankfurt (f. 1962): Known for

many years as the Henninger
Lincoln GP (f. 1956 as Witham
GP): The oldest extant one-
Tower, after a vast grain silo day race in Britain, it features
owned by the brewery that the 25 percent climb through
backed the race until 2008. the medieval city, up to the
GP San Sebastian (f. 1981): Spain’s

main one-day race, on a hilly
cathedral.
course in the Basque Country. Most of the great Classics have
Paris–Brussels (f. 1893): Actually

starts 90 km north of Paris at
CYCLOSPORTIVES run along all or
part of their route: PARIS–ROUBAIX,
the town of Soissons. the Tour of FLANDERS, the Tour of
Philadelphia GP (f. 1985): Run

under various names and
Lombardy, and MILAN–SAN REMO
are among the most popular.
CLASSICS—DEFUNCT
There are several Classics that were prestigious in their time but
which are no longer run. The best example is Bordeaux–Paris, the
Derby of the Road, which dated back to the origins of cycling in the
19th century. It lasted 14 hours and was unique in that the riders
were paced by small motorbikes known as DERNYS for the second half;
it survived until 1988.
The Grand Prix des Nations time trial was founded in 1932 by the
journalists Gaston Benac and Albert Baker d’Isy and witnessed some of
JACQUES ANQUETIL’s greatest rides. It was upstaged by the inception of
the world time trial championships in 1994 and was last run in 2005.
The Championship of Zurich enjoyed the longest uninterrupted
run of any Classic (1917–2006) because it was kept going through
both world wars thanks to Swiss neutrality, but it eventually
v 74

Classics Greats
succumbed to a lack of sponsorship.

GREAT BRITAIN was awarded a round of the UCI’s World Cup series,
DUDFHZKLFKDOZD\VFDUULHGWKHVXIÀ[´&ODVVLFµ³DOWKRXJKLWKDGQR
tradition and was a manufactured event—and this ran from 1989 to
1996 at Newcastle, Brighton, Leeds, and Rochester.
CLASSICS GREATS
The greatest Classic cyclist of them all, by a huge margin, was EDDY
MERCKX, who took 33 wins in major one-day races. The other great all-
around specialists include: RIK VAN LOOY (17), ROGER DE VLAEMINCK
(16), Jan Raas (14), and FAUSTO COPPI (12). During the 1980s and
1990s, one-day racing was dominated by SEAN KELLY (11) and Johan
Museeuw (12); today, however, most cyclists specialize in either the
KLOOLHU&ODVVLFVRUWKHÁDWWHUFREEOHGHYHQWV6RPHF\FOLVWVDFKLHYHG
particular dominance in a single event: JACQUES ANQUETIL, for example,
won the GP des Nations nine times—but only took three other Classics,
while Merckx managed seven victories in Milan–San Remo.
v 75

Cl u b s
CLUBS Cycling clubs were standing in the center of Detroit

born as the world discovered until the 1970s. Another more
the bicycle, and their history in notable Detroit club was the
the United States runs parallel Wolverine Wheelmen, founded
with that of the sport: massive in 1888 and eventually—after
early growth, later decline folding and being reformed in
following the development of the 1937—morphing into a club that
automobile, and a depression also catered for cross-country
before a phase of rebirth later skiers and speedskaters. Thanks
in the 20th century. The term to the cross-fertilization between
“wheelmen” was commonly skating and cycling, Wolverine
used, and the clubs’ umbrella members such as Sue Novara-
body, the League of American Reber, Sheila Young, and Connie
Wheelmen, was founded in Paraskevin played a key role in
1880. Its membership peaked at the development of US cycling
103,000 in 1898, but it folded in in the 1970s and 1980s. LANCE
1902 with under 9,000 members. ARMSTRONG’s teammate Frankie
After several attempts, it was Andreu was also a member.
reformed in 1955. Perhaps the strongest club
To take just one example of the the US has produced to date is
height cycling clubs reached in New York squad GS Mengoni,
the late 19th century, the Detroit founded in 1981 by a former
Bicycle Club, formed in 1879 and Italian racer Fred Mengoni.
renamed the Detroit Wheelmen In the 1980s Mengoni’s squad
in 1890, boasted 450 members included racers such as Alexi
E\DQGKDGVXIÀFLHQW Grewal, Steve Bauer, Matt Eaton,
resources to build an elaborate, Leonard “Harvey” Nitz, and Doug
elegantly designed clubhouse Shapiro and was able to give the
costing $40,000 that contained pros of 7-Eleven a run for their
an auditorium, card tables, money. The stand-out result was
bowling alley, baths, library, and Bauer’s silver medal in the 1984
kitchen. The building remained OLYMPIC GAMES as a Mengoni
v 76

Cob b l es
amateur, followed a month later The Pickwick Bicycle Club claims

E\EURQ]HLQKLVÀUVW:RUOG·VDV to be the oldest cycling club
a pro. Mengoni tried, and failed, in the world; founded on June
to get the young GREG LEMOND 22, 1870—and given the name
to race for him, but a later because this date coincided with
incarnation of the team included the death of Charles Dickens—
George Hincapie, an Olympian it is now largely a dining club
for Mengoni and later a Tour de but keeps to the founding rule
France stage winner. Mengoni that members must display a
was a cofounder of USPRO, the knowledge of Dickens’s Pickwick
ÀUVWUHDOJRYHUQLQJERG\IRU Papers. Equally arcane is the
professional racing in the US. 300,000 Mile Club, founded in
Some of the more curious 1962, with entry restricted to the
cycling clubs are to be found in 70 or so cyclists who have covered
GREAT BRITAIN. The A5 Rangers more than that distance in their
were named after the road they OLIHWLPHZLWKHYHU\PLOHRIÀFLDOO\
used for their runs up Watling logged. In the same vein, the
Street; the North Road and Bath Ordre des Cols Durs is a French
Road followed the same principle. club for “pass-bashers”—cyclists
South London’s San Fairy Ann, who record the heights of the
on the other hand, comes from mountain passes around they
a misliteration of the French Ça world they ride each season—
ne fait rien —“it doesn’t matter while the Cape Wrath Fellowship
at all.” In the Welsh capital is open to cyclists who have
Cardiff, the Jif club was set up braved the ferry ride and dead-
as a rival to the Ajax and was end road that lead to this remote
named after a competing washing headland in northern Scotland.
powder. The Comical Cycling
Club of Penshurst (in Sussex) was
founded solely so that they could COBBLES Synonymous with two
wear jerseys bearing the cyrillic of the sport’s MONUMENTS (see
initials of the old Soviet Union. FLANDERS, PARIS–ROUBAIX) and
v 77

Co b b l es
other one-day CLASSICS such as erected barriers. It is often

Ghent–Wevelgem, stone-paved tackled in a downhill direction,
roads are now a throwback to hence the high speeds and
cycling’s earliest days. In French horrendous crashes. The most
they are known as pavé, in celebrated victim of Arenberg
Flemish kinderkopje (children’s was the Belgian champion Johan
heads). Racing cyclists fear them Museeuw, who nearly died after
because in the wet they can be crashing there in 1999; in 2001
virtually impossible to ride on the French cyclist Philippe
safely. Gaumont suffered an open
The threat from any sort of fracture of the femur, which cost
cobble depends on the stone him six weeks in bed.
it is made of: blue slate is The Koppenberg in the Tour
extra slippery, while granite of Flanders, a climb that is only
is a greater puncture threat. 400 m long but has a gradient
Cobbled sections included in of 25 percent. It’s not always
Paris–Roubaix are occasionally in the route, being so narrow
put in the TOUR DE FRANCE, most that crashes are a certainty; the
recently in the 1983 and 2004 most famous happened in 1987
races, as well as in 2010. when the Dane Jesper Skibby
The three most notorious was inches from being run over
cobbled roads in cycling are: by the race organizer as he lay
The Trouée d’Arenberg in on the cobbles strapped in to
Paris–Roubaix, a 2.5 km long his bike. A series of photos by
dead-straight road laid in the GRAHAM WATSON captured the
time of Napoleon that undulates moment.
due to mining subsidence and The Kemmelberg in Ghent–
has massive holes between Wevelgem is as steep as the
the stones. The riders used to Koppenberg, but wider and
switch—at speeds of about 35 longer, so less conducive to
mph—between the grass verge crashes as the riders climb up.
and the pavé until the organizers ,WZDVDIRFDOSRLQWIRUÀJKWLQJ
v 78

Codes
in the First World War, and Cassel, while the Scheldeprijs

has a vast ossuary on the top. at Antwerp has seven cobbled
7KHUHLVDOVRDÀQHUHVWDXUDQW sections. But cobbles are not
LQWKHÀQDOPHWHUVZKHUHIDQV restricted to French and Belgian
gather to munch steak and fries Flanders. In Great Britain
and applaud the riders. What the Lincoln Grand Prix has a
is truly fearsome is the descent: cobbled climb to match either
vertiginously steep, over massive of the latter: a half-mile long 25
paving stones, and virtually percent ascent through the heart
unridable in the wet. of the ancient city to the Norman
Another major race that cathedral. In the US, the
includes cobbles is the Four Philadelphia Grand Prix includes
Days of Dunkirk, which has a cobbles on Cresson Street on the
stage over the fearsome Mont fearsome Manayunk Wall climb.
CODES As police forces in meant EPO. In the Operación

Europe investigated DOPING in Puerto blood-doping operation,
the early 21st century, tapping the riders whose blood was
phone calls and intercepting stored for reinjection were
e-mails, drug-takers in cycling referred to by coded names,
and their doctors and suppliers not all of which have been
began to use cyphers to refer deciphered. “Bella” was the
to certain drugs and practices. German Jorg Jaksche; Ivan
In one Belgian case, “wasp” Basso of Italy was called “Birillo”
referred to the blood booster after his dog; there is still
Aranesp, a “wasps’ nest” to speculation over the identity of
a course of the drug, while “Hijo de Birillo” (Son of Birillo).
a “washing machine” was a Codes were also used by
centrifuge used to measure blood FAUSTO COPPI and GINO BARTALI
levels and “strawberry jam” at the height of their rivalry
v 79

Colombia
to pass on instructions to In Great Britain, meanwhile,

their gregari: Coppi would tell after road racing was banned
Sandrino Carrea to “slow down” at the turn of the century, TIME
when he wanted him to set a TRIALLING was carried out on
furious pace, while Bartali had courses referred to by coded
a teammate look at Coppi’s legs names to keep the events secret.
and shout “the vein” when a Courses are still known by their
vein on his calf began pulsating, code today, although they are
a sign that Coppi might be deciphered in the governing
struggling. body’s handbook and website: the
Lance Armstrong refers to most famous of all was probably
himself as Juan Pelota, most E72/25: E stands for the region,
notably on Twitter, the pun East, while 25 is the distance
being that pelota is Spanish and 72 referred to a course
for ball, and Armstrong had starting on the A12 Colchester
one testicle removed during Bypass, where many British
testicular cancer treatment. records were broken.
COLOMBIA Ranks with performed far better than cyclists

FLANDERS, northern ITALY, from richer nations where cycling
and the Basque Country (see was far better resourced.
SPAIN) as a nation where cycling Cycling’s place in Colombian
is part of the fabric; like the culture is explored in depth in one
KEIRIN racers of Japan, however, RIWKHÀQHVWF\FOHUDFLQJBOOKS
Colombian cyclists are now of recent years, Matt Rendell’s
largely out of the international Kings of the Mountains (Aurum,
mainstream. There was, 2002). High altitude, poverty,
however, a brief interlude in the and poor roads made Colombia
1980s and 1990s when they burst inhospitable cycling country, but
on to the pro-cycling scene and HYHQVRWKHÀUVWUDFHVZHUHKHOG
v 80

Colombia
as in many other nations, before LQWKH*LURDQGEHFDPHWKHÀUVW

the end of the 19th century. The &RORPELDQWRÀQLVKWKH7RXU
ÀUVW9XHOWDD&RORPELDZDVKHOG In the 1980s the Colombians
in 1951; insanely tough due to the had begun to perform
high mountains and abominable consistently in the mountains
roads, 1,154 km and 10 stages in world-level amateur races.
long, it was won by Ephraim When the Tour went open to
Forero Triviño, known simply as amateurs in 1983 Colombia
“the Zipa,” amid massive popular was the only nation to take up
support. the challenge, with sponsorship
A brief racing visit by FAUSTO from battery company Varta.
COPPI lent new momentum to the The little climbers suffered on
sport in 1957, although whether WKHÁDWVWDJHVEXWSHUIRUPHG
Coppi was ever paid for his efforts well enough in the Alps and
remains unclear. In the 1960s Pyrenées, with Patrocinio
WKHDUULYDORIWKHÀUVW&RORPELDQ -LPHQH]VSHQGLQJÀYHGD\V
to succeed outside his own in the polka-dot King of the
borders, Cochise Rodriguez, did Mountain jersey.
change things, and by the 1970s, Varta’s sponsorship was a
Colombians were dominant in sound move as most Colombians
South American racing; Cochise, followed the Tour on radio and
meanwhile, took the world the gabbling commentators
amateur HOUR RECORD in 1970, declaiming down phone lines
and added the pursuit world were a distinctive presence
gold medal in Italy a year later, on the race for a decade. The
&RORPELD·VÀUVWF\FOLQJZRUOGWLWOH following year the country’s best
Controversially, he was refused racer, LUIS HERRERA, returned
entry to the 1972 Olympics on with a squad sponsored by
the grounds that he had broken Café de Colombia and took
amateur rules on sponsorship. WKHSUHVWLJLRXVÀQLVKDWO·$OSH
Instead, he turned pro with d’Huez ahead of LAURENT FIGNON
Bianchi in Italy, won two stages and BERNARD HINAULT. In 1985
v 81

Co m m o nw ea l t h G a mes
Herrera, “the little gardener,” has been off the world stage.
won two more stages and was Rendell puts it down variously
King of the Mountains; an to the rise of the national soccer
estimated one million people team, the economic decline and
turned out to welcome him home. migration that has accompanied
He took Colombia’s biggest win, the country’s narco-war, and the
the Vuelta a España, in 1987; UCI’s inability to boost cycling
WKHÀQLVKGDWH0D\ZDV in poorer, marginal countries.
declared a national holiday. As a footnote, cycling has had
Others came to Europe links with Colombia’s drugs
with Herrera, mainly racing syndicates; down-on-their-luck
for Spanish teams, including pros traveling to Europe were
Oliverio Rincon—winner of employed as couriers, while
a Tour stage at Andorra in in one of the most dramatic
1993—and the accident prone passages in Rendell’s Kings of
Fabio Parra, cruelly nicknamed the Mountains he interviews
“Parra-chute.” In 1995 the world Roberto Escobar, brother of
road championships traveled to the notorious drug king Pablo.
Colombia, held on an extremely 5REHUWRDÀQHF\FOLVWZDWFKHG
hard circuit at the town of Coppi and Koblet on their racing
Duitama, with Abraham Olano trip to Colombia and ended
winning the pro road race. In 2000 up making bikes and running
Santiago Botero ground out an teams. His brother, meanwhile,
improbable victory in the Tour’s had a velodrome built in his
King of the Mountains title. hometown of Medellin so he
Since then, Colombian cycling could bet on the races held there.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES There bike races appeared four years

was no cycling in the inaugural later. The Games take place
British Empire Games of 1930; on a four-year cycle which
v 82

Co o ke , N i co l e
alternates with the Olympics. It Since the advent of lottery

was not until 1974, after various funding (see GREAT BRITAIN)
name changes, that the name the British cycling team has
Commonwealth Games was sent large numbers of athletes
settled upon. Women’s cycling to compete under their various
did not appear until 1990, national banners, but with
while the 1998 Games in Kuala management and logistics back-
Lumpur saw the introduction up from within the Great Britain
of team events, and in 2002, in Olympic team set-up. Years of
Manchester, events for athletes Australian domination in the
with disability were introduced. cycling disiplines came to an
Alongside the senior Games, the end at the Games in 2002 in
Youth Games for athletes under Manchester.
18 is run.
COOKE, Nicole \PZW]OPW]\\PMMIZTa[NZWUPMZ

]VQY]M\ZQXTMR]VQWZ_WZTL\Q\TM[ZWIL
Born: Swansea, Wales, April 13, 1983 \QUM\ZQITUW]V\IQVJQSMQV\W
Major wins: Olympic road race champion her unprecedented double of world
2008; world road race champion 2008; IVL7TaUXQKZWILZIKM\Q\TM[QV
Commonwealth Games road race when she was elected Sunday Times
champion 2002; women’s World Cup Sportswoman of the Year.
2003, 2006; Giro d’Italia 2004; 10 times Even while attending Brynteg
GB national champion between 1999 and +WUXZMPMV[Q^MQV[W]\P?ITM[¸
2009; MBE 2009 where rugby star Gavin Henson
Further reading: Cycle for Life, Nicole _I[INMTTW_X]XQT¸+WWSM_I[
Cooke, Abbeville Press, 2009 a precocious talent, the youngest
rider ever to win the senior women’s
<PM?MT[P_WUIV_I[\PMÆIO national title, which she achieved
carrier for British women’s cycling I\;PMQ[SVW_VNWZPMZ\W\IT
v 83

Co ppi , F a u st o
determination and consistency in the following year. Her victory in

UIRWZ\Q\TMZIKM[\ISQVO\_WJZWVbM *MQRQVOKIUMWVI[WISQVO_M\LIa
and a silver medal in world road after her teammate Emma Pooley
\Q\TM[JM\_MMVIVL [XTQ\\PMÅMTL_Q\PI[MIZQVOI\\IKS
Her career has been disrupted It set up the GB cycling team for
Ja\PMMKWVWUQKLQNÅK]T\QM[\PI\ an unprecedented medal rush.
JM[M\_WUMV¼[ZIKQVO¸[M^MZITWN In Varese six weeks later, Cooke
PMZ\MIU[PI^M[]NNMZMLÅVIVKQIT rode the perfect tactical race to
problems. She has also had to \ZQ]UXPQVI[XZQV\ÅVQ[PNZWU
KWV\MVL_Q\PQVR]ZaUIQVTa\WPMZ the Dutchwoman Marianne Vos,
left knee, which has twice required so often her nemesis in previous
surgery. After a second operation, in seasons. She now spends most of
TI\M¸_PQKPLMXZQ^MLPMZWN her time in her adopted home near
a third title in the women’s World Lugano, Switzerland.
+]X¸[PMKWV\MUXTI\MLY]Q\\QVO\PM
(SEE DAVE BRAILSFORD, CHRIS HOY,
sport. BRADLEY WIGGINS FOR MORE ON GB’S
Cooke truly bounced back SUCCESS IN 2008)
COPPI, Fausto 1946–7, world pursuit champion 1947,

1949; world hour record 1942
Born: Castellania, Italy, September 15, Nicknames: Faustino, il Campionissimo,
1919 the Heron
Died: Tortona, Italy, January 2, 1960 Interests outside cycling: football,
Major wins: World road race champion shooting
1953; Tour de France 1949, 1952, 9 stage Further reading/viewing: Fallen Angel,
wins; Giro d’Italia 1940, 1947, 1949, the Passion of Fausto Coppi, by William
1952, 1953, 22 stage wins; Milan–San Fotheringham, Random House UK, 2010;
Remo 1946, 1948–9; Giro di Lombardia, Coppi’s Angel, Ugo Riccarelli, trs Michael
1946–9, 1954; Paris–Roubaix 1950; McDermott, Middlesex University Press,
Flèche Wallonne 1950; GP des Nations 2009; DVD, Il Vero Fausto
v 84

Co ppi , F a u st o
Voted Italy’s greatest sportsman Geminiani, includes love, war,

WN \PM\PKMV\]Za\PM scandal, phenomenal success, and
CAMPIONISSIMO is famed for personal tragedy and ended with
JMKWUQVO\PMÅZ[\UIV\WUIVIOM PQ[JQbIZZMLMI\PQV!_PMVPM
the apparently impossible Giro- caught malaria and the doctors
Tour DOUBLEQV!!_Q\PI did not diagnose it. The cocktail
ZMXMI\QV!+WXXQ¼[[\WZa¹I of emotions he arouses among
novel” said his good friend Raphael fans in his native Italy has made
v 85

Co ppi , F a u st o
PQUIVQV[XQZI\QWVITÅO]ZM_Q\P REMO. He also managed a record

his tale retold in biopics, television Å^M_QV[QV\PMGIRO DI LOMBARDIA.
documentaries, novels, plays, and For all Italians, his RIVALRY with
even an opera. There are numerous GINO BARTALI symbolizes a golden
Coppi memorials across Europe era when the country emerged from
as well as sculptures, paintings, the war and classic designs such as
and lyrical descriptions such as \PM.QI\IVL\PM>M[XITMN\\PM
this, from the Tour winner turned LZI_QVOJWIZL+WXXQ¼[!!TOUR
RW]ZVITQ[\)VLZu4ML]KY"¹0M DE FRANCE win included overturning
seems to caress the handlebars, IUQV]\MLMÅKQ\WV\PMMIZTa
_PQTMPQ[\WZ[W[MMU[Å`MLJa TMILMZ2IKY]M[5IZQVMTTQ#Q\KIUM
screws in the saddle. His long legs after he had taken his third Giro with
stretch to the pedals like the limbs a crushing stage win over Bartali on
of a gazelle. All the moving parts an Alpine loop between Cuneo and
turn as if in oil. His long face is like 8QVMZWTW1V!I[PMZWLM\WPQ[
a knifeblade as he climbs without second Giro-Tour double, Coppi’s
apparent effort, like a great artist form was so devastating that the
painting a watercolor.” organizers doubled the prize money
Born into a peasant farming for second place in an attempt to
NIUQTaQV4QO]ZQI+WXXQ_WVPQ[ÅZ[\ restore a little interest in the race.
GIRO D’ITALIAI\_Q\P\PMPMTX Tragedy stalked Coppi as he
of the SOIGNEUR Biagio Cavanna, raced: his father Domenico died
_PW_I[\WZMUIQVISMaQVÆ]MVKM VW\TWVOIN\MZPQ[ÅZ[\/QZW_QV
He broke the world HOUR RECORD QV!IVL;MZ[M_I[SQTTMLQV
QV!I[)TTQMLJWUJ[NMTTWV a seemingly innocuous racing
5QTIVIVL_I[[MV\\WÅOP\QV6WZ\P IKKQLMV\QV!1V!IVL!
Africa, where he was captured by the he scandalized Italy by ending
British. After the war he relaunched his marriage and beginning a
his career together with his brother relationship with a doctor’s wife,
Serse. As Italy rebuilt its economy Giulia Occhini, immortalized as
and society, Coppi forged his greatest “the white lady.” Both were married
wins in the Giro and MILAN–SAN at a time when adultery was illegal:
v 86

Couriers
they ended up in court and Giulia in his home village of Castellania

_I[\ISMVJZQMÆa\WRIQT+WXXQ¼[ and the nearby town of Novi Ligure,
career never recovered, but when outside the cycle track in Turin, on
he died after catching malaria at a the Pordoi and Stelvio passes, on
criterium in Africa, his country was the Bocchetta pass near Genova
overwhelmed with grief. His name IVL\PM5IKMZWTIVMIZ)UITÅWV
lives on in Coppi bikes and in the the Col d’Izoard in the French Alps,
Giro d’Italia, where a special prize the summit of the Puy-de-Dôme
is awarded each year on the “Coppi mountain in central France, and at
summit,” the highest pass crossed by the Milan–San Remo monument on
the race. the Capo Berta.
Coppi’s enduring popularity
(SEE MEMORIALS FOR MORE PLACES
can be seen by the plethora of
WHERE CYCLING GREATS ARE
memorials to the man all over Italy: REMEMBERED; POETRY FOR ANOTHER WAY
at the Madonna del Ghisallo chapel, IN WHICH COPPI IS CELEBRATED)
COURIERS Funny hair, scruffy Paris, the hordes of newspaper

faces, big bags on their backs, delivery boys—some of them
the way they annoy car drivers half-decent amateur cyclists—
and pedestrians as they swoop raced criteriums for over 50
LQDQGRXWRIWKHWUDIÀFWKDW years, enjoying massive popular
may be how outsiders see cycle support.
couriers, but in fact they are The peak days for couriering
part of a long-standing tradition were the 1980s and early 1990s,
of deliveries by bike. That before fax and e-mail enabled
goes back to the 1890s, when documents to be sent reliably by
Western Union delivery boys wire. At one point in the 1980s
began zipping around New there were 7,000 couriers in New
York City. Cycle courier races York; among them was Nelson
might seem a novelty, but in Vails, who made the jump from
v 87

Couriers
messaging to become Olympic easy to service and replace. So

sprint champion at Los Angeles FRXULHUVRIWHQULGHÀ[HGZKHHO
in 1984. Vails reckoned he was for the added control it gives in
in the top 10 of couriers, carrying city riding. Additionally, a single
out 35 to 60 drops a day, giving gear has no cables to rust up,
40 percent of his earnings to his even if it is used in all weathers
dispatch company. (see FIXED-WHEEL to learn how
In London in 2003 there courier-type bikes became trendy
were an estimated 400 bicycle in the early 2000s). Frames may
PHVVHQJHUVWKDWÀJXUHLV be taken from mountain bikes
understood to have contracted or track machines, with bars
during the recession of 2008–9 anything from “cowhorn” time
so there are probably between trial bars to radically cut down
300 and 350. Earnings are about straight off-road bars.
the mininum wage, unlikely to 7KHÀUVWFRXULHUZRUOG
exceed $400 per week without championships were held in 1993
taking equipment costs into in Berlin, testing messenger
account. It is also a dangerous skills such as speed, navigation,
job: a 2002 Harvard School and the ability to work under
of Public Health report into pressure. The annual gathering
couriers in Boston estimated led to an awareness of the
that the rate of injury requiring courier subculture worldwide;
time off work was 13 times the informal courier races known
US average. as “alleycats” became more
Couriers use personally common.
adapted bikes. Gear has to be as Further information:
indestructible as possible, and movingtargetzine.com
v 88

Cr i ti ca l Ma ss
CRITICAL MASS Widely perceived as mass protests by cyclists in

major cities worldwide, Critical Mass rides are informal, leaderless
events that participants insist are celebrations and spontaneous
gatherings, which means they fall outside rules that may require
RUJDQL]HGSURWHVWVWREHQRWLÀHGWRORFDOSROLFH7KHDLPLVVLPSO\
to reclaim road space from motorists, if only for a while. Critical
Mass rides are usually held on the last Friday of every month and
have a nonhierarchical structure: the routes may simply be decided
by whoever happens to lead the group or by a vote from a variety of
routes handed out to each participant. All that matters is that enough
cyclists turn up and ride together so that they can “occupy” the road.
7KHÀUVW&ULWLFDO0DVVULGHZDVKHOGLQ6DQ)UDQFLVFRLQZLWK
a couple of dozen cyclists. Now over 300 cities worldwide host Critical
Mass rides, with a biennial event in Budapest drawing over 80,000
cyclists. Sometimes as the cyclists roll along small groups will block
WUDIÀFRQVLGHURDGVIRUDIHZPRPHQWVWRHQDEOHWKHRWKHUVWRSDVV
through junctions without stopping, a practice known as “corking.”
There are now variants on Critical Mass including Critical Manners
rides in the US, which aim to encourage cyclists to observe road
laws; Critical Sass is an all-women ride in Louisiana; NUDE CYCLING
campaigning rides have adopted the names Critical Ass and Critical Tits.
CURSE Cycling lore has it that The list begins with FAUSTO
the rainbow jersey of professional COPPI, 1953 world champion and
road world champion carries a never again a major winner after
hex, a belief based on the number a spate of crashes and illness.
of pro road world champions The notion of the curse started
who have suffered a poor season with the 1955 world champion
immediately after taking the title. Stan Ockers of Belgium, who
v 89

Curse
died the winter after winning unknown when he won and

the title; he crashed and cracked quickly went back that way.
his skull while track racing, The 1996 champion Johan
throwing Belgium into a state Museeuw was plagued by
of mourning. The 1987 winner troubles that included an
STEPHEN ROCHE barely raced in infected scratch in his knee,
1988 due to a knee injury that he tangling his wheel in another
VDLGÁDUHGXSWKHPRUQLQJDIWHU rider’s quick-release mechanism,
his victory; he was never the punctures, and a urinary
same athlete again. infection. More recently, Romans
TOM SIMPSON, 1965 champion, Vainsteins (2000) and Igor
broke his leg skiing over the Astarloa (2003) disappeared
winter and missed most of 1966. without trace, while 2003 time
The 1997 rainbow jersey Laurent trial world champion David
Brochard was embroiled in the Millar was busted for drugs the
Festina DOPING scandal, while following year.
the 1970 title winner Jean-Pierre There are some exceptions,
Monsere died in a racing crash however. Being a world
in 1971. champion did not seem to affect
The 1981 world champion EDDY MERCKX adversely, while
Freddy Maertens slumped into GREG LEMOND won the TOUR
obscurity after that win, the DE FRANCE a year after taking
1990 winner Rudy Dhaenens the world title in 1989, and
was barely seen in action again 1980 world champion BERNARD
after contracting a virus, and HINAULT won the Tour de France
the 1994 rainbow jersey winner and Paris–Roubaix in the next
Luc Leblanc’s sponsor went bust season. Perhaps the curse
the next season. The 1969 world applies only to mere mortals.
champion Harm Ottenbros was
v 90

Cycle Speedway
CYCLE SPEEDWAY Cycling are subtly different, so previous

discipline run along the same knowledge of what lines to
lines as motorized speedway, adopt around the curves can be
with short, sharp races run important. Physical contact is
counterclockwise on an oval permitted—jostling and barging
track, with a standing start. It for corners—but the referees
developed in the 1940s when have tightened up on it in
the motorized version was at recent years. The best riders are
its zenith, when kids began explosive sprinters but stamina
racing on British bombsites is needed for up to 10 races in
using discarded bikes, with a meeting, while cornering,
bars made of copper piping to overtaking, and physical contact
imitate motorbike handebars. mean that high skill levels and
Now, races are held on outdoor decent upper body strength are
dirt tracks between 65 and 90 called for.
meters in length. As in TRACK There are about 40 clubs in
RACING, bikes have single speed Britain, with regional leagues,
gears and no brakes, but the and also clubs in Australia,
JHDULVDIUHHZKHHOQRWDÀ[HG the US, Sweden, Holland,
and is far lower than that used and Poland. Among the major
for track racing, spun at up to QDPHVWKHÀUVWULGHUWRWDNHWKH
200 pedal revs per minute. The “Grand Slam” of national junior,
races are usually between four under-21, senior, Australian, and
riders over four laps, most often world titles was Jim Varnish of
between two pairs of riders from Great Britain. The 2009 British
RSSRVLQJWHDPVÀUVWRYHUWKH champion was Gavin Wheeler,
line is the winner, with points while the 2009 world champion
awarded over an evening’s was Daniel Pudney (Australia).
racing. The riders draw for grid (SEE BMX AND GRASS TRACK RACING FOR
position, which can be a critical OTHER BRANCHES OF CYCLING INVOLVING
SHORT RACES ON STRIPPED-DOWN BIKES
IDFWRUDVRYHUWDNLQJLVGLIÀFXOW³
ON OUTDOOR CIRCUITS)
inside grid is best. All the tracks
v 91

Cyclo-cross
CYCLO-CROSS The oldest in the world, the THREE PEAKS,

form of off-road racing has been was founded in 1961.
upstaged by brash newcomer Traditionally, continental
MOUNTAIN-BIKING, but remains cyclo-cross was a way for road
popular at a grassroots level in UDFHUVWRNHHSÀWLQZLQWHU³WKH
Europe, particularly in Belgium, ÀUVWPDQWRSXWDELNHRYHUKLV
Holland, and Switzerland, and shoulder ’cross style is said to be
is gaining popularity in North Octave Lapize, 1910 Tour winner,
America. Cyclo-cross racers use and another star of the HEROIC
adapted road-racing bikes on ERA, Eugène Christophe, was
circuits that are usually short seven-times French champion.
and include obstacles: ditches, 7KHÀUVWZRUOGFKDPSLRQ
steps, tree roots, logs, mud, sand, Jean Robic, had won the TOUR
ice; one famous course used the DE FRANCE in 1947. BERNARD
steps leading up to Montmartre HINAULT was a regular cyclo-
in Paris in the 1940s. FURVVUDFHUDQGKLVÀQDOUDFH
Most cyclo-cross circuits was a ’cross in his home village
require the rider to run with the in Brittany in 1986, but the
bike, meaning that the ability to most successful ’cross and road
dismount and remount smoothly racer was ROGER DE VLAEMINCK
is paramount. Bike changes are of Belgium, a multiple CLASSIC
permitted; on muddy courses, winner in the 1970s and also
racers will switch bikes as their world cyclo-cross champion in
machines become clogged up. 1975. De Vlaeminck’s elder
Compared to road and track, brother Eric (b. 1945) won the
cyclo-cross is a latecomer: the world ’cross title seven times,
sport was in existence in the and also took a stage in the
1900s, and a French national Tour de France. In the 1980s,
championship was run in 1902, Adri Van Der Poel of Holland
EXWWKHÀUVWZRUOGFKDPSLRQVKLSV won a world cyclo-cross title
were only held in 1950. In and several Classics. Recently,
Britain, the toughest ’cross race however, ’cross has been
v 92

Cy c l o s p o rt i v es
dominated by specialists, some of derailleur and cassette for a

whom double up with mountain- wide range of gears. Frames
bike racing in the summer. are specially built with larger
Cyclo-cross bikes now use a FOHDUDQFHVDQGÀWWLQJVIRU
mix of road- and mountain-bike cantilever brakes. Tires are
technology with the emphasis specially made high pressures or
on two factors: coping with tubulars, much wider than usual
mud and with a variety of other (34 mm rather than 23 mm for
surfaces. Clipless mountain-bike the road), with studs. Top riders
pedals are ubiquitous, while will choose tires for a particular
CAMPAGNOLO Ergopower and course or conditions. For years
SHIMANO STI gear-changers are the whole pedal issue was a
common, with a few die-hards QLJKWPDUHZLWKULGHUVÀWWLQJ
sticking to old-style handlebar- double toeclips for extra strength
end gear-changers. and customizing toestraps to
Most cyclo-cross bikes now eliminate mud build up. Then
have double front chain rings Shimano invented the SPD
rather than the traditional pedal for the mountain bike and
single, with mountain-bike rear ’crossers immediately latched on.
CYCLOSPORTIVES Offering across Europe—many of them

a challenge midway between RYHUVXEVFULEHG³DQGDÀHOGRI
racing and touring, cyclosportives 35,000 turning out for the most
have been run in Europe since popular event worldwide, the
the start of the 20th century. Cape Argus Pick’n’Pay Tour in
Since the 1990s they have South Africa.
been cycling’s biggest growth They are to cycling what the
area, with events proliferating great marathon events are to
v 93

runners. The key attraction Brest–Paris. Sportives are

is that riders can choose their hugely popular in Great Britain
pace: whether that means and France, and in Italy, where
going with the best or pedaling they have a long history and are
JHQWO\7KHKXJHÀHOGVPHDQ known as Gran Fondo, or “long
you never lack company. The distance.”
best follow the format of the A Sportif route is tough and
ÉTAPE DU TOUR, founded in if possible linked to a major
1993, which itself drew partly professional race or at least
from major mountain-bike including climbs that are a little
events where completing the out of the ordinary. Most offer
course and having a good time a variety of route lengths so
was what mattered, and partly that all abilities are catered for,
from the more spartan AUDAX with a well signposted course.
and randonneur events such In the best events the riders are
as Flèche Velocio and Paris– timed accurately, so that even
v 94

WKRXJKWKH\DUHQRW³RIÀFLDOO\³ from sponsors. In many cases,

competitive events, all starters sportives are run by or on behalf
have something for posterity of former pros in their local
and to compare with their area; media stars such as PHIL
friends. There may be medals LIGGETT also have their own
IRUÀQLVKLQJZLWKLQDFHUWDLQ events.
time for certain age categories. Recognizing the popularity of
Support is provided, with feeding the events, the UCI created the
stations, a broom wagon to pick Golden Bike series of seven long-
up stragglers, and sometimes established sportives around the
service vehicles. There is usually world. In 2009, they were:
a prerace pasta party, possibly
a “village” of sponsors’ stands
where the riders can spend their
The Cape Argus Pick’n’Pay Tour,
starting in Cape Town. See
money, and everyone is given a separate entry for CAPE TOWN.
goody bag containing free gifts
v 95

Cy c l o sp o rt i v es
The Tour of Flanders, over

the same course and
famous cheese comes from,
with a host of climbs in the
cobbled climbs used for the hills around Lausanne.
professional CLASSIC, with
options from 74 to 257 km, and
Wattyl Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge,
another lake, but on the other
mountain-bike events as well. side of the world in New
It’s run the day before the pro Zealand. The course is 160
HYHQWVWDUWLQJDQGÀQLVKLQJ km, and can be covered in
in the town of Ninove. relays of 40 km for those who
L’Ariegoise, uses relatively

unknown but tough climbs
want to share the challenge,
or as a 320 or 640 km event
through the Pyrenées, for true masochists.
ÀQLVKLQJDWWKH3ODWHDXGH
Beille ski station, which Other great sportives include:
has hosted Tour de France
ÀQLVKHV
The Autumn Epic, a 90-mile event
Gran Fondo Internazionale Felice

GimondiVWDUWVDQGÀQLVKHV
through the hilly Welsh
borders, voted best sportif in
in Bergamo and takes in the the UK.
Dolomite foothills. The Giro
winner and world champion
Étape Caledonia, 80 miles
through the Scottish
uses his connections to bring Highlands from the town
a bevy of former stars along. of Pitlochry, the only UK
Quebrantahuesos, starts and

ÀQLVKHVLQWKHQRUWKZHVW
event offering closed roads.
In 2009, it was hit by
Spanish town of Sabinanigo saboteurs who strewed
and takes in some of the tacks on the road, causing
classic Pyrenean climbs such over 50 punctures.
as the Col de Marie Blanque,
the Portalet and the Somport.
The Fred Whitton Challenge, in the
Lake District, a 112-mile
Gruyere Cycling Tour, around the

lake where Switzerland’s
HYHQWVWDUWLQJDQGÀQLVKLQJ
at Coniston and including the
v 96

climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, hills of Central France. 14,000

Whinlatter, Hardknott, and people took part in 2007; they
Wrynose passes. offer a big range of distances,
Northern Rock Cyclone, the British

round of Golden Bike,
up to 654 km in three days,
with 11,255 m of climbing.
VWDUWLQJDQGÀQLVKLQJRQWKH
north side of Newcastle and The cyclo-sportive
taking in the moors of North phenomenon of the 1990s drew
East England. heavily from mountain biking,
Gran Fondo Nove Colli Marco Pantani,

VWDUWLQJDQGÀQLVKLQJLQ
and there are many well-
established off-road sportives
Pantani’s birthplace of such as the Rough Ride in
Cesenatico on the Adriatic Britain’s Welsh Borders and the
Coast, and taking in nine tough Hell of the North Cotswolds.
ascents in the Apennines.
7KHÀHOGLVXSWR (SEE ALPS, PYRENÉES, AND DOLOMITES

FOR EVENTS THAT TAKE IN THESE
The Ardechoise, is a hugely LEGENDARY MOUNTAIN RANGES; SEE
popular and often overlooked MOUNTAIN BIKES FOR THE BEST OFF-ROAD
SPORTIVES)
series of events in the tough
v 97

D
DA VINCI, Leonardo were keen to claim the bike’s
parentage for Italy.
Learned and heated debate has Scholars believe the bike
raged for three decades among may have been drawn around
a small group of art historians 1493; the drawing is on the
about Leonardo’s “bicycle.” The back of papers later used for
issue is whether, at the very architectural sketches. About this
end of the 15th century, the time, Leonardo was developing
Italian artist and inventor, or chain and cog wheel devices.
one of his pupils, actually drew There is much discussion of ink
what appears to be a sketch types and lost manuscript sheets,
for a bicycle, or whether the but no one knows the answer.
image is a fake added in the (SEE DRAISIENNE AND HOBBY HORSE TO
1960s by patriotic restorers who LEARN HOW THE BIKE WAS BORN)
v 98

D e Vl ae m i n ck , R o g er
DE VLAEMINCK, Roger of animals that included ducks

and deer, and he was still trying to
Born: Eeklo, Belgium, August 4, 1947 outride professionals and amateurs
Major wins: Milan–San Remo 1973, a third his age as he entered his
1978–9; Tour of Flanders 1977; Paris– [,M>TIMUQVKS¼[\ZIQVQVO
Roubaix 1972, 1974–5, 1977; Liège– rides over the border into Holland
Bastogne–Liège 1970; Giro di Lombardia are legendary: each rider spends
1974, 1976; Het Volk 1969, 1979; SUWV\PMNZWV\[QVOTMÅTMQ[
Flèche Wallonne, 1971; Championship of maintained, and not a word spoken.
Zurich 1975, Paris-Brussels 1981; Tour De Vlaeminck was born into a
of Switzerland 1975; world cyclo-cross family of traveling clothiers and
champion 1975 thus acquired the nickname “the
Nicknames: the Beast of Eeklo, the Gypsy Gypsy” at school. He never attained
Merckx’s popularity and avoided the
8W[[M[[WZWN \PMÅVM[\XIQZWN TOUR DE FRANCE once it became
sideburns cycling has ever seen, clear that he would not match
more importantly De Vlaeminck Merckx in the event. The pair had
was the best CLASSIC rider of the IJQ\\MZZQÎTZaMIZTaQV\PM![
![IN\MZEDDY MERCKX. Between whipped up by the national press.
!IVL!PM_WVPARIS– “When a Belgian daily paper ran a
ROUBAIX four times, which is still the photograph of Merckx entertaining
record. He rode the race every year De Vlaeminck at his breakfast
JIZWVMJM\_MMV!!IVL! table, it was as if the Pope had been
VM^MZÅVQ[PQVOTW_MZ\PIV[M^MV\P caught supping with the Devil,”
<PMWVMUIRWZ[QVOTMLIaZIKM wrote Geoffrey Nicholson. (See
to elude him was the world road RIVALRIES for other great cycling
championship. head-to-heads.)
He remains one of FLANDERS’ Later, however, the two Belgians
and cycling’s great characters: buried the hatchet and formed an
after retirement he was to be found alliance against another Classics
living on a farm outside his home [XMKQITQ[\.ZMLLa5IMZ\MV[#,M
village along with a vast menagerie Vlaeminck’s son is named after
v 99

Defeats
Merckx. While never a Tour de Milan–San Remo, or the cobbles

France star, he was one of the few of Paris–Roubaix. He was also a
cyclists capable of winning any one winner of the CYCLO-CROSS world
of the Classics, be it in the steep hills KPIUXQWV[PQXIVL\WWSIUI[[Q^M
WN \PM)ZLMVVM[\PM[XZQV\ÅVQ[PWN stage wins in the Giro d’Italia.
DEFEATS Unfairly, some cyclists POULIDORRI)UDQFHWKHÀUVW

are better known for losing than man to be nicknamed the
for winning. LAURENT FIGNON ´(WHUQDOVHFRQGµDIWHUÀQLVKLQJ
has gone down in cycling history second or third in the Tour
for being just 8 seconds adrift eight times. Poulidor lost the
of victory in the 1989 TOUR 1964 Tour by 55 seconds—an
DE FRANCE, a record margin astonishingly small margin at
estimated at about 100 m in a a time when margins of 5 to 10
race lasting 3,285 km and 87.5 minutes were not uncommon—
hours. As Fignon said, “Eight yet lost a minute when he
seconds, 20 seconds, a minute, sprinted for a 60 second time
what’s the difference?” Not all bonus on the wrong lap at a
notable runners-up have said VWDJHÀQLVK7KHVHFRQG´(WHUQDO
similar things. A year after second” was Joop Zoetemelk,
Fignon’s defeat, the Canadian D'XWFKPDQZKRPDGHDÀQH
Steve Bauer came within a comeback from a life-threatening
millimeter or two of winning KHDGLQMXU\WRÀQLVKUXQQHUXS
PARIS–ROUBAIX, only for the in the Tour six times between
SKRWRÀQLVKWREHDZDUGHGWR 1971 and 1982. Jan Ullrich, who
Eddy Planckaert of Belgium. PDQDJHGÀYHVHFRQGSODFHVLQVL[
“Second in Roubaix is OK I starts to one win between 1996
guess,” was his reaction. and 2003, was the third.
The most famous and popular Unlucky losers are everywhere
loser of all was RAYMOND in cycling, but few are as
v 100

Defensive Cycling
unfortunate as the French Hansen of Denmark declared

sprinter Lucien Michard, who WKDWKHKDGGHÀQLWHO\ORVW
was given second place in the 2IÀFLDOVVLPSO\SRLQWHGDWWKH
1931 world championship in rule book that said their decision
VSLWHRISKRWRÀQLVKHYLGHQFHDQG ZDVÀQDODQGJDYH+DQVHQWKH
even though his opponent Falk gold medal.
DEFENSIVE CYCLING Term used to describe the tactics cyclists adopt

to protect themselves from motorists on busy modern roads. Cyclists
view this as defensive assertion of their right to space in order to
avoid injury or worse; motorists may not share that view.
Defensive tactics include:
Looking over the shoulder at cars approaching from the rear to

alert the driver to the fact that the thing in front is a human being.
Riding out of the saddle and wobbling slightly works as well, as
WKLVJLYHVWKHF\FOLVWDELJJHUSURÀOHHQFRXUDJLQJWKHFDUGULYHUWR
give the cyclist more road space.
Pulling out a little to prevent drivers overtaking on blind bends,

indicating if necessary that the driver is to stay behind.
Pulling out before a left-hand junction to prevent a car from

overtaking and then cutting in to turn left.
Riding a little further out from the gutter than might be expected
to create “escape space” if a truck overtakes or a car comes too
close.
Allowing space when riding down a line of parked cars for the one
driver in a hundred who hasn’t seen you coming and opens his door
on your fast-moving knee.
v 101

Derailleur
DERAILLEUR see GEARS making the pace in training

and warming up. They were
also used for many years in the
Bordeaux–Paris motorpaced
CLASSIC.
DERNY Small motorbike with a 7KH\DUHQDPHGDIWHUWKHÀUP
gas tank across the handlebars WKDWÀUVWPDGHWKHPLQ
used in TRACK RACING. Dernys Roger Derny et Fils in Ave St.
have a 98 cc two-stroke engine Mande, Paris. Derny et Fils
backed up by the driver pedaling shut down in 1957, and most of
DODUJHÀ[HGJHDUW\SLFDOO\ the machines are now made in
70 × 11, giving smooth Neerpelt, Belgium. The term is
acceleration and deceleration. listed in the French dictionary
They have to be bump-started, and Larousse as a generic description
their top speed is about 50 mph. for a small pacing motorbike.
'HUQ\VWDNHWKHÀHOGXSWR Contrary to popular belief, there
speed in the opening laps of is no contractual obligation for
international KEIRIN races, the drivers to be overweight, to
are used to pace riders in have bizarre facial hair, and to
MOTORPACE races at track wear obscure Belgian cycle club
meetings, and can be seen jerseys. It’s just coincidence.
v 102

Desgrange, Henri
DESGRANGE, Henri suggestion of his assistant Géo

(b. France, 1865, d. 1940) Lefèvre, a writer on rugby and
cycling, for a novel publicity
The father of two of the sport’s stunt: a bike race longer than
premier events: the TOUR DE any other run before, along the
FRANCE and the HOUR RECORD, lines of Le Vélo’s PARIS–BREST–
and also a founder of the leisure PARIS but that circumnavigated
cyclists’ AUDAX movement. )UDQFHLQÀYHVWDJHV7KHLQLWLDO
$QDXVWHUHÀJXUHZKREHJDQ plan was for a race that would
working life as a lawyer’s clerk take 35 days, but after protests
but was caught up in the 1890s from the professional cyclists
passion for cycling, Desgrange ZKRZRXOGPDNHXSWKHÀHOGWKLV
lost his job for riding bare- was amended to a six-stage event
legged. He turned to record- taking 19 days.
EUHDNLQJVHWWLQJWKHÀUVWKRXU The race was announced in
record at the Buffalo velodrome the paper on January 19, 1903.
(see TRACK RACING) in Paris 'HVJUDQJHZDVQRWFRQÀGHQW
on May 11, 1893, and new of its success and stayed away
standards at distances from IURPWKHÀUVW7RXUZKHQLW
1 kilometer to 100 miles. He began on July 1, 1903 at the
then became manager of the Réveil-Matin Café in the Paris
Parc des Princes velodrome and suburb of Montgeron (the
later the track that was known centenary Tour of 2003 also
as the VELODROME D’HIVER. In began from the Réveil-Matin,
1900, Desgrange was appointed still in situ but by then a Wild-
HGLWRURIWKHÁHGJOLQJQHZVSDSHU West themed restaurant). It was
L’Auto, but he did not manage to Lefèvre who followed the race
break the market stranglehold IURPVWDUWWRÀQLVKWUDYHOLQJE\
of its rival, Le Vélo. In December train and bike and providing a
1902 at a crisis meeting to page of reports every day. His
devise ways to give the paper son described his role like this:
new impetus, he took up the “lost all alone in the night, he
v 103

Desgrange, Henri
would stand on the edge of the remains part of the organizers’

road, a storm lantern in his ethos today. It was, wrote
hand, searching the shadows Geoffrey Nicholson, “established
for riders who surged out of the as a battle against fearful odds
dark from time to time, yelled often fought in inhospitable
their name and disappeared regions which the readers of
into the distance. He alone was newspaper reports could only
the ‘organisation’ of the Tour de imagine.” He took the event into
France.” the disputed territory of Alsace-
7KHÀUVW7RXUZDVDQ /RUUDLQHLQUDQWKHÀUVW
XQTXDOLÀHGVXFFHVVL’Auto’s mountain stages, experimented
circulation jumped from 25,000 with team time trials and
to 65,000, and Le Vélo went DWWHPSWHGWROLPLWWKHLQÁXHQFH
bust. By the second running of the cycle manufacturers by
of the Tour, however, the making the riders use identical
ÀHOGKDGZRUNHGRXWZD\VRI machines issued by the race
getting around the rudimentary organizers. He also brought
rules and there was a wave of in the advance caravan of
cheating, which led Desgrange advertising vehicles that draws
to announce that “The Tour de spectators today.
)UDQFHLVÀQLVKHGµ%XWLQ A believer that exercise
he personally took over the and suffering led to moral
running of the race and brought improvement, he was
in numerous changes, most uncompromising in his merciless
importantly shorter stages that attitude to the riders, giving
meant the riders would not be rise to some of the Tour’s
out on lonely French country most legendary episodes (see
roads at night. HEROIC ERA; PELISSIER for
Under Desgrange, the Tour examples). During the First
was run dictatorially but also World War, Desgrange enrolled
with a constant search for as an infantryman and won the
novelty and timeliness, which Croix de Guerre; he returned
v 104

Desgrange, Henri
to his paper in 1919 when he professional road racers. . . .

conceived his masterstroke: the From Paris to the blue waves of
introduction of a distinctive the Mediterranean, along the
jersey as a way of recognizing rosy, dreaming roads sleeping
the race leader. The jersey was under the sun, across the calm
yellow, the same color as the RIWKHÀHOGVRIWKH9HQGpH
pages of L’Auto; the jersey bears following the still and silently
his initials even today, and every ÁRZLQJ/RLUHRXUPHQDUHJRLQJ
stage race in the world has a to race madly and tirelessly.” He
leader’s jersey, usually yellow. described Henri Pelissier’s win in
Desgrange began the tradition 1923 as having “the classicism of
that the Tour organizer should a work by Racine, the value of a
also be a journalist. As a perfect statue, a faultless classic
writer, he modeled himself on or a piece of music destined to
ePLOH=ROD+LVVW\OHZDVÁRULG stay in everyone’s minds.”
and crammed with imagery Desgrange cohabited for much
and is still imitated by color- of his life with the avant-garde
writers on L’Auto’s successor artist Jeanne (Jane) Deley. In
L’Equipe today. His essay in 1936, after a prostate operation,
L’Auto introducing the Tour he gave up the running of the
was entitled “The Sowers” Tour de France to Jacques
and begins: “With the broad Goddet—the son of the L’Auto
and powerful swing of the treasurer Victor Goddet—and
hand which Zola gave to his after he died in 1940 a MEMORIAL
ploughman in The Earth, L’Auto, was put up in his honor on top of
a paper of ideas and action, the Col du Galibier. A street off
LVJRLQJWRÁLQJDFURVV)UDQFH Quai de Bercy next to the Seine,
today those reckless and uncouth on the southeast side of Paris (post
sowers of energy, the great code 75012) is named after him.
v 105

Do g s
DOGS Man’s best friend, a Alejandro Valverde lost a circuit

cyclist’s worst enemy* (and race in Valencia against a team
occasional training aid as you of six huskies drawing a wheeled
sprint to get away from those sleigh. A rematch was called for,
snapping teeth). Victorian with two cyclists taking on the
cyclists carried heavyweight huskies, but halfway through the
small-caliber pistols to deal with animals decided it was time for
a nap.
Dogs sometimes intervene in
major bike races, for example
in two stages in the 2007 TOUR
DE FRANCE, where pooch-
bike interface resulted in
LQMXULHVWRÀUVWO\WKH*HUPDQ
Marcus Burghardt, and, later,
threatening mutts—presumably Frenchman Sandy Casar, who
on a high-wheel Old Ordinary won a stage after being brought
there was a serious risk of losing down by a dog early on.
control during a dog attack. The best-known dog in pro
The Germans made gunpowder- racing belongs to the 2009
ÀOOHGDQWLGRJJUHQDGHVZKLOH world champion Cadel Evans of
US cyclists could buy ammonia Australia. In a media crush at
sprays and some still carry mace the 2008 Tour, Evans shouted at
or pepper spray. One US study one journalist, “If you stand on
estimated that 8 percent of cycle my dog I’ll cut your head off.” His
accidents were caused by Fido website later sold T-shirts with
and friends. the motto: “Don’t stand on my
While matches between dog.”
cyclists and HORSES go back over In the 1950s, the cycling
a century, races between cyclists cartoonist Johnny Helms
and canines are more recent. perfectly depicted the cyclist’s
In 2009, the Spanish champion nightmare: a mischievous
v 106

D o l o mi t es
breed of hound with sharklike its genitals. He concludes: “If

teeth and gaping grin, often worst comes to worst and you are
with a scrap of cycling shorts forced down to the ground by a
in its mouth. The bestselling dog, ram your entire arm down
bike bible Richard’s Bicycle his throat. He will choke and
Book by RICHARD BALLANTINE die. Better your arm than your
offers a grimly detailed guide throat.”
on dealing with vicious dogs. * THIS IS TAKING “ENEMY” AS REFERRING
TO AN ANIMATE ENTITY; THE GREATEST
He recommends using pepper
DANGER, OBVIOUSLY, COMES FROM
sprays, ramming the pump INANIMATE OBJECTS WITH FOUR WHEELS
down the dog’s throat, kicking OR MORE AND AN ENGINE.
DOLOMITES It was not until Pordoi pass. They are shorter

the 1930s that the GIRO D’ITALIA and steeper than the Alpine
visited the passes through FOLPEVWKDWÀJXUHLQWKHTOUR DE
the section of the ALPS that FRANCE.
dominates northern Italy. The Giro tackles the Dolomites
However, they are now decisive in early summer and is vulnerable
in the race, which also uses the to extreme weather. The most
climbs of the southeastern Alps legendary example was in 1988
and the shorter, less testing on the Gavia Pass, which lies in
ascents in the Apennines. the west of the range between
Geographically, Dolomites refers Sondrio and Brescia. This was
to the mountains between the WKHVSULQJERDUGIRUWKHÀUVW
Adige river in the west and win in the Giro for the UNITED
the Piave valley to the east. STATES as Andy Hampsten took
Dolomite climbs frequently have over the pink leader’s jersey on a
spectacular backdrops such notorious day when heavy snow
as the rock pinnacles on the fell unexpectedly on this high pass
v 107

D o l o mi t es
with its unmetaled roads. There founded in 1987 and now so

were dramatic scenes as shivering popular that 5,000 of the 9,000
riders stopped on the descent to places are designated by a
urinate on their frozen hands. lottery; the event draws around
The most notorious Dolomite 20,000 applications. The event
passes are shown below. is subdivided into three courses
Numerous CYCLOSPORTIVES of varying severity, all starting
take in the great passes of the DQGÀQLVKLQJLQWKHWRZQRI
Dolomites, most notably the Corvara in the Badia valley: the
Maratona dles Dolomites, toughest, over 86 miles, includes
Mortirolo 12.4 km 1,885 m 1,315 m Marco Pantani memorial

(from Mazzo and gradients that reach
Valtellina)
nearly 20 percent
Pordoi 13 km 2,239 m 786 m Fausto Coppi memorial

(from Canazei)
Gavia 17.3 km 2,621 m 1,363 m Steep and long and

(from Ponte narrow, and famously
di Legno) snowy in the 1988 Giro
Sella 11.4 km 2,244 m 758 m Superb panorama of

(from Canazei) the Torri di Sella at the
summit
(See STELVIO for a climb that is not geographically part of the Dolomites but has a whole history
of its own.)
v 108

Double
the climbs of Campolongo Croce d’Aune (see CAMPAGNOLO

(twice), Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, IRUWKHVLJQLÀFDQFHRIWKLVFOLPE
Giau, and Falzarego. None of in cycling history).
the passes is over seven miles The Granfondo Marco
long but their steepness means Pantani includes the Gavia and
the total amount of climbing is 0RUWLURORVWDUWLQJDQGÀQLVKLQJ
13,747 feet. in the town of Aprica.
The Granfondo Sportful, The great Dolomite climbs
(previously known as GF feature in the RAID Alpine route
Campagnolo, but now with new from Thonon les Bains to Trieste.
sponsor) is held on the third
Sunday in June, based in the
town of Feltre, and covers six
Dolomite passes, including the DOPING See DRUGS
DOUBLE Cycle racing has two legendary “doubles”: most prestigious

is the GIRO D’ITALIA followed by the TOUR DE FRANCE in the same
year, a rare feat achieved only by the greats: FAUSTO COPPI (1949 and
1952), JACQUES ANQUETIL (1964), EDDY MERCKX (1970, 1972, 1974),
BERNARD HINAULT (1982, 1985), STEPHEN ROCHE (1987), and MARCO
PANTANI (1998). MIGUEL INDURAIN of Spain achieved a “double double”
by winning Giro and Tour two years running, 1992 and 1993, while in
1974 and 1987 respectively Merckx and Roche achieved a legendary
triple: Giro, Tour, and world championships.
The other “double” is the Ardennes double: victories in Flèche
Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège in the same year (see CLASSICS).
Cyclists who have managed this are: Ferdi Kubler (Switzerland)
1951–2; Stan Ockers (Belgium) 1955; Eddy Merckx (Belgium) 1972;
Moreno Argentin (Italy) 1991; Davide Rebellin (Italy) 2004; Alejandro
Valverde (Spain) 2006.
v 109

Downhill
DOWNHILL The original form conventional mountain bikes or

of MOUNTAIN-BIKING, and still customized variants. It was not
the most traditional variant of until the 1990s that specialist
the sport, with its principles downhill machines became
unchanged since the days of the widespread. These have large-
REPACK downhill in California diameter disc brakes, front and
in the late 1970s. It is simply rear suspension with far more
a downhill time trial on a travel than machines used for
short course—usually lasting cross-country and touring, and
between two and six minutes. more laid-back frame design
Competitors wear full-face so that the rider can get his or
helmets and sometimes body her weight further back. More
armor. Downhill has become a lightweight dual suspension and
natural summer sport for ski discs are now ubiquitious on
resorts, many of which now have all top-end mountain bikes; in
marked, graded runs and open these areas downhill has pushed
ski lifts to transport the bikers to development forward.
the top of the runs. The UCI runs Downhill was included in the
a season-long World Cup and a ÀUVW8&,PRXQWDLQELNHZRUOG
world championship. championships at Durango,
The Repack riders used Colorado, in 1990: the winners
the “clunkers” that evolved were Greg Herbold of the US
into the mountain bike, and and Cindy Devine of Canada.
later downhillers rode either The bike-handling element and
V ariants on mountain-bike downhill include Super-D, a mix of cross-country and downhill

with uphill sections that discourage the use of downhill machines; Freeride, a test of riding
skill scored for riding style, selection of trajectory, tricks, and time; Dual-Slalom, a knock-out
event with two riders side by side on identical courses; Four-Cross, four riders starting together
like BMX with an initial timed solo round for seeding, followed by knock-out rounds.
v 110

Downhill
need for upper-body strength

has meant there has always
BIZARRE
been crossover with BMX, with
DOWNHILL FACTOID
one early champion the former
BMX racer John Tomac. GREAT The Bosnian capital Sarajevo,
BRITAIN is surprisingly strong in which is ringed by mountains, has
the discipline. Steve Peat was a downhill race that goes through
world champion in 2009, while streets on the steep slopes.
WKHXQLRQMDFNLVÁRZQE\WKH 4
Atherton family from Wales:
Rachel, Gee—the 2008 world
champion—and Dan. timed downhill challenge using
Downhill venues include the hairpins that wind down
some of the same French Alpine from the Pyrenéan ski resort of
resorts that host Tour de France Pla d’Adet. The 2009 winner was
stages, including l’Alpe d’Huez the Frenchman Fred Moncassin,
and Morzine, Italian ski resorts a former stage winner in both
such as Bardonnechia and the mountain-bike and road
Pila, while in Liguria there are Tours de France.
downhill courses that end by There is a curious subculture
the Mediterranean. In Great to downhill, in which speed
Britain, most downhill courses record attempts are made on
are in Wales and Scotland, frozen ski-slopes by heavily
with a World Cup and world protected downhillers, a fashion
championship venue at Ben that caught on in the late
Nevis. 1990s inspired by Frenchman
There are few comparable Fabrice Taillefer. These are fear-
events in road cycling, although inspiring and very quick: the
there is the Red Bull Descent, a record is over 130 mph.
v 111

Draisienne
DRAISIENNE Early bicycle, In December 1818 a patent

invented in 1817 by Baron Karl was registered in London by a
von Drais, Master of the Forests carriage maker named Denis
in the duchy of Baden, Germany, Johnson, for a “pedestrian
whose other inventions included curricle” made largely of iron
a typewriter and a meat grinder. and selling at 8 or 10 guineas,
Made of wood, it consisted of and based on the Draisienne
two wheels joined by a frame design. The “hobby horse” was
with a seat for the rider, with born and was rapidly taken up
the front wheel able to rotate by Regency London; the wealthy
freely so the machine could be would turn up at his two schools
steered. There were no pedals. to be instructed in riding
It included a seat, luggage the machine. A drop-frame
rack, and a “balancing board” version was made for ladies to
on which the rider placed his accommodate long skirts. So
elbows. The speeds attained by many people rode the hobby
the Draisienne depended on the horses that they were banned
road surface and gradient, but it from pavements in London; the
was found to be four times faster craze spread to America, pushed
than post-coaches. by Johnson, but eventually died
The Draisienne was patented out.
at the start of 1818 and launched
(SEE BONESHAKER FOR THE NEXT STAGE
in France later that year; by IN CYCLE DEVELOPMENT; HIGH-WHEELER
then there were four companies AND SAFETY BICYCLE FOR LATER
VARIANTS; BICYCLE FOR A SUMMARY
making similar machines in
OF THE MACHINE’S DEVELOPMENT;
Germany, and others across LEONARDO DA VINCI FOR THE DEBATE
Europe began copying the model. OVER A POSSIBLE EARLY MACHINE)
v 112

Drugs
DRUGS Cycle racing is one training is probably more

of the toughest endurance straightforward.
disciplines in sport, and a variety Alcohol was often used up to
of illegal substances have been the 1970s for its painkilling and
used over the years as cyclists euphoric effects. TOM SIMPSON
have attempted to go farther was seen drinking brandy
and faster. Doping began with shortly before his death in the
the marathon events of the 1967 Tour de France.
1890s, particularly the SIX-DAY Amphetamines became
races, where riders would use popular during the 1950s after
caffeine, strychnine, and arsenic. large amounts of Benzedrine
By the 1930s, drug-taking in produced for the airmen of the
cycling was so institutionalized Second World War came onto
that the rider contracts in the the market. Its euphoric effect
TOUR DE FRANCE stated that the enabled a cyclist to ignore the
cost of “stimulants, tonics and pain, but it is highly addictive so
doping” had to be paid by the regular users ended up taking
riders themselves, according to more and more to get the same
historian Benjo Maso. effect. In addition, the feeling
Ironically in view of the of invincibility reported by
mythology that surrounds drug- amphetamine users could lead
taking, the effects have often to crashes and bizarrely timed
been counterproductive rather attacks that resulted in defeat.
than performance enhancing. After Simpson’s death, testing
Cyclists have ended up with was brought in and the use of
long-term injuries and mental amphetamines in major events
problems through drug taking— declined, although the Irish pro
not to mention the deaths— Paul Kimmage wrote that it was
while recent developments in widespread in lesser races as late
professional cycling suggest as the 1980s.
that winning the biggest Anabolic agents were most
events “clean” thanks to proper used in the 1970s and 1980s.
v 113

Drugs
v114

Drugs
Whereas amphetamines act

in the short term on a cyclist’s “Not me, guv”—the
nervous system, anabolic agents best excuses for
alter the body’s physical state doping/possession
in the medium term, increasing from cyclists
muscle mass and in theory
assisting recovery after training.
=
Given that cyclists don’t want Franck Vandenbroucke: “The
muscle mass, their use may often steroids and EPO were for my dog.”
be counterproductive. Gradually Raimondas Rumsas: “The 40
the testers caught up with these, diffferent drugs in the back of my wife’s
although the male hormone car were for my mother-in-law.”
testosterone was still being used Tyler Hamilton: “I was one of twins,
into the 21st century, according one of which died in the womb, that’s
to the Scot David Millar. why I had two different types of blood.”
Avoiding drug-tests was Ivan Basso: “I had blood removed and
something of an art, according saved for reinjection but it was ‘just in
to the SOIGNEUR Willy Voet, the case’ and I never used it.”
lead protagonist in the Festina Floyd Landis: “I got drunk after a bad
scandal of 1998. Initially, riders day in the mountains, hence my high
simply didn’t show up, but after testosterone levels.”
JACQUES ANQUETIL’s hour record
Richard Virenque: “I had no idea
was refused in 1968 because what I was being given. If I was given
he didn’t give a sample, that drugs it was without my knowledge.”
stopped. The most famous case
of attempted evasion was that of
the Tour de France leader Michel be switched by distracting the
Pollentier, shopped in 1978 (see tester. More recently, it’s said
page 114). Voet describes how a that the EPO test can be avoided
ULGHUZRXOGVWLFNDFRQGRPÀOOHG E\XULQDWLQJRYHUÀQJHUVWKDW
with clean urine up his anus have been dipped in laundry
and how urine samples might detergent.
v 115

Drugs
Belgian mix was a cocktail some teams hired staff according

of drugs that might include to their blood group. After the
heroin, morphine, amphetamine, introduction of an EPO test in
and cocaine. It was used mainly 2000, the practice came back into
for training in bad weather, for vogue, along with sophisticated
partying, and to help stay awake EPO variants such as CERA.
while driving between races. Blood tests were introduced
It was either sold by dealers or by the UCI in 1997 and have
produced by a group of cyclists become more and more
who would all put a different sophisticated over the years.
drug in the pot; as a result, its Initially they were intended to
effects would vary depending limit EPO use, but now they are
on which drug was there in the used more to discover cyclists
greatest quantity. who are suspect—these are put
Blood boosters became on the UCI’s red list and they
popular in the late 1980s and are then targeted for testing.
HDUO\V7KHÀUVWDQGPRVW In 2009 the UCI brought in the
popular was erythropoietin, or blood passport system, which
EPO, a synthetic version of the draws up a detailed picture of
hormone that stimulates the each pro rider’s blood parameters;
body to produce more red blood anomalies can result in a ban or
cells, thus increasing its capacity in highly targeted testing.
to supply oxygen to the muscles; Cortisone, the painkiller the
this in turn enabled more power body produces during exercise,
to be produced. This was a was frequently injected in
variant on blood doping, used in DUWLÀFLDOIRUPGXULQJWKHV
the 1970s and early 1980s, where and 1990s for its euphoric
blood would be removed from an effects, but can now be detected.
athlete and reinjected just before Insulin was found
competition. That eventually occasionally at races in the early
evolved into using someone else’s 21st century and was assumed
blood, leading to rumors that to be used to speed up sugar
v 116

Drugs
intake to aid recovery after tough enthusiastic, but the country’s

stages. slow-moving legal system meant
Legal Drugs have also been convictions were rare; French
commonly used, most notably customs men also became active,
caffeine, which was once banned most notably in 2002, with the
above a certain limit but is now detention of Edita Rumsas, the
permitted. Most riders drink ZLIHRI5DLPRQGDVZKRÀQLVKHG
coffee before a race, and Coke or third in the Tour. Her car was
5HG%XOOLQWKHÀQDOSKDVHEXW crammed with drugs.
suppositories and tablets are Recreational drugs are
also used. not commonly found in cycling,
Out-of-competition testing although there is evidence of a
is carried out all year round, with cocaine problem. The 1998 Tour
cyclists declaring their where- winner MARCO PANTANI died of
abouts for set periods each week. a cocaine overdose, as did the
Painkillers were popular top Spanish climber Jose-Maria
in cycling’s early days, with Jimenez, while the Belgian
morphine and heroin used in champion Tom Boonen was
the late 19th century to help found to have taken the drug on
riders complete six-day races. two occasions.
They were also taken in the Sleeping pills have been
1950s as part of the Anquetil used for recreational purposes
cocktail: analgesic to take away WKH&RÀGLVVFDQGDORI
pain in the legs, amphetamine involving Millar revealed this)
to counter the drowsiness these but were also used to counter all
induced, sleeping pills to bring that caffeine, and, in the past,
the rider down at night. other uppers. As one Tour rider
Police raids on races in said, “You can tell which week
search of banned substances of the Tour you are in by the
became more common after the number of sleepers you take:
Festina scandal of 1998. The RQHLQWKHÀUVWZHHNWZRLQWKH
Italian police were the most second, three in the third.”
v 117

Drugs; slang
DRUGS; SLANG
One illustration of the depth of doping culture in cycling is the fact

that French, cycling’s lingua franca, has an almost endless repertoire
of slang referring to drug use. Some selected highlights:
PHRASE ENGLISH MEANING ACTUAL MEANING
Charger la chaudière Warm up the heater Use amphetamines

Allumer les phares Put on the headlights Use amphetamines
Saler la moutarde Salt the mustard General use of drugs
Pisser violet Piss violet General use of drugs
Avoir la valise magique Have a magic suitcase General use of drugs
Diner chez Virenque Dine with Virenque Use drugs (refers to the
Festina drug scandal of
1998)
La flèche Arrow Needle or adapted
syringe
Tonton, tintin, fifi Various kinds of
amphetamine.
La topette Small bottle with a stimulant English racing slang
refers to this as a
“charge bottle”
Spain has the following:

Marker pen = cortisone
Oil change = blood transfusion
Pelas (slang for pesetas) = units of EPO
v 118

E
EASTERN EUROPE Sports were apartments, cars, and, above all,
an important way in which the foreign travel and the chance
communist nations of Eastern to earn hard currency. Cycles
Europe asserted themselves produced in Eastern Europe
during the Cold War, and cycling were often crude and poorly
was one of the key disciplines. made, however, so the Soviet
The value of international team rode Italian bikes made
victories as propaganda—at by Ernesto Colnago. The clubs
home as evidence of the system’s tended to get the hand-me-
power, abroad to show it could downs. Western gear of any kind
compete on equal terms—had had high black-market value into
been rapidly appreciated, and the early 1990s, as did Western
entire sports infrastructures cycling magazines and posters.
ZHUHEXLOWZLWKWKHÀQHVWWDOHQW By the 1970s Poland, the
creamed off into academies Soviet Union, and East Germany
based in the biggest cities: most all boasted “amateur” cycling
legendary was the Russian teams that were not far off
pursuit school in Leningrad (now the standard of pro squads in
St. Petersburg) run by the hyper- Western Europe, with full-time
tough Alexandr Kuznetsov. cyclists whose “jobs” were often
Training regimes were military. The East Europeans
draconian, the demands on were almost unbeatable in their
personal life and health were own events. The biggest of these
considerable, but the rewards was the Berlin–Warsaw–Prague
were tangible: privileges, Peace Race, founded in 1948
v 119

Eas te r n E u ro p e
and sponsored by newspapers is no getting away from it, [they]

in East Germany, Poland, and are consistently phenomenal,
Czechoslovakia. A blue jersey technically brilliant athletes,”
with a white dove on the front wrote Les Woodland in the 1981
was worn by the leading team, International Cycling Guide.
and in its heyday the route The East Europeans were often
covered 2,000 km in front impenetrable for the media but
of crowds numbering in the had a love of shopping, selling
millions. anything they could—most often
East-bloc racers were just as tubular tires—to get currency.
fearsome abroad, dominating The system was comprehensive
major amateur events and and sophisticated, recalls the
walking off with many of the former East German trainer
medals in world track and road Heiko Salzwedel. At the bottom
championships. “We were like of the pyramid was a network of
amateurs against pros,” said sports clubs attached to major
Bob Downs, a British cyclist who enterprises such as the police or
was one of the elite few who had railways. At the top were the half-
WKHOHJVWRSXWXSDGHFHQWÀJKW dozen national cycling centers
against the Russians and Poles across East Germany, each with
in the MILK RACE in the 1970s. about 10 trainers, dealing with
“The whole Russian team used up to 100 athletes. Children
to get on the front and not let were selected from an early age,
anyone else in. The only way partly through biometric tests
you could stand a chance was to that assessed their capacity for
ride as near as possible to them various sports, partly through
and wait for them to make a their parents’ background, partly
mistake.” through selection races.
“Every time an East German 7KHUHZHUHRIÀFLDOJXLGHOLQHV
climbed on to the rostrum, win but coaches had a fair degree
or lose, there was the same RIÁH[LELOLW\LQVHWWLQJWKHLU
unsmiling solemn glare. There own criteria; riders’ Stasi
v 120

Eas t e r n E u ro p e
ÀOHVZRXOGEHFKHFNHG³WRVHH The legacy of the old

whether a potential athlete had Eastern Europe is obvious now.
West German connections, for Individual nations from the
example—but coaches might former Soviet Union such as
push better athletes with Ukraine and Belarus punch
undesirable backgrounds higher above their weight on the
up selection lists to ensure they international stage, while almost
got in the team anyway. The every professional cycling team
screening systems were later in the world has at least one
adapted for use by the cycling “Goombah.”
teams of Australia and GREAT This term was coined by LANCE
BRITAIN. ARMSTRONG’s biographer Dan
The sudden collapse of the Coyle, who wrote that Viatcheslav
Berlin Wall in 1989 left the Ekimov, Alexandr Vinokourov,
sports centers across Eastern and Jens Voigt “had been selected
Europe short of money, and as children, their growth plates
a vast number of talented and femurs measured against
amateurs came on the market: that of a ‘superior child’ and [had
WKH\ÁRRGHGLQWRF\FOLQJ been] whisked away to . . . sports
The sprinter DJAMOLIDIN schools throughout the former
ABDUZHAPAROV made the biggest Soviet empire. Once there their
impact alongside Olaf Ludwig, life became an endless series of
Andrei Tchmil, and Zenon training exercises, the governing
Jaskuta, who in 1993 was the philosophy of which was summed
ÀUVW3ROHWRPDNHLWWRWKH7RXU up by a former coach: ‘you throw
SRGLXP-DQ8OOULFKZDVWKHÀUVW a carton of eggs against the wall,
product of the Eastern system to then keep the ones that do not
win the Tour in 1997. break.’”
v 121

Eas te r n E u ro p e
Six Great Unbreakable Eggs

=
Olaf Ludwig: Ludwig’s sprint win in Besançon in the 1990 Tour de France was the first and
last for East Germany, as unification came not long afterwards. Prior to that the rider from
Gera had won the Olympic road race in 1988, two overall victories in the Peace Race and a
record 38 stages, and two East German Sportsman of the Year awards. As a pro he landed
the World Cup in 1992, the green jersey in the 1990 Tour, and the Amstel Gold Race.
Sergei Soukhouroutchenkov: 1980 Moscow Olympic games road race winner, dominant in
amateur racing from 1979 to 1981, with two wins in the Tour de l’Avenir, two in the Giro delle
Regioni, and one in the Peace Race. Turned pro briefly in 1989–90 but by then his best days
were gone.
Gustave-Adolf “Täve” Schur: East German double world amateur champion (1958–9),
gave up his chance of a third title by helping his friend Bernhard Eckstein. He was also a
double Peace Race winner (1955 and 1959). He later became a parliamentiary deputy; his
son Jan rode briefly as a professional in the early 1990s. His 1955 biography sold 100,000
copies, such was his popularity.
Viktor Kapitonov: Russian who won the Olympic road race in Rome in 1960, sprinting
twice—with a lap to go because he misread the lapboard, then for real a lap later. He became
national trainer, masterminding all those dollar-winning trips to the west in the 1970s.
Viatcheslav Ekimov: Took four world pursuit titles (three as an amateur, one as a pro), and
two Olympic gold medals, the first in the team pursuit in 1988, the second in the time trial in
2000. He was the finest product of the Kuznetsov cycling school. “Eki” went on to ride and
finish 15 Tours de France. He was a key domestique to Lance Armstrong and went on to work
with the Texan at the RadioShack team.
Andrei Tchmil: Turned pro with the first batch of Russians in 1989, and went on to take
victories in PARIS–ROUBAIX (1994), Paris–Tours (1997), MILAN–SAN REMO (1999), and the Tour of
FLANDERS (2000). He changed nationality several times, riding for Russia, Ukraine, Moldova,
and Belgium, and went on to be minister of sport in his native Moldova before founding the
Katyusha pro team.
v 122

End t o E n d
END TO END The 850-plus who did it on old ordinaries

miles from Land’s End to John in 1880, taking 13 days. The
O’Groats—from one end of ÀUVWQDPHRQWKH5RDG5HFRUG
Great Britain to the other—is Association record sheets is
one of the most evocative long- G. P. Mills—also a winner of the
distance rides, tackled for Bordeaux–Paris Classic—with
charity or simply for the sense of a time of 5 days, 1 hour, 45
achievement it engenders. It is minutes, on a penny farthing
also the most prestigious British with a 52-inch front wheel. Mills
long-distance record. Most End- was paced by other cyclists, as
to-Enders start in Cornwall, to was customary in those days; the
take advantage of the prevailing ÀUVWXQSDFHGUHFRUGZDVVHWLQ
southwesterly winds. The 1903 by C. J. Mather, in 5 days,
toughest sections are early on, 5 hours, 12 minutes.
over the constantly climbing 7KHÀUVWPDQWRDFKLHYHWKH
roads of Cornwall and Devon, distance inside two days was
DQGLQWKHÀQDOTXDUWHUWKURXJK Dick Poole, in 1965. Poole then
the Scotttish highlands. went on to attempt the 1,000-
7KHÀUVW(QGWR(QGHUVZHUH mile record; frustratingly, he
H. Blackwell and C. A. Harmon covered 1,010 miles (enough to
of the Canonbury Bicycle Club allow for error, so his timekeeper
v 123

End t o E n d
thought) but was still found to be

a few yards short so the record
Dick Poole’s
ZDVQRWUDWLÀHG$WWHPSWVRQWKH
End-to-End Eats
record have led to extreme feats
of endurance, partly because =
the only way to break it is to go
without sleep as far as possible, B etween Land’s End and John
O’Groats in 1965 Poole got
through 2 pounds of fruitcake,
but also because the wind can
change over the 48 hours from a 11 packets of malt loaf, a gallon of rice
and fruit salad, 7 pints of Complan,
helpful southerly to a northerly
12 oranges, 8 pints of coffee, 13 pints
headwind. In 1980 the Viking
of tea, and 8 pints of Ribena.
Cycles professional Paul Carbutt
EHQHÀWHGIURPWKHRSHQLQJRI
the Forth Bridge which cut 13
miles off the distance to break it took a 20-strong support team
Poole’s record but collapsed to give him a bottle every half-
due to heatstroke southwest of hour, collect discarded bottles,
Edinburgh. He was unconscious and then overtake him to hand
for about 25 minutes but was XSQHZRQHV+LVÁXLGRXWSXW
put back on his bike to continue was also high: “We rigged up a
with a damp facecloth under his special condom connected to a
racing hat. metre-long tube to provide relief
The record set by Andy without having to stop. The tube
Wilkinson using the highly exited the Windcheetah at the
aerodynamic Windcheetah back of the fairing,” says the
RECUMBENTZDVXQRIÀFLDO Windcheetah website. Wilkinson
but was as extreme as any reached close to 80 mph on
of the others. Because of the long descents, and covered the
temperatures building up inside distance in 41 hours, 4 minutes,
the enclosed bike, Wilkinson 22 seconds including a stop of
QHHGHGDERXWWZROLWHUVRIÁXLG almost an hour to replace a rear
an hour to avoid dehydration, so axle.
v 124

Environment
ENVIRONMENT Cycling bike on the roofrack creates 360

is now a recognized means kgm of CO2; taking the train
of lowering one’s carbon and hiring a bike creates 100
IRRWSULQW7KHÀJXUHVVSHDN NJPÁ\LQJZLWKWKHELNHLQWKH
for themselves—100 calories hold creates 850 kgm, more than
takes a cyclist 3 miles, a car all heating the average house for a
of 280 feet. In 2009 research year.
indicated that if cycling use in Few studies exist into the
cities doubles from 4 percent carbon footprint of bike races
of journeys to 8 percent, there but the number of vehicle miles
would be a total drop of 1.1 involved suggest that it is
percent in carbon emissions. If horrendous. That is borne out by
those journeys are intermodal a study from the International
(public transport + bike), the Institute for Sport Science and
ÀJXUHFDQJRXSWRSHUFHQW Technology, which calculated
because greater distances can be that the Tour of Romandie,
covered. a six-day stage race for pros,
On the other hand, cycling as produced 138 tons of CO2, which
a pastime rather than a means of is just under the amount of CO2
transport is by no means carbon emissions produced by Nauru,
friendly. Driving from London an island state in the South
to the south of France with a 3DFLÀF
ÉTAPE DU TOUR The most celebrated CYCLOSPORTIVE event, and the

ÀUVWZLWKWKHQRZXQLYHUVDOIRUPDWRISUHUDFHSDUW\FODVVLFURXWH
DFFXUDWHWLPLQJZHOOÀOOHGJRRG\EDJDQGDPSOHWHFKQLFDOVXSSRUW
Founded by the Vélo magazine editor Claude Droussent in 1993 the
Étape is run each year on one of the rest days (usually a Monday)
during the TOUR DE FRANCE and covers one of the Tour’s mountain
v 125

Étape du Tour
stages with only the tiniest variations. In itself, the Étape is rarely
tougher than other sportives such as the Marmotte or the Nove Colli,
but it is by far the hardest to get into, even though 7,000 places are
available.
Cyclists outside France have no option but to enter through one
of the companies that sell places. Its popularity comes down to two
things: the road closure is total, unlike in many other sportives, and
riding the Étape feels like riding the Tour. The same motorcycle
outriders from the Garde Republicaine are used to ensure roads are
WRWDOO\IUHHRIWUDIÀF
The Étape is also a fertile celebrity spotting ground. The winner
tends to be a pro who hasn’t got into the Tour, while Alain Prost,
LAURENT FIGNON, MIGUEL INDURAIN, and British Olympian CHRIS HOY
have all been spotted riding in the past.
v 126

F
FERRARI, Michele winning that year’s Giro with
Evgeni Berzin and several
The most celebrated and CLASSICS—including a clean
controversial trainer in modern- VZHHSRIWKHÀUVWWKUHHSODFLQJV
day cycling; a miracle-worker to at the 1994 Flèche Wallonne. He
his disciples who included the was thrown off Gewiss after he
seven times TOUR DE FRANCE told reporters that the banned
winner LANCE ARMSTRONG, but blood booster EPO was no more
tainted with doping allegations dangerous than orange juice
according to his adversaries. unless it was abused. In 1995,
Ferrari comes from Emilia- he was introduced to Armstrong
Romagna in Italy and came to by the American’s friend EDDY
prominence as one of the coaches MERCKX.
who guided FRANCESCO MOSER Armstrong’s biographer Dan
to his HOUR RECORD successes Coyle (see BOOKS) described
in 1984. He was Moser’s team him as “dark-haired and darty-
doctor in the 1984 season when eyed,” adding that he was
the Italian won MILAN–SAN nicknamed Dr. Evil because
REMO and the GIRO D’ITALIA; in of his notoriety. Coyle related
the early 1990s he worked with an episode in which Ferrari
the Swiss star Tony Rominger, jokingly said that Parmesan
a triple winner of the Tour of cheese should be banned because
Spain, and by 1994 he was doctor it was good for those who ate
at the Gewiss team, which was, it, thus giving them an unfair
EULHÁ\VSHFWDFXODUO\VXFFHVVIXO advantage. Ferrari said that
v 127

Fignon, Laurent
he and Armstrong had been moments. The partnership drew

in close contact since the early ÀHUFHFULWLFLVPIURP$UPVWURQJ·V
stages of his comeback from fellow American, triple Tour
cancer in 1998, even though winner GREG LEMOND.
their relationship did not become $UPVWURQJRIÀFLDOO\HQGHG
public until 2000. their collaboration in October
The Italian estimated that he 2004 when Ferrari was found
spent one week a month in the guilty of unlawful distribution
cycling season with Armstrong. of medicines and sporting fraud,
The Italian tested Armstrong to after a trial that had lasted
assess his power-to-weight ratio several years. Subsequently the
and lactate tolerance and worked sentence would be rescinded
to make him climb mountains on appeal. The main witness
XVLQJDKLJKHUPRUHHIÀFLHQW was Italian professional Filippo
cadence. During some stages of Simeoni, who alleged that Ferrari
the Tour, and most famously had advised him to use drugs:
in the 2000 race, Ferrari would other witnesses disputed this,
be in touch with Armstrong via as did the trainer himself. There
a mobile phone to his team car were no allegations concerning
to advise him on tactics at key Ferrari’s work with the Texan.
FIGNON, Laurent (b. France, 1960 , d. 2010) who lost the Tour de France by
eight seconds?” Fignon replied
After retirement, the solemnly that he preferred to
bespectacled, blond-haired be remembered as a man who
double TOUR DE FRANCE winner won the race twice and also
ran motivational courses for took back-to-back wins in the
LQGXVWULDOLVWV$WKLVÀUVW MILAN–SAN REMO classic (1988
meeting, he was greeted with and 1989).
the words “Aren’t you the guy Part of the legendary Renault
v 128

Fignon, Laurent
squad (see TEAMS), Fignon was new triathlon handlebars that

one of the few cyclists to win the gave him an advantage estimated
7RXUDWWKHLUÀUVWDWWHPSWEDDY at 1 second per kilometer
MERCKX and FAUSTO COPPI are (see AERODYNAMICS for other
two others). He followed up that tricks). Fignon was at another
1983 win with an epic victory disadvantage: he started three
in the 1984 Tour, when he won minutes after LeMond, and the
ÀYHVWDJHVDORQJWKHZD\DQG crowd along the route could see he
completely dominated four-time was behind the American. Their
winner BERNARD HINAULT. He shouts of “25 seconds” and “you
was also unlucky to lose the are behind” played on his mind.
1984 GIRO D’ITALIA to FRANCESCO Fignon was never the same
MOSER. after that defeat, although
His dramatic defeat by GREG he won a stage in the 1992
LEMOND after a ding-dong battle Tour. He retired and ran the
throughout the 1989 race is Paris–Nice race for a while and
what has stuck in most minds, worked for French television.
however: it concluded what many His memoir, Nous Étions Jeunes
VDZDVWKHÀQHVW7RXUHYHU et Insouciants (We Were Young
)LJQRQEHJDQWKHNPÀQDO and Carefree), was published in
time trial stage from Versailles 2009 and included a confession
to the Champs-Elysées wearing that he had used the drugs
the yellow jersey, with a 50 cortisone and amphetamine;
second lead on LeMond and the book was sympathetically
victory seemingly in the bag. received as before publication it
Unfortunately he had a sore on was revealed that Fignon was
his backside that made pedaling suffering advanced cancer of
a penance, and, in addition, the intestine and pancreas. He
LeMond, a better time triallist ÀQDOO\VXFFXPEHGLQ$XJXVW
at the time, was using radical 2010. (See also DEFEATS.)
v 129

Fi l ms
FILMS 7KHEHVWF\FOLQJÀOPVRI a young cyclist who dreams of

all time: a subjective list. winning a prestigious bike
race in Colorado, with a young
Breaking Away (1979, dir. Peter Yates) Kevin Costner (sporting a cheesy
A growing-up movie, wistful 1980s moustache) supporting
and hilarious by turns, written as his elder brother, a failed
by Steve Tesich and starring international. Also written by
Dennis Christopher as an Tesich, this one uses cycling
Italian-cycling obsessed lad in to explore the tensions within
middle America. Dennis Quaid Marcus’s family following the
and Daniel Stern costar. Dave death of his father. Great ’80s
Stoller’s cycling passion is a soundtrack, the most fearsome
framework for exploring his and beard in cycling (see HAIR for other
his friends’ fraught relations WRQVRULDOQDVWLHVDQGÀQHORFDWLRQ
with the local college boys and footage from the Coors Classic (see
the exhilaration and disillusion UNITED STATES OF AMERICA for
of their entering the adult world. more on this race). Badham was
The best scene, for me, is where also responsible for the iconic disco
Dave attempts to talk Italian to ÀOPSaturday Night Fever.
a group of professionals who visit
for a local race; they respond Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di Biciclette)
by putting a pump in his front (1948, dir. Vittorio De Sica)
ZKHHO7KHÀOPLVEDVHGRQD Iconic black-and-white Italian
real-life race, the Little 500 race ÀOPDERXWWKHHFRQRPLF
in Indianapolis; Dave Stoller is deprivation that followed the
named after a legendary rider Second World War. The central
'DYH%ODVpOLNHWKHÀOP'DYH character is a man dependent
an Italian enthusiast) and his on his bike to earn a living: it
manager Bob Stoller. is stolen, and he and his son
desperately try to recover it.
American Flyers (1985, dir. Steve Badham) Finally he faces a dilemma:
Stars David Grant as Marcus, should he become a thief as well?
v 130

Fi l ms
Sunday in Hell (1977, dir. JØRGEN LETH) and including stars of the
Probably the greatest cycling time such as EDDY MERCKX
documentary ever, based on the and Freddy Maertens. The
1976 PARIS–ROUBAIX race, seen slow-motion footage of cyclists
from different viewpoints— bouncing over the cobbles is
riders, spectators, mechanics, spinechilling. (See Leth’s entry
protesters who stop the race— for his other documentaries.)
Less Well-Known Cycling-Based Films

=
Beijing Bicycle (2001):
Similar plot to The Bicycle Thieves and Pee Wee’s Big Adventure but with a backdrop of the
economic boom in urban China.
Un Affaire d’Hommes (1981):
Stars Jean-Louis Trintignant as a member of a group of bike racers who uses cycling to cover
up the murder of his wife, with the final showdown involving bikes rather than guns.
Six Day Bike Racer (1934):
US comedy with SIX-DAY RACING as its backdrop.
The Flying Scotsman (2005):
Based on the life of GRAEME OBREE starring Jonny Lee Miller but not quite living up to the strength
of the book.
Les Bicyclettes de Belsize (1969):
Swinging ’60s romance in which a shopowner finds love through his MOULTON folding bike.
Jour de Fête (1949):
Comedy starring Jacques Tati as a village postman who delivers mail on his bike but has to
come to terms with the modern world.
Death on the Mountain (2005):
Award-winning BBC documentary on the life and death of TOM SIMPSON.
v 131

Fi l ms
La Course en Tête (1974, dir. Joel Santoni)

Follows Merckx in the 1973 BIZARRE CYCLING
Vuelta and Giro, shot in the FILM FACTOIDS:
style of French cinema-vérité, s!"OLLYWOODlLMJo Jeeta
including the iconic scene in Wohi Sikandar was inspired by
which the Cannibal rides the Breaking Away.
rollers in his garage with the s,ADRIDI"ICICLETTE is partly
sound constantly increasing. based on a real episode in
Combines live and archive which a cycle thief was lynched
footage to a bizarre baroque by a mob in postwar Italy.
soundtrack.
s2IDLEY3COTTSlRSTFEATUREWAS
a short cycling film, Boy &
Le Vélo de Ghislain Lambert
"ICYCLE, which depicted his
(2001, dir. Philippe Harel)
brother Tony playing truant
Belgian comedy narrated by
from school to explore the coast
Antoine de Caunes, starring
of North East England.
Benoît Poelvoorde as a cyclist
s$IANA$ORSSTARREDINA
who wants to be a great but can’t
English rom-com, A Boy, A Girl
quite make it. Includes a
and a Bike, with Jimmy Savile
GHÀQLQJVFHQHLQZKLFKWZR
making a brief appearance as
cyclists try to inject ampheta-
an extra.
mines in each others’ buttocks in
a very small toilet cubicle. s4HE)TALIANCOMEDYToto
Al Giro included the finest
lineup of cycling stars ever to
figure in a single film: Fausto
Coppi, GINO BARTALI, Fiorenzo
Magni, LOUISON BOBET, and
Ferdi Kubler all appear as
themselves.
4
v 132

Fisher, Gary
Les Triplettes de Belleville— depressed-looking dog Bruno, set

Eng: Belleville Rendezvous against a backdrop that can only
(2003, dir. Sylvain Chomet) be the Tour in the 1950s. The
Hilarious, poignant, and cyclist is kidnapped by villains
beautifully drawn cartoon who make him race continually
parable. It stars a cyclist with a on a stationary bike to recreate
distinct resemblance to FAUSTO the Tour for gambling. Granny
COPPI, his unfeasibly supportive and dog set out to rescue him.
grandmother, and their loyal if
FISHER, Gary (b. 1950) today’s mountain bikes.

Fisher was one of the
Together with his college participants in the REPACK
roommate Charlie Kelly and downhill race run by Kelly, who
frame-builder Tom Ritchey, began using the term “mountain
Fisher is considered one of the bike” in 1979 to describe the
founding fathers of MOUNTAIN- fat-tired, multi-geared, and—in
BIKING. Fisher was a CYCLO- those days—extremely heavy
CROSS rider, initially a road bikes the Repack crew were
racer, but was suspended for a using: in that year he and Fisher
WLPHEHFDXVHRIÀFLDOVFRQVLGHUHG IRXQGHG0RXQWDLQ%LNHVWKHÀUVW
that his hair was too long. company to make the off-road
By the mid-1970s he had bikes. Ritchey was their frame-
begun modifying a 1930s builder and later founded his
SCHWINN Excelsior X bike for off- own brand, an industry-leader to
URDGXVHÀWWLQJVDOYDJHGGUXP this day.
brakes, motorcycle brake levers, 7KHÀUVW\HDU·VSURGXFWLRQ
and triple chainrings. Such was just 160 bikes, retailing at
“clunkers” were the prototype for HDFK:LWKQRFDVKÁRZ
v 133

Fixed-wheel
Fisher, Kelly, and Ritchie relied formed his own company, which
on trusting customers to pay up is now owned by Trek and still
front. MountainBikes ceased makes bikes bearing his name.
trading in 1983, and Fisher then
FIXED-WHEEL Curiously, even as cycle component makers pushed the

number of gears available on most road-racing bikes into the 20s and
30s, London and some other major cities worldwide were hit by a new
FUD]HÀ[HGJHDUELNHVWKDWZHUHEDVHGRQWKHVWULSSHGGRZQPRGHOV
used by cycle COURIERS and by HILL CLIMB specialists.
7RS/RQGRQVKRS&RQGRU&\FOHVZKLFKSURGXFHGWKHÀUVWQHZHUD
´À[LHµLQHVWLPDWHGWKDWLWKDGVROGVHYHUDOWKRXVDQGRIWKH
ELNHVLQWKHLUÀUVWVHYHQ\HDUV5HODWLYHO\IHZZHUHYLVLEOHRQWKH
streets, implying that they were retained for weekend use or simply to
be admired.
Fixie adherents were happy to crunch up hills in an over-large
gear and rev out downhill, because the machines were stylish and
minimalist. They were also retro—hinting at the halcyon club cycling
days between the 1920s and the 1950s when virtually every clubman
ZRXOGWXUQRXWRQÀ[HGIRUUDFLQJDQGVRFLDOULGHV
“The bike is a blank canvas on which riders express an
individuality or a community . . . an aesthetic reference point shared
with designers and artists who have helped shape fashion and street
culture,” said the intro to Fixed, a glossy book about the bikes.
(SEE GEARS FOR HOW BIKES BEGAN TO MOVE BEYOND THE FIXED-WHEEL BACK IN THE
1890S)
v 134

Flanders
FLANDERS A small chunk of obsession. It was removed

(XURSHWKDWKDVDQLQÁXHQFH from the race in 1987, and
on bike racing out of proportion 10 years later a local paper
to its area or population. There ran an April Fool’s story that
are more bike races held in it was to be paved over. Two
the Flemish-speaking area of thousand people turned up for a
Belgium than anywhere else demonstration in support of the
in the world; the local people climb: as a result it was then
are simply obsessed with the restored at a cost of $325,000
sport, and above all with “their” using cobbles imported from
CLASSIC, the Tour of Flanders, Poland. The importance of
founded in 1913 and now the cycling in Belgium was summed
climax of a series of gritty races up by the presence of the
in late March and early April. PLQLVWHURIFXOWXUHDWWKHRIÀFLDO
One episode sums up the reopening.
local mania with cycling and Situated between the North
“De Ronde”: in 1984 a farmer Sea, the French border, and
who lived on the race route grew the French-speaking area of
jealous of all the attention given Wallonia to the south, Flanders
to the race’s most notorious has been fought over by invading
climb, the Koppenberg, which armies for years. Local identity
was situated on his neighbor’s is passionately asserted—the
ÀHOGVVHHCOBBLES for more on OLRQÁDJLVÁRZQE\QDWLRQDOLVWV
this ascent). He announced in at most major races—and it
the papers that he was going dominates Belgian cycling as
to create his own climb. Within south Wales dominates Welsh
18 months a strip of cobbles rugby. The cultural divide
KDGEHHQODLGXSKLVÀHOGVWKH between French- and Flemish-
Patersberg has been part of the speaking areas is strongly felt:
race since 1986. neither likes the other much and
The Koppenberg itself shows the cycling rivalry is an assertion
the depth of the Flemish of that feeling.
v 135

Flanders
Even within Flanders itself Second World War, with the

there are local rivalries even Germans helping to police the
down to the papers that run the route. A second newspaper, Het
bike races: the Tour of Flanders, Volk, started its own event, also
organized by Het Niewsblad, called the Tour of Flanders,
was the only classic to be run on a similar course after
in occupied Europe during the liberation, to make the point
v 136

Flanders
that its rival had been accused essentially nostalgic: the heroes
of collaboration. It was later of today never quite live up to
ruled that the name should be those of yesteryear. Several
changed (see CLASSICS for more cyclists, including the top Classic
on this race and other major rider Johan Museeuw, have
one-dayers). been dubbed the “last of the
The wind and rain and bad Flandrians,” another of whom
roads breed a species of hard was the evocatively named
men who live to an almost Alberic “Brick” Schotte. Schotte
monastic canon of hard work ZDVEURXJKWRXWRIKLVÀUVW
DQGVHOIVDFULÀFH(YHU\YLOODJH communion to watch the Tour of
seems to boast a Classic winner, Flanders go past in 1930 and as
who usually runs a bike shop an amateur he would get up at
or café. Flandrian cycling is 3:30 AM to go to work to ensure
that he could start training at
The Key 1 PM. He rode the Classic 20
Flandrian Climbs: WLPHVDQGZDVDVWURQJLQÁXHQFH
on another cycling hardman,
=
the Irishman SEAN KELLY, who
Old Kwaremont: 2.2 km long, 11% spent most of his career based in
steepest, approx 95 km from the finish
Belgium.
Patersberg: 360 m long, 13% steepest, Few foreigners break through
approx 90 km from finish in Flanders but those who do
Koppenberg: 600 m long, 25% become adopted sons, such as
steepest, approx 85 km from finish* Kelly and the Italian Fiorenzo
Kapelmuur: 475 m long, 20% steepest, Magni, who won the Classic
approx 25 km from finish three times in a row from
1949–51. So too the Moldovan
Bosberg: 980 m long, 11% steepest,
approx 20 km from finish Andrei Tchmil, who led Belgian’s
biggest team, Lotto, for nine
*not always included in route
years, and was naturalized as
Belgian in 2000. Home greats
v 137

Fo l di n g B i k es
include RIK VAN LOOY, ROGER the Flemish Ardennes; the race
DE VLAEMINCK, Museeuw—10 began coming here in the 1950s,
times a Classic winner—and when it needed to be made
Rik Van Steenbergen, a hulking tougher but the roads were
brute known as Rik I so he would generally being improved, so the
not be confused with Van Looy organizers had to seek out small
(Rik II). In spite of a legendary lanes and steep hills.
Flanders win in 1969, EDDY The race loops up and down
MERCKXQHYHUTXLWHÀWWHGLQWR onto the hills, starting with the
this culture because he was a Old Kwaremont, a windswept
French-speaker from Brussels: stretch of cobbles up a bleak
his big rivals Walter Godefroot hillside with a café at the top,
and Freddy Maertens were more and culminating with the
popular. “Chapel wall”—Kapelmuur—at
What might be called “Tour Geraardsbergen, which twists
of Flanders country” is an area upward at 20 percent to a chapel
of little hills along the Scheldt by a grassy bank where the fans
and Deinze rivers known as congregate.
FOLDING BIKES These aim to used in the Boer War by the

provide a solution to a perennial British Army, and in the Second
bike problem: getting the thing World War British paratroopers
in a small car, putting it in a used folders made by BSA, which
KRXVHRURIÀFHZKHUHVSDFHLVDW were full-sized bikes that could
DSUHPLXPRUÀWWLQJRQDWUDLQ be carried when jumping out of
where the operator doesn’t want aircraft.
to carry them. It’s not always Folding bikes compromise on
been that way; an early folder, performance: they either hinge
made by MIKAEL PEDERSEN, was at the mid-point of the frame or
v 138

Fo l di n g B i k es
KDYHDÁLSURXQGUHDUWULDQJOH conventional road bike; however,

They usually have small wheels, the aluminium Bickerton, made
and the wheelbase may be shorter in the 1970s and 1980s, weighed
than usual, all to save space. in at just 18 lb.
Tires may be fatter than usual, Among the best models are
and the frame tubes may well those from British company
be more substantial than on a Brompton, whose top of the
range bike weighs in at less than
10 kg and has 16-inch wheels
and rear suspension. Small
wheel bikes made by MOULTON
qualify as folders, because they
can be “split” for storage or
transport. At the radical end
of the spectrum, the Strida
has drum brakes and a rubber
drive belt and futuristic looks.
$ÀFLRQDGRVDOVRVZHDUE\WKH
3RFNHW5RFNHWZKLFKÀWVLQD
suitcase 22 × 29 × 10 inches yet
turns into a replica racing bike.
An annual Brompton world
championship is run in which
the riders wear suit jackets,
cycle shorts, and cycle helmets
and have a Le Mans–type start,
running to unfold their bikes.
Bizarrely, a regular contestant
is the Spaniard Roberto Heras,
GLVTXDOLÀHGIURPÀUVWSODFHLQ
the 2004 VUELTA A ESPAÑA for
doping.
v 139

Foreign Legion
FOREIGN LEGION A term coined ÀUVWWRZLQD7RXUVWDJH0LOODU

by the Australian journalist ZDVWKHÀUVW%ULWRQWRZLQD
Rupert Guinness. It was the major award in the Tour, taking
title for his book published in the mountains jersey in 1984
1993, which traced the fortunes while Roche achieved the golden
of the group of English-speaking triple in 1987: GIRO D’ITALIA,
professional cyclists who opened TOUR DE FRANCE, and world
up the European-dominated championship.
sport during the 1980s. In Of the non-ACBB riders, SEAN
essence they made cycling KELLY won the points jersey of
truly international. The bulk the Tour a record four times
of legionnaires passed through between 1983 and 1989 and was
the elite Parisian amateur club ZRUOGQXPEHURQHIRUÀYH\HDUV
Association Cycliste de Boulogne- while GREG LEMOND pioneered
Billancourt (ACBB), which was the sport in America with his
sponsored by PEUGEOT as a Tour win in 1986. Between them
feeder club to their professional WKH\SDYHGWKHZD\IRUWKHÀUVW
team. PHIL ANDERSON, Graham American team to start the Tour,
Jones, ROBERT MILLAR, SEAN (OHYHQLQDQGWKHÀUVW
YATES, and STEPHEN ROCHE all British squad, ANC-Halfords in
took this route between 1979 1987. Together with the arrival
and 1983. of cyclists from COLOMBIA at the
While Jones’s career never 7RXULQWKHLULQÁXHQFH
took off in spite of his undoubted helped to transform the sport
FODVV$QGHUVRQZDVWKHÀUVW within a decade.
Australian to wear the yellow
(SEE ALSO AUSTRALIA, IRELAND,
jersey in the Tour de France, the GREAT BRITAIN, ROAD RACING,
ÀUVWWRZLQDCLASSIC, and the UNITED STATES)
v 140

Foster Fraser, John
FOSTER FRASER, John arguments with Cossacks in the

(b. England, 1868, d. 1936) Caucasus, a trip to a medieval
dungeon and the Shah’s palace
2QHRIWKHÀUVWURXQGWKHZRUOG in Iran, not to mention near-
cyclists, who set off with two death from hypothermia in the
friends, Edward Lunn and Hindu Kush.
F. H. Lowe, to circumnavigate The tone is smugly
the globe between 1896 and Victorian—“The Georgians
1898. Their route took in Persia, are a lazy race, much addicted
the Indian sub-continent from to gourmandising,” “being
Karachi to Calcutta, through Europeans and strangers we
Burma to China and Shanghai, of course ran the gauntlet of
thence to Japan, San Francisco, all the halt, lame and blind
and across the United States, a in Teheran”—but there is an
total of 19,237 miles. exquisite irony in the fact
Foster Fraser’s account of WKDWLQWHUQDWLRQDOFRQÁLFWV
the trip, Round the World on a RIÀFLDOGRPDQGWHUURULVPZRXOG
Wheel, was published in 1899 make such a journey far more
and reissued in 1982; it is one risky in the 21st century.
RIWKHÀUVWDQGRQHRIWKHÀQHVW
(SEE BOOKS—TRAVEL FOR OTHER
cycle travelogues. It features
INTREPID CYCLISTS WHO HAVE
HQFRXQWHUVZLWK5XVVLDQRIÀFLDOV WRITTEN ABOUT THEIR
straight out of Tolstoy, riotous ADVENTURES)
FRAMES—DESIGN Frame to top. The advent of smaller

size is usually expressed by frames with sloping top tubes
measuring the seat tube—either means that a more important
center to center, from the middle measurement now is the distance
of the bottom bracket to the between the center of the bottom
middle of the seat lug, or center bracket and the top of the saddle.
v 141

Fr am e s — D esi g n
Another complication is that stability, which in riding terms

bottom bracket height can vary, translates into whether a bike
particularly with cyclo-cross can be ridden safely with hands
machines and children’s bikes, off the bars, and for how far,
affecting the “stand-over” height. and the degree of comfort over
Frame performance depends bumps.
on several factors. Handling Another key element is seat-
stability depends mainly on the tube angle, usually measured
amount of “trail”—the distance compared to a notional
between a notional line taken horizontal line, in some cases to
down the steerer tube and the the top tube. The usual range
point where the front tire makes is between 69 and 74 degrees;
contact with the road. The extent the lower the number, the
of trail depends on the angle of shallower the angle, and the less
the head tube, and the rake of upright the seat tube. Bikes with
the forks, which may be curved shallower angles are usually
or bent at the fork crown—the more stable and comfortable,
shallower the head angle and and may well have longer seat-
the longer the rake, the greater and chain-stays to give a longer
the trail. More trail equals more wheelbase and greater comfort;
v 142

Fr am e s— Ma k ers
bikes with tighter angles and a comfort, whether the rider is

shorter rear triangle are more hunched up or stretched out,
responsive, but are less forgiving and aerodynamics, the extent to
on bumpy roads. ZKLFKWKHWRUVRLVÁDWRUXSULJKW
The forward reach of the Forward reach depends on top
bike—the distance between tube length and seat angle, the
the tip of the saddle and the degree to which the saddle is
center of the handlebars—is pushed forward or back, and the
a key factor in determining length of the stem.
FRAMES—MAKERS The WKHDUULYDORIFDUERQÀEHUDQG

UHÀQHPHQWRIVWHHOWXELQJPHDQW aluminum—which were less
that the handbuilt road-racing or suited to small producers—
track frame eventually became a and compact frames that, the
mini art form. The lugs that hold manufacturers claimed, offered
the tubes together and provide equal performance for lower
a surface for bonding to take price and less hassle. Some
place were cut into forms that makers now cater for both,
varied from basic curves to the offering a number of custom-
HODERUDWHÀOLJUHHWKDWZDVWKH made machines but relying on
trademark of the East London off-the-rack bikes for most of
ÀUP+HWFKLQV their trade.
In Great Britain and Northern Best-known North American
Italy, artisan frame makers makers include:
turning out a few hundred Richard Sachs, Chester,
bikes a year for the racing and Connecticut. The ultimate in
high-end touring markets were the United States; served his
relatively widespread until apprenticeship at Witcomb
the 1990s, when the nature of Cycles in London almost 40
the cycle trade changed with years ago. “At Richard Sachs
v 143

Fr am e s — Ma k ers
Cycles, I am the work force,” one of the most distinctive in the

says his website. world.
Mariposa, Toronto. Canada’s Best-known British makers
most prominent framebuilder. include:
Their mainstay Mike Barry is Hetchins (Tottenham,
now retired so production is London; then Southend).
limited to a few special projects. Produced frames with delicately
Spectrum Cycles, LeHigh curved seat stays, seat tubes,
Valley, Pennsylvania. Two-man and S-shaped chainstays—
operation run by Tom Kellogg the legendary “Curly.” Their
and Mike Duser; Kellogg has machines were given Latin
been building since 1976. names such as Nulli Secundus
Collaborated in late 1980s with and Magnum Bonum and are
titanium makers Merlin, with now collectors’ items. The original
whom the company still works. makers ran from the 1920s to the
Moots Cycles, Steamboat late 1980s, but the frames are
Springs, Colorado. Founded by still made under license.
Kent Eriksen in 1981, one of the Bates (East London).
early mountain bike makers, Another now defunct maker,
now produces a wide variety of who produced a bent fork design
handbuilt titanium frames. Logo known as the Diadrant and used
is a distinctive, lovable, crocodile. ´&DQWLÁH[µIUDPHWXELQJZKLFK
Roland Della Santa, Reno, featured an oversized central
Nevada. Another builder with VHFWLRQWRUHGXFHIUDPHÁH[
over 35 years experience, Della Founded by brothers Eddie and
Santa most notably made frames Horace, with a bat as the logo,
for GREG LEMOND. they were one of London’s leading
Independent Fabrication, makers from the 1930s through
Somerville, Massachusetts. the 1950s, although the brothers
Founded 1995, employee-owned, eventually went their separate
and best known for its steel ways. Like Hetchins, they are
frames; the crowned IF logo is now made under license.
v 144

Fr am e s — Ma t eri a l s
Mercian Cycles (Derby). One tubing in which the ends of the

of the last remaining companies tubes had thicker walls than the
to make hand-built frames in middle, improving the strength-
any volume. Opened in 1946, to-weight ratio.
DQGNQRZQIRUWKHLUÀQHÀQLVKHV Thirty-eight years later
they keep frame design records Reynolds would go on to produce
dating to the 1970s so their WKHGHÀQLWLYHVWHHOIUDPH
customers can refer back if they tube, initially for lightweight
want a new frame. motorcycles. Reynolds 531 was
Bob Jackson (Leeds). named after the ratio of the
Variously marketed under other materials used in the steel
the names JRJ and Merlin; alloy: manganese, molybdenum,
produced frames under license and silica. The British company
for Hetchins in the 1980s and is dominated the tubing market for
still producing them today after many years: 27 out of 31 TOUR DE
RYHU\HDUV/LNH0HUFLDQÀQH
ÀQLVKHVDUHDVSHFLDOW\
Chas Roberts (Croydon). FRAME
London’s leading custom-made FACTOID
frame builder, set up in the early
1960s by Charlie, the father of In 2007, to coincide with the Tour
the current owner, Chas, who de France start in London, top
had to train as a frame maker designer Paul Smith produced
for 10 years before he met the a range of jeans branded 531,
standard the company demanded. TAKINGTHENAMEFROM2EYNOLDS
iconic tubing. Smith was a racing
cyclist in the 1960s before a
FRAMES—MATERIALS Early crash curtailed his career, but he
cycle frames were built of wood remained intensely interested in
or iron; the key development the sport.
came in 1897 when Alfred 4
Reynolds patented double-butted
v 145

Fr am e s — Ma t eri a l s
FRANCE winners between 1958 by the Cannondale company

and 1989 rode on steel tubes such from the US, who sponsored the
as 531 and the much thinner Italian sprinter Mario Cipollini in
and lighter 753. By the golden the early 1990s.
jubilee of 531 in 1985, Reynolds Titanium frames appeared
estimated that the tubing had in the mid-1950s and were used
gone into 20 million frame sets in the Tour de France by the
worldwide. The other major steel Spaniard Luis Ocana in the
tubing name came from Italy, 1970s, but they were sloppy and
where Angelo Colombo began fragile; again the mountain-
making steel cycle tubing in 1919 bike boom was the spur for the
and produced butted tubes from perfection of the product. Again,
1930. the initial boost came from the
Aluminium frames were US, where Merlin and Litespeed
produced as early as the 1890s, were turning out jewel-like
but it took the best part of 80 products by the early 1990s.
years for frame makers to master &DUERQÀEHUFRPSRVLWH
the process of joining the tubes. frames appeared in the 1980s,
,QWKHV,WDOLDQÀUPALAN when companies like Vitus
(from the acronym ALuminium made frames of carbon tubes
ANodised) made attractive, light, with aluminium lugs, and have
lugged frames which remain been gaining in popularity
popular with cyclo-cross riders since the 1990s, spurred on by
today. But steel remained the the arrival of companies like
material of choice until the Giant, Specialised, and Trek
advent of the MOUNTAIN BIKE in professional cycling; in the
and the perfection of welding early 1990s GREG LEMOND’s bike
processes in the 1980s. Oversize company produced carbon frames
aluminium—stronger, yet lighter with web-like joins. The process
tubes, in spite of the increased sounds simple—sheets of the
size—came from mountain-biking ÀEHUVDUHERQGHGZLWKHSR[\
and was popularized initially resin and then baked—but it has
v 146

France
taken time to perfect. Much of the adjustable stem.

impetus has come from military The GREAT BRITAIN Olympic
technology, where carbon team use UKSI bikes with sleek
ÀEHUVDUHXVHGIRUOLJKWZHLJKW EODFNFDUERQÀEHUIUDPHVLQ
armoring, for example bullet- ZKLFKWKHFDUERQÀEHUVUXQLQ
proof pads for helicopters. different directions depending on
Monocoques, solid one-piece the forces exerted by the cyclist
FDUERQÀEHUIUDPHVZHUH in the various parts of the frame.
permitted by the UCI between 0RVWRIWKHFDUERQÀEHUSDUWVDUH
1990 and 2000. MIKE BURROWS made at Advanced Components
began working on carbon Group on an anonymous-looking
monocoques in the early 1980s industrial estate in Heanor in
and his Lotus, used by CHRIS the East Midlands.
BOARDMAN in the 1992 Olympics The company has an exotic
and 1994 Tour de France, opened client list: every car on a Formula
minds. MIGUEL INDURAIN used a One starting grid will include
futuristic carbon Pinarello, the something made here, while other
Espada (Spanish for sword), to products include ejector seats for
beat the HOUR RECORD in 1994, ÀJKWHUDLUFUDIW7KHFRVWRIWKH
while Boardman switched from frames is kept down by using a
the Lotus to a Corima monocoque modular system: different lengths
IRUKLVUHFRUG)UHQFKÀUP of stem joined with different
Look’s KG196 from the early bars to produce a one-piece item;
1990s was equally radical. It had different models for the front
DÁDWWHQHGFDUERQNHYODUIUDPH end of a frame combined with a
with an early, crude-looking standard back end.
FRANCE Together with the BONESHAKER, the clipless

GREAT BRITAIN, one of cycling’s SHGDODQGWKHÀUVWGHUDLOOHXU
founding nations: home of GEAR, the world’s greatest bike
v 147

France
race, the HOUR RECORD, and

organized cycle touring events.
French cycling has two fathers,
TOUR DE FRANCE founder HENRI
DESGRANGE and the journalist
Paul de Viviès (see VÉLOCIO),
who had a more open-minded,
less monastic attitude and
campaigned for cycling as
enjoyment, coining the term
cyclotourisme.
Cycling was hugely popular in
the velocipede era, with 120 races
organized in June and July 1869, with his brother Maurice. The
DFFRUGLQJWRWKHZRUOG·VÀUVW top endurance specialists were
cycling magazine, Le Vélocipède Constant Huret and Charles
Illustré. ITALY and Britain were Terront. The latter famously won
where the initial growth came in one 1,000 km event—2,500 laps
the 1870s as France coped with of the VÉLODROME D’HIVER—by
the aftermath of the Franco– not taking any toilet stops, but
Prussian war, but in the early instead urinating into an inner-
1890s, growth was rapid as the tube.
notion of long-distance events The magazines and papers
was adopted from Britain; and continued to develop long-
in the mid-1890s a host of cycle distance events culminating
tracks were built to cater to the in the founding of the Tour
fans, with the Buffalo Vélodrome de France in 1903. As Henri
one of three to open in Paris in Desgrange expanded his race,
1893 alone. De Viviès pushed cyclotourisme
Among the early short-distance through his magazine Le
stars was one Henri Farman, who Cycliste. A whole world of mass
later built pioneering airplanes events was born—the Diagonal
v 148

France
rides from one corner of France RIIRXURUÀYH)UHQFKUHJLRQDO

to another, the RAID PYRENEAN, teams in the great bike race.
AUDAX, and other randonneur ,WLVWKH7RXUFDSWXUHGRQÀOP
marathons. by Louis Malle and in words by
Alongside the commercial Antoine Blondin.
razzmatazz of the Tour, there is The golden era of French
now nostalgia for a golden era: cycling can be accurately dated:
when RAYMOND POULIDOR and it began when Henri Desgrange
JACQUES ANQUETIL fought elbow brought national teams into the
to elbow, when the accordionist Tour in 1930, opening the way
Yvette Horner provided the for riders like André Leducq,
soundtrack to July each year, Antonin Magne, and Jean Robic,
when each village in Brittany and it closed with BERNARD
and Normandy had at least one HINAULT·VÀIWKZLQLQ
circuit race organized to coincide What ended it? The Tour grew
with the annual fête, and every quickly in the 1980s and 1990s,
pays had a son of its own in one and French cyclists couldn’t
French Cycle Racing at a Glance

=
Biggest race: Tour de France
Legendary racing hills: l’Alpe d’Huez, Mont Ventoux, Le Puy-de-Dôme, Col du Galibier
Biggest star: Raymond Poulidor, closely followed by Bernard Hinault
First Tour stage win: MAURICE GARIN, Lyon, 1903
Tour overall wins since 1985: none

France has given cycling: the Professor (Laurent Fignon), stage racing, the hour record,
PARIS–ROUBAIX, the sportive concept, Richard Virenque, Peugeot, Festina, the Bastille Day
paradox
v 149

France
keep up. With the talent of the growth of CYCLOSPORTIVES.

entire cycling world eligible to But the structure has changed:
ride the race after the arrival village races are dying out as
of Australians and Americans organizers become older and
and the collapse of the Berlin WUDIÀFLQFUHDVHVHYHQLQWKH
Wall, there was less room for the regions; the criteriums, which
home riders. Hence the fact that used to be a cottage industry in
there has been no young star themselves after the Tour, are
to succeed Hinault or LAURENT declining due to a lack of French
FIGNON, both men of the 1980s. stars. Fewer young people come
French cycling was into bike racing because of its
traumatized by the Festina DRUG tarnished reputation, along with
scandal of 1998 that centered competition from other sports.
on the nation’s leading team The French cycle-component
and its national hero, Richard industry was once one of the
Virenque, but also hit other largest in the world boasting
teams including Casino and names such as Mafac (brakes),
Française des Jeux; a more Simplex (gears), and TA
stringent attitude to doping (bottle cages), not to mention
gained ground and the Tour manufacturers like PEUGEOT.
came under greater scrutiny However, the companies largely
from newspapers such as Le failed to compete with the
Monde. There were allegations Japanese when SHIMANO and
of two-speed cycling, with SunTour moved into Europe
the French at a disadvantage in the 1970s. There was a big
because they stayed clean. There shakeout during the 1980s and
was an element of truth in that, the industry is now headed by
but it wasn’t quite that simple. pedal makers Look and Time,
Post Festina, cycle racing and wheelmakers Mavic. Once
in France has suffered, even market leaders, Peugeot no
though cycling is probably more longer make many bikes.
popular than ever due to the Sponsors are still drawn to
v 150

Freestyle
the top end of the sport, because trails, and large ramps known
the Tour organizers’ need as “Verts,” which have two
for a strong French element semicircular ramps facing
guarantees them a place in the each other so that the riders
ÀHOGEXWQR)UHQFKPDQKDV can continually go up one and
looked a likely winner since down the other, using the top of
Fignon in 1989; the last French each ramp to perform tricks on
world road champion was vertical extensions, hence the
Laurent Brochard in 1997 but he name. The biggest ramp used is
was subsequently disgraced in a 27-footer at the X Games. The
the Festina scandal. XQRIÀFLDOUHFRUGIRUDMXPSLV
over 15 meters from the ground.
The bikes are subtly adapted
from BMX machines, using
FREESTYLE Most BMX riders heavier-duty tubing if necessary,
like to do fancy moves to test DQGZLWKWKUHHWRÀYHLQFKSHJV
their bikehandling; push that to at the front and rear hubs to
the limit and you end up with a give additional contact points for
cross between skateboarding and doing grinds. Some riders have
cycling. pegs on one side only; street
Freestyle kicked off in the riders often have no brakes,
1970s in San Diego, not long while dirt riders have knobbly
after the BMX boom started in tires. The bikes often have two-
the USA. One of the founders was piece brake-cable detanglers (a
a teenager named Bob Haro, who gyro, or rotor) on ball-bearings,
now builds most of the bikes used so that the bars can be spun time
E\IUHHVW\OHUV7KHÀUVWSXEOLF and time again.
demonstrations began in 1980. One of the earliest tricks was
6WUDLJKWIRUZDUGÁDWVXUIDFHV the Rock Walk, in which the
are used (Flatland) but so too ELNHLVVWDWLRQDU\DQGÀUVWWKH
are street obstacles, purpose- rear then the front tire is pulled
built skate or BMX parks or through 180 degrees so the bike
v 151

French
does a 360-degree turn. Others Flatland tricks are closer

include: grinds, where the bike to conventional BMX moves:
slides along a surface (e.g., the wheelies, manuals—in which the
lip of a ramp) on a part of the bike is ridden over a hump with
bike other than the wheels, for the front wheel in the air—and
example the rear and front axle bunny hops. These are given
pegs or a pedal, and air tricks twists such as the nose manual,
VXFKDVEDFNDQGIURQWÁLSVDQG in which only the front wheel is
spins and the CanCan, in which on the ground, and the cherry
one foot is taken from one side of picker, in which the bike is
the bike to the other. hopped on only the rear wheel.
FRENCH The lingua franca of ÀUVWWKUHHLQWKHVWDJHRUDW

international cycle sports since intermediate sprints.
its inception, certain French
casquette: cotton racing hat.
terms are now universal in
cycling (see also SLANG). Often classement general: overall
they are simply anglicized in FODVVLÀFDWLRQ
pronunciation. commissaire: race referee even in
bidon: term for waterbottle now events outside France.
used by most English-speaking contre la montre: time trial.
cyclists. French pronunciation
is bee-daw(n); it’s anglicised as critérium: race on a short circuit
bidden. around a town.
bonification: time bonus, used in directeur sportif: team manager.

stage racing, when seconds may domestique (cf British water-carrier,
be deducted from the overall Italian gregario): lesser rider in a
time of riders who place in the team who works for the leader.
v 152

French
dossard: race number. English “the bunch.”
echelon: diagonal formation for prime: intermediate prize of any

combating sidewind in which the kind, also a bonus given for
cyclists ride through and off. performance by a team or club.
lanterne rouge: last man in a stage prologue: brief opening time trial
race, so called because he was in a stage race.
awarded a red lantern such as
ravitaillement (abbr. ravito): feed zone
might be put on the back of a
where musettes are handed up by
freight train.
soigneurs.
maillot jaune: yellow jersey worn by
rouleur: a racing cyclist with
leader of a stage race (cf à pois,
stamina who can mix it with the
vert, blanc).
best all day and be in there at
musette: cloth bag (literally WKHÀQLVK
“nosebag”) handed up at
signature: where the riders register
feed station (ravitaillement)
and receive numbers, the
containing bidons and race food.
English term is sign-on.
neutralisation: spell in a race when
soigneur: team assistant who
the riders are on their bikes
provides race food and massage.
but not actually racing. Most
Anglicized as swanee, also carer.
stages of the Tour de France are
“neutralised” from the formal speaker: announcer at major races
start in a town center to the who introduces the riders at the
actual start on the outskirts sign-on. (See MANGEAS to read
of town; track races may be more about the voice of French
“neutralised” after a crash. racing.)
nocturne: a criterium run at night. voiture balai: vehicle that drives at

In smaller venues this means at back of race convoy to “sweep up”
least one stretch in the dark. riders who drop out. Anglicized
as broom wagon.
peloton: main group in a race, in
v 153

G
GARIN, Maurice in Paris and Liège, Bordeaux–Paris
and PARIS–BREST–PARISQV!0M
Born: Aosta, Italy, March 23, 1871 IT[W[M\IZMKWZLNWZSUQV !
Died: Lens, France, February 18, 1957 /IZQV_WV\PMÅZ[\[\IOMWN \PM<W]Z
Major wins: Tour de France 1903, 3 stage \PMSUNZWU8IZQ[\W4aWVI\IV
wins; Paris–Roubaix 1897–8; Paris– I^MZIOM[XMMLWN SXPIVLTML\PM
Brest–Paris 1901; Bordeaux–Paris 1902 race throughout, losing two and a
Nicknames: the White Bulldog, the half kilograms over the three weeks.
Chimney Sweep Garin was also winner of the
<W]ZLM.ZIVKMQV!J]\
<PM_QVVMZWN \PMÅZ[\TOUR DE _I[LQ[Y]ITQÅMLIN\MZINW]Z
FRANCEQV!IVL\PMUIQV month investigation by the Union
XZW\IOWVQ[\QVQ\[ÅZ[\OZMI\[KIVLIT Vélocepédique Française that led
was one of tens of thousands of \W!WN \PMÅMTLJMQVO[IVK\QWVML
boys from the Alps who trekked up The report was never published but
\W8IZQ[QV\PMTI\M!\PKMV\]Za\W the riders’ offences included holding
earn a living cleaning the capital’s onto cars, taking shortcuts, swapping
chimneys. race numbers to avoid controls,
Born on the Italian side of the colluding with fellow competitors,
border in Aosta, Garin was one and catching trains. The scandal led
of the best distance racers of the Tour organizer HENRI DESGRANGE
time: he won two early editions of to write that his race had been
the PARIS–ROUBAIXKTI[[QK¸_PQKP destroyed.
ÅVQ[PMLQV\PM\W_V_PMZMPMZIVI Such charges were common in
KaKTM[PWX¸I[_MTTI[PW]ZZIKM[ races of the HEROIC ERA, in which
v 154

Gears
the riders spent long periods out had time to invest the prize money
in the countryside meaning it was NZWU\PM!<W]Z_QVQVIOIZIOM
QUXW[[QJTMNWZWNÅKQIT[\WSMMX\IJ[ in the northern France town of
WV\PMU1V\PM!ZIKM/IZQV Lens, where he worked until his
avoided being beaten up by a rival’s death. Historian Les Woodland
supporter in the depths of night described him as “an old man, a bit
only by pretending he was someone stooped” but still with the enormous
else. Ironically, he was a victim of handlebar moustache of his youth.
\PM_WZ[\MXQ[WLMWN \PM!ZIKM 0MQ[J]ZQMLQV[MK\QWV.
when a mob held up the riders near of the Cimetière Est off rue
St-Étienne, demanding that the Constant Darras between Lens and
local rider André Fauré be allowed ;ITTI]UQVM[#\PMZMQ[VWNWZUIT
to win. He was hit on the head with memorial. The assistant gravedigger
a bottle, and the mob dispersed there, Maurice Vernaldé, told
only when the race organizer Géo Woodland that Garin admitted
4MNv^ZM\]ZVML]XIVLÅZMLXQ[\WT KPMI\QVOQV\PM!<W]Z"¹0M][ML
shots into the air. to laugh and say ‘Well I was young
Garin was banned for two years . . .’ Maybe at the time he said he
and raced again only once, in the didn’t but when he got older and it
!8IZQ[·*ZM[\·8IZQ[*]\PM didn’t matter so much.”
GEARS Although experiment- riding a high-wheeler, the rider

ation with multiple gears began simply took his feet off the
in the days of the velocipede, the pedals, put them on pegs sticking
ÀUVWELF\FOHVXVHGVLQJOHÀ[HG out of the frame, and hoped for
gears, in which the transmission the best. Uphill, he or she would
is directly linked to the driving walk.
wheel, with no possibility of 7KHÀUVWKXEJHDUV³ZKLFK
freewheeling. On long descents use different sized cogs within
v 155

Gears
the hub to create different and wrote up the experiments in

ratios—appeared in 1891. KLVPDJD]LQH7KHÀUVWPHQWLRQ
Freewheels were invented of a derailleur mechanism was
around 1897, with a clutch in 1908 or 1909, and about this
bearing enabling the rear wheel time rear gear mechanisms
to run free of the gear sprocket. began to be produced that had
There were many attempts some of the elements that still
at different kinds of gears— feature today: a mechanism to
epicyclic, bichain, multiple push the chain from one sprocket
chainwheels, multicog, bottom to another and a long chain
bracket gears, to name just a running through a tension spring
few—but while English cyclists and pulley to take up the slack
stuck to the hub gears patented as the sprocket size changes.
by Sturmey Archer in 1902 and In 1912, Vélocio’s friend
made by RALEIGH, the French Joanny Panel, maker of the
went for the derailleur. Chemineau bike, rode the TOUR
The bodies that ran cycle DE FRANCE using a six-speed
racing restricted technical derailleur gear system that
development—led by the resembled designs that would
conservative HENRI DESGRANGE— stay in use for half a century:
and so the impetus for the a cylinder with a short sliding
derailleur gear came from cycle- shaft—the “plunger”—pushed
tourists, led by the French inward by a spring, and pulled
journalist Paul de Viviès (who outward by a short chain on
wrote in his magazine Le Cycliste the end of a control cable. The
under the pen name VÉLOCIO) Chemineau gear was still being
and his close circle of friends produced in 1946.
around the central France town 7KHÀUVWSRSXODUGHUDLOOHXU
of St-Étienne. was the Le Cyclo two-speed gear,
Vélocio experimented with made by another of Vélocio’s
almost every kind of gear as friends, Albert Raimond, which
soon as it entered the market appeared in 1924. In 1931 the
v 156

Gears
Simplex company brought out in which the chain was “derailed”

a four-speed model that looked by a pushing mechanism that
similar, and, critically, their hung from the chainstay, with
owner Lucien Juy won over the the tension pulley and spring
remaining cynics among the hanging from the bottom
racing fraternity, pushing sales bracket. They appeared primitive
over 50,000 annually. Also in the compared to the Simplex, but
VWKHÀUVWIURQWGHUDLOOHXUV offered a wide range of gears.
appeared; they would not become The Italians used a similar
popular until after the Second looking gear called the Vittoria.
World War, however. Post-war, it was TULLIO
In 1936, Henri Desgrange CAMPAGNOLO who made the
stepped down as Tour de France next breakthrough when he
organizer, and the way was open SURGXFHGWKHÀUVWSDUDOOHORJUDP
for the use of geared bikes in derailleur, the Gran Sport, in
the race from 1937; until then, 1950. Two other companies had
the riders had used wheels with produced parallelogram models,
two sprockets on either side; to and he had bought the patent
change gear they would stop, rights for one, made by Italian
take their rear wheel out, and company Ghigghini, but his was
turn it around. “You had to do it the design that would become
at the right moment,” the 1937 the industry standard. Campag’
winner Roger Lapébie said. would dominate the high-end
“You could lose a race if you racing market for the next 35
didn’t change gear at the right years, as derailleur gears became
moment. If a good rider stopped lighter and slicker, mostly based
to change gear, everyone might on the original Gran Sport.
attack together.” The next developments came
Most of the yellow bikes issued in 1975 from Japan’s SHIMANO,
WRWKH7RXUPHQZHUHÀWWHGZLWK who began producing indexed
Super Champion gears made by gears—where the derailleur
the Swiss track racer Oscar Egg, cable jumped into preset
v 157

Gears
Gear Size
=
T he system of measuring a gear dates back to the days of the high-wheeler and should be
thought of in terms of a notional front wheel powered directly by the legs: a 60-inch gear
(for a two-foot six-inch inside leg) would have been large for an old ordinary, but is now a
climbing gear for most fit cyclists.
The imperial gear size is calculated by taking the diameter of the rear wheel in inches,
multiplying it by the number of teeth on the chainwheel, and dividing it by the number of teeth
on the rear cog. The lower the figure (i.e., the smaller the notional front wheel), the lower the
gear. For example, on a 27-inch wheel, 48 × 19 = 68 inches, a medium-size gear.
Team mechanics and racers tend to think simply in terms of the teeth on the front chain
ring and rear sprocket, without worrying about notional front wheels: e.g., 52 × 13 is a
sprinting gear—108 inches for that notional imperial front wheel—while at the other end of
the spectrum 39 × 23 is a climbing gear.
Gear size matters for various reasons. In TRACK RACING in particular, gears need to be
adjusted by tiny increments to take into account air temperature, form, and the speed of
the track surface. Most track racers carry a variety of fixed sprockets and chainwheels with
them. In GREAT BRITAIN, young riders are limited to gears up to a certain size to avoid putting
strain on developing tendons and muscles.
positions so that shifting was development then focused on

predictable. In 1978 Shimano the levers, change quality, and
PDGHWKHLUÀUVWIUHHKXEZKLFK the number of sprockets rather
replaced a single freewheel block than the derailleurs. 1989 saw
with individual sprockets on a 6KLPDQR·VÀUVWSURWRW\SH67,
splined body giving total freedom brake-lever gear changers used
of sprocket choice. by the 7-Eleven team; they
The arrival of indexed gearing entered the market the following
in high-end road groups from year and Campagnolo didn’t
1985 meant that changing catch up with their Ergopower
v 158

Gears
levers until 1992, giving the KDYHDFKLHYHGWKHÀUVWUHOLDEOH

Japanese company a head start models with 2008’s DuraAce. The
that enabled it to establish a smaller derailleur makers such
dominant position in the market. as SunTour, Huret, and Sachs
Off-road, indexed top-of-the-bar were killed off by Shimano’s
thumbshifters gave way to dual move to integrated transmission,
OHYHUVEHORZWKHEDU5DSLGÀUH where all the components are
from Shimano, X-Press from interdependent and cannot
SunTour) with newcomers Sram be used with those of other
bringing out the Gripshift, based companies; Campagnolo followed
on the cylindrical handgrip at suit.
the end of the bar, from 1988. In essence, the gear market
Other developments have in the early 2000s has been
included tweaks in sprocket dominated by Shimano, thanks
and chain ring design to make mainly to the STI breakthrough,
changing more rapid and reliable with Campagnolo offering minor
with thinner chains as sprocket opposition, and Sram—who had
numbers have increased from acquired component makers such
6—the standard in the early as Gripshift, Sachs, Huret, and
1980s—to 11. While Mavic was Sedis—introducing their own
WKHÀUVWWRH[SHULPHQWZLWK brake-gear levers, Double-Tap,
electronic shifting with the 1999 in 2007, thus providing proper
Mektronic, Shimano appears to competition for the big two.
v 159

Ghost Bikes
GHOST BIKES In some 40 lists the memorials. Sometimes

countries worldwide, memorials they are put up overnight so as
made of white-painted bicycles to create a dramatic effect the
can be seen on roadsides at following morning, as if they have
places where cyclists have appeared out of nowhere.
been killed by motor vehicles. The bikes used are junked
The movement is strongest in machines, with parts such
the United States, where the as cables, brakes, and pedals
ÀUVWJKRVWELNHVZHUHFUHDWHG removed so that they are less
purely for artistic reasons by attractive to thieves and easier
San Francisco artist Jo Slota, to paint. Sometimes they are
who in 2002 began painting mangled or damaged, as they
the abandoned bikes and parts would be in an accident. The
that littered the city white and Ghost Bikes website gives advice
posting photos of them on a on painting the bike, creating
website. placards, and locking it in situ,
Now, however, “they serve as and even recommends that the
reminders of the tragedy that took bikes be carried to the site rather
place on an otherwise anonymous than wheeled to avoid wearing the
street corner, as quiet statements paint from the tires and perhaps
of cyclists’ right to safe travel,” reducing the effect.
according to a website that (SEE ALSO MEMORIALS)
GIANT Taiwanese company that is the biggest bike maker in the

ZRUOGVKLIWLQJRYHUÀYHPLOOLRQELNHVLQPDNLQJELNHVXQGHU
its own name and under contract to other producers. It is a relative
newcomer. Founded in 1972 by a Japanese engineer named King Liu
who needed a new venture when his eel-farming business was wiped
out by a typhoon, Giant began by making bikes for other companies,
v 160

G i r o d ’ It a l i a
primarily USA’s leading mass-market bike-makers SCHWINN;

eventually the American company shifted more and more of its
production to Taiwan until Giant was effectively on equal terms.
*LDQW·VÀUVWRZQEUDQGPDFKLQHVGLGQ·WFRPHRXWXQWLOEXW
found a ready market in the US, and the company rode the mountain-
bike boom with the rest. The key change came in the mid-1990s when
*LDQWZDVWKHÀUVWFRPSDQ\WREULQJRXWDFRPSDFWIUDPHGPDFKLQH
the TCR (see MIKE BURROWS to read about the British designer who
came up with the idea), which rapidly earned a strong reputation.
In Europe deals to sponsor the Spanish ONCE team and later
70RELOHDQG5DEREDQNKHOSHGWRUDLVH*LDQW·VSURÀOHDQGHDUQHG
the company credibility in the rapidly growing market for bikes to
use in CYCLOSPORTIVES. Giant played a large part in popularizing off-
the-rack frames, a major change in the industry that led to casualties
among smaller custom frame makers (see FRAMES—MAKERS).
GIRO D’ITALIA Like its elder the cycling Tour of Italy,” read
brother, the TOUR DE FRANCE, the the telegram sent to the paper’s
Italian equivalent was cycling editor Armando Cougnet
born of a circulation battle in August 1908; his boss had
between rival newspapers. Unlike heard rumors that the rival
the Tour, after over a century Corriere dello Sport was about
in existence the Giro is still to run a Tour of Italy, and a
sponsored by its original backer, preemptive strike was required
the daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, in spite of the fact that Gazzetta
with a pink leader’s jersey to was strapped for cash.
match the pink pages of the paper. 7KHÀUVW*LUREHJDQRQ0D\
“Absolutely essential for the LQ,WDO\·VÀQDQFLDO
paper you announce immediately FDSLWDO0LODQDQGÀQLVKHG
v 161

Giro d’Italia
there 17 days later after eight The Giro has visited all Italy,
stages taking in Bologna, Chieti, including offshore islands such
Naples, Rome, Florence, Genoa, as Elba, and even running a
and Turin. The winner was a time trial alongside Venice’s
stonemason, Luigi Ganna. FDQDOVWRÀQLVKLQ3LD]]D6DQ
The 1920s were dominated by Marco (1978). From its earliest
ALFREDO BINDA, while the 1930s years, the race was hailed by La
began with the introduction Gazzetta dello Sport as a way of
of the pink jersey (1931) and uniting a country that had been
ended with the emergence of a political whole for less than
GINO BARTALI. The year 1940, half a century.
on the other hand, offered a The Giro has achieved that
foretaste of one of cycling’s with a unique blend of heroism
greatest RIVALRIES, when and skulduggery. The race is
FAUSTO COPPI defeated Bartali always run in late spring, when
to become the youngest winner the climbs in the DOLOMITES
ever, aged just 20. are always vulnerable to foul
After the close of the Second weather; some of the greatest
World War, the Giro was seen episodes (see 164) have taken
as a symbol of Italy getting place in snowstorms. The
EDFNRQLWVIHHWZLWKWKHÀUVW passion of the tifosi—Italy’s
postwar edition christened the crazily enthusiastic fans—
Giro di Rinascita: the Giro means that foreign leaders
of Rebirth. The symbolism of have always found it hard
sending cyclists from one end to win; on occasions the fans
of the country to the other over have been seen to push their
roads ravaged by the war—in heroes up the great mountain
some cases they had to walk passes, completely falsifying
across temporary bridges—was the results. At least one Giro,
impossible to ignore. The race 1984, was decided largely
proved that the country was on because the organizer Vincenzo
the move again. Torriani preferred a home
v 162

G i r o d ’ It a l i a
winner, FRANCESCO MOSER, the race for failing a blood test,

to the Frenchman LAURENT one of the biggest drugs scandals
FIGNON. ever to hit cycling (see DRUGS for
Particularly mountainous other major scandals in the sport
routes were devised in 1998 and and the Giro).
1999 to assist the climber MARCO Even though one Italian
PANTANIEXWWKHSODQEDFNÀUHG star after another has fallen
in 1999 when Pantani was to the drugs testers, the Giro
dominant until he was thrown off has retained its magic against
v 163

Giro d’Italia
the odds, helped by the passion 2008–9. The decision of LANCE

of the tifosi and the arrival ARMSTRONG to race the 2009
of foreign stars such as MARK event simply added to the sense
CAVENDISH, who won a total that the Giro was back to its old
RIÀYHVWDJHVLQWKHUDFHLQ VHOIDIWHUVHYHUDOGLIÀFXOW\HDUV
10 Legendary Giri
=
1927—Alfredo Binda wins 9 of the first 10 stages and 12 of the total of 15, en route to his
second overall title.
1949—Fausto Coppi dominates the massive mountain stage from Cuneo to Pinerolo to clinch
part one of the first-ever Giro–Tour de France double.
1953—Coppi inaugurates the Stelvio climb in the Dolomites with a late lone break to take the
win from Hugo Koblet.
1956—Charly Gaul, the “Angel of the Mountains,” wins in a blizzard at Monte Bondone and
has to be taken into a nearby barn to recover from the cold.
1968—EDDY MERCKX’s dominance of world cycling begins at Tre Cime di Lavaredo, where he
leaves the home champion Felice Gimondi nine minutes behind in a snowstorm.
1980—BERNARD HINAULT breaks away over the Stelvio to crush the home riders and take one of
his finest stage race wins.
1987—STEPHEN ROCHE defeats his teammate Roberto Visentini to score Ireland’s only win amid
fearsome scenes, with angry tifosi waving slabs of raw meat at him.
1988—Andy Hampsten scores the UNITED STATES’s first Giro win, in a race hit by heavy snow in
the Dolomites leading to dire suffering on the dirt-tracked Gavia mountain.
1994—Evgeny Berzin of Russia—trained by MICHELE FERRARI—becomes the first man to make
MIGUEL INDURAIN suffer in a major stage race, and takes the first East-bloc win.
1998—Marco Pantani wins a race-long battle with the Russian Pavel Tonkov for the first half
of a Giro–Tour double.
v 164

Giro di Lombardia
GIRO DI LOMBARDIA The “race of meters at a time. Part of the

of the falling leaves” closes the route ran along a streetcar line.
professional cycle-racing year. Since then, the course has
Mellow mists and chilly rain changed time and again. It has
often feature, and sometimes run through some of the highest
WKHÀUVWZLQWHUVQRZFDQEH passes in the Alpine foothills,
spotted on the ALPS. Afterward, DQGÀQLVKHGYDULRXVO\LQ0LODQ
farewells are said before the Como, Monza, and Bergamo.
close season, and retirements It retains two constants: the
quietly celebrated. Amusingly, mountains that border the lakes
the “falling leaves” themselves north of Milan, Lecco and Como,
sometimes play a role: in 1992 and the climb to the chapel
the world champion Gianni at Madonna del Ghisallo (see
Bugno was the big favorite, and CHAPELSIRUWKHVLJQLÀFDQFHRI
the route had been arranged to this landmark).
ÀQLVKLQKLVKRPHWRZQ0RQ]D That ascent kick-started
but he lost the race because he the career of cycling great
was too scared of crashing on the ALFREDO BINDA, who turned
descents, which had been turned professional in 1924 spurred on
into skating rinks by the leaves by the thought of a 500-lire prize
and heavy rain. awarded outside the chapel: he
Like the other MONUMENTS, won it and never looked back.
Lombardy is a key link with Lombardy was also where the
cycle racing’s origins. This was Classic-winning career of SEAN
WKHÀUVWPDMRUUDFHLQ,WDO\ KELLY took off in 1983; the
although it is not the oldest (that Irishman also scored one of his
honour goes to Milan–Turin, greatest wins here in 1991.
ÀUVWUXQLQ,WZDVIRXQGHG The record winner is FAUSTO
in 1905, when Giovanni Gerbi COPPI, who took four successive
was the winner, and run over victories between 1946 and
WUDFNVVREDGWKDWWKHÀHOGKDG 1949, added another in 1954 and
to push their bikes for hundreds came agonizingly close in 1956,
v 165

G r as s T r a ck R a ci n g
overtaken just two meters from year is a rare feat. The only riders
the line in a defeat that summed who have managed it are Binda
up his painful decline. The (1931), TOM SIMPSON (1965), EDDY
DOUBLE of world championship MERCKX (1971), and the Swiss
victory and Lombardy in the same Oscar Camenzind (1998).
GRASS TRACK RACING Dates ERDVWVDYHU\ÀQHEDQNHGJUDVV

back to cycling’s 19th-century vélodrome, 362 meters around,
origins; racing on short oval at the cricket club. Racing has
circuits traced out on sports been going on here since 1892
ÀHOGV7KHUDFHVDUHVLPLODU when penny farthings were used,
to those in conventional track and the town’s population would
racing, but usually shorter. TXDGUXSOHDVVSHFWDWRUVÁRFNHG
Most popular now in Scotland, to watch track meetings.
where a small group of semi- Bikes for grass track racing
professionals make a living in are similar to those used on
summer on a circuit of events paved or wooden tracks—single
run at the Highland Games À[HGJHDUQREUDNHV³EXWWKH
alongside caber-tossing and gearing is lower, because grass
throwing the stone. There is is far harder to pedal through,
also a British grass track league no matter how short it is cut.
with a handful of weekend The cranks may be slightly
meetings. Tracks tend to be shorter as well, to lessen the risk
between 300–400 meters and of a pedal touching the ground
are usually marked out with a on the curves, while wheels
painted white line and colored will be heavy-duty, with fatter
pegs and string. There are tires than usual to ease out the
usually no bankings, although bumps. The tires may be “tied”
the Yorkshire town of Richmond to the rim as well as glued, so
v 166

Goullet, Alf
that they will not slip off the and tires with them, then decide
rim when cornering. Specialists which to use depending on the
will take several sets of wheels conditions.
GOULLET, Alf (b. Australia, 1891, d. 1995) by the 1920s he was being paid
$1,000 a day to race at a time
An Australian-born, US- when a single NFL franchise
naturalized track racer, the could be bought for a mere $100.
record-breaking “King” of the He was hailed the “King of the
SIX-DAY RACES held at Madison Sixes” by the writer Damon
Square Gardens who earned 5XQ\RQ,QÀUHPHQKDGWR
more than Babe Ruth in his be called to the Garden to prevent
heyday. Goullet began racing in gatecrashers from joining the
Australia, where he created his VWURQJFURZGRQWKHÀQDO
own track to train on by rolling a night, he and the Tour de France
grass circuit using a log dragged star Maurice Brocco picked up
behind a horse. He arrived in New $50,000 in prize money. By 1925
York at the age of 19 and set a he had won the New York six-
hat-trick of world records at Salt day eight times and won a total
Lake City in 1912: two-thirds of of about 400 races. He retired
a mile, three-quarters of a mile, in 1934 and subsequently ran a
and one mile. In 1914 he and skating rink. He was inducted
his Australian partner, Alfred into halls of fame in both the USA
Grenda, set a record distance of and Australia.
2,759.2 miles en route to victory in (SEE MARSHALL WALTER TAYLOR AND
the Madison Square Gardens six- A. A. ZIMMERMAN TO READ ABOUT OTHER
PIONEERING US STARS OF THE EARLY
GD\ULGLQJWKHÀQDOKRXUVRORDV
DAYS; SEE HEROIC ERA FOR MORE ON THE
Grenda had appendicitis. In 1916 FORMATIVE YEARS OF CYCLE RACING.)
he took American nationality;
v 167

G r e at B ri t a i n
GREAT BRITAIN At the end of

the naughts the nation that
invented the safety bike and won
WKHÀUVWHYHUURDGUDFHVORRNHG
set to become a world cycling
superpower. The British were
everywhere, thanks to MARK
CAVENDISH, BRADLEY WIGGINS,
Nicole Cooke, Emma Pooley,
and others linked to the all-
conquering Olympic team.
Cycling became popular
early in Great Britain. The
ÀUVWUHFRUGHGLQIRUPDOELNH
race took place in 1868 and
Britain was at the forefront of
boneshaker manufacturing. TIME TRIALLING thus came into
Abroad, JAMES MOORE won the being, as a way cyclists could
ÀUVWUHFRUGHGURDGUDFHLQ3DULV compete on British roads without
DQGWKHÀUVWSODFHWRSODFHHYHQW attracting the attention of the
Paris–Rouen. After that, it was police. The governing body, the
downhill most of the way; the NCU, became paranoid about
trouble began in the 1890s, even road racing, initially refusing
as cycling became massively to recognize time trialling, and
popular. Tens of thousands were turned to supervising the track
riding bikes, but racing on the events that remained popular
road was made unlawful after into the 1950s. As a result,
a notorious incident in which a cycle racing in Britain was in a
horse and cart collided with a backwater for almost a century.
race on the North Road (now the There were track champions
A1) during which cyclists were such as Leon Meredith, who won
being paced by tricycles. the world motorpaced title seven
v 168

times between 1904 and 1913, In 1942 Percy Stallard

but this was not uncommon. In began organizing road races
1922, the world championships on European streets, taking
were organized by the NCU, but DGYDQWDJHRIWKHODFNRIWUDIÀF
were run as a time trial. In the due to fuel rationing. Stallard
1930s, there was no road racing was banned, opening the schism
as such, but “massed start” races between the NCU and those who
were run on circuits closed to wanted racing continental style,
WUDIÀFVXFKDVWKH%URRNODQGV grouped under the banner of the
motor racing track. In 1937, BLRC, British League of Racing
Britons Bill Burl and Charles Cyclists, who brought British
Holland started the Tour de cycling into the mainstream;
France; although Holland was road racing mushroomed at the
physically up to the task, he was grassroots level, various Tours
defeated by the lack of support for of Britain came and went, and,
riders outside the major teams. suddenly, British cyclists began
British Cycle Racing at a Glance

=
Biggest race: Tour of Britain
Legendary racing hill: Holme Moss
Biggest stars: Mark Cavendish, Chris Hoy
First Tour stage win: Brian Robinson, Brest, 1957
Tour overall wins to 2010: none
Britain has given cycling: the SAFETY BICYCLE, time-trialling, aggregation of marginal gains, a
briefly rejuvenated HOUR RECORD, the best bunch sprinter in the world
Further reading/viewing: This Island Race, Les Woodland, Mousehold Press, 2005; Roule
Britannia, A History of Britons in the Tour de France, William Fotheringham, Yellow Jersey, 2005
reiss 2010; DVD: The Brit Pack
v 169

competing at the European sponsored by Kellogg’s in 1983

level. proved popular and was followed
From 1960, TOM SIMPSON by a Tour of Britain in 1987.
acted as a role model by winning Critically, nightly television
Classics and the world title in coverage of the Tour de France
1965. The presence of British began in 1986 with commentary
teams in the Tour de France in by PHIL LIGGETT. There was
1960 and 1961 gave top British plenty to report on, with ROBERT
cyclists a point of entry to the MILLAR’s ability to challenge for
largest race in the world. At honors in the Tour and Vuelta,
KRPHWKHFRQÁLFWEHWZHHQWKH and the rise of English-speaking
NCU and BLRC ended in 1959 stars like SEAN KELLY, STEPHEN
when the bodies merged to form ROCHE, GREG LEMOND, and PHIL
the British Cycling Federation; ANDERSON.
in that year, the newly Although cycling remained
founded MILK RACE created a marginalized at the highest
focus for the entire domestic level in Britain, events such
calendar. Simultaneously, as London to BRIGHTON made
however, the rising popularity it clear that people wanted
of cars resulted in all of to ride bikes. An important
cycling becoming increasingly turning point came when CHRIS
marginalized. Running the world BOARDMAN made headlines by
championships in the Midlands winning the Olympic pursuit in
LQDQGWKH7RXU·VÀUVWVWDJH Barcelona on a futuristic bike
on British soil, at Plymouth in designed by legendary carmaker
1974, did nothing to stem the Lotus, and the Tour enjoyed
decline. two sunny days on the British
The 1982 world south coast, in front of massive
championships, run at crowds, in 1994. Finally, at the
Goodwood, made little impact on end of 1996, the foundation
the media, but change was under of a British national lottery
way. A series of city-center races UHVXOWHGLQDQLQÁX[RIFDVKLQWR
v 170

Grewal, Alexi
Olympic sports. Boardman’s running Revolution events bred

trainer Peter Keen drew up a track culture of their own.
RQHRIWKHÀUVWSODQVIRUKRZWR Meanwhile, the huge increase in
use lottery funding, based on cyclists riding CYCLOSPORTIVES,
Boardman’s Olympic and world which were inspired by the
title results, and the World Class Tour de France’s spectacular
Performance Plan began in 1997, Grand Depart in the capital in
with the aim of making Britain 2007, gave the cycle trade new
the world cycling champions. buoyancy. Dominance in the 2008
By happy coincidence, a world track championship and
world-class facility was waiting Beijing Olympics drew backing
for their use: the velodrome in from the satellite company Sky,
Manchester had been constructed whose sponsorship included
in the early 1990s and was the running of Skyrides, group
the only tangible element of events for leisure cyclists on
Manchester’s Olympic bid, but it closed roads in major cities and a
too was nearly bankrupt until the ProTour team run by Brailsford.
revamped GB team began paying
to train there. Results were GREWAL, Alexi (b. Aspen, Colorado, 1960)
almost immediate with three
medals, including one gold, in the A talented climber from Colorado
2000 Olympic Games, and the who became Olympic road race
momentum didn’t cease under champion in the 1984 Summer
Keen’s successor as performance Games at Los Angeles, but
director, Dave Brailsford, who whose professional career never
took over in 2003. By 2007 the really got off the ground. Born
WHDPZDVÀUPO\HVWDEOLVKHGDV into an Indian American family
the number one in the world for with two brothers who also
track racing. The track racers’ raced, as did his father, a bike
success led to the revival of the shop owner, Grewal dropped out
Tour of Britain, while in the of high school to train. Grewal
Manchester velodrome, the long- was close to being deprived of
v 171

Grewal, Alexi
a start in the 1984 Olympics Panasonic, 7-Eleven, and RMO,

after testing positive for the all teams who were interested
stimulant phenylethylamine. in his obvious climbing talents,
He protested the ban and was but he had trouble coming to
reinstated six days before the terms with European cycling;
race. He has since spoken out he was dropped by 7-Eleven
against drug-taking in cycling. after spitting at a television
He described his 1984 L.A. cameraman during the Tour de
win as his “smartest” victory, France, and he had effectively
adding in an interview with quit by mid-1987. He raced in
PezCyclingNews, “I got the the US until retirement in 1993,
others working against each later working in construction
RWKHUDQGSURÀWHGIURPWKDWµ making hand-built wooden
On the 190 km course, Grewal homes; he also worked with the
was in the lead until he was homeless in his hometown of
caught by Steve Bauer with only Loveland. “For the last decade
10 km remaining, but Grewal I’ve been one step away from
outsprinted the Canadian. the street,” he said in a 2010
The bicycle he rode to victory interview after announcing his
is now in the Smithsonian comeback to racing. Grewal’s
Institute’s National Museum of brother Rishi raced successfully
American History. Grewal raced as a MOUNTAIN BIKING pro.
successive years in Europe for
v 172

H
HAIR Leg-shaving is a rite of Moving upward, premature
passage for most male cyclists, balding seems to be relatively
but beyond aesthetics and common among professional
SV\FKRORJ\WKHEHQHÀWVDUH cyclists, perhaps due to naturally
debatable. The most common high testosterone levels (in some
claim is that hairless legs are cases, the male hormone may
more aerodynamic, but studies KDYHEHHQDUWLÀFLDOO\HQKDQFHG
have shown that hair actually others maintain this is due to
KHOSVDLUÁRZRYHUWKHOHJV7KH the heat build-up under shell
most probable reason is that it helmets. Facial hair is a no-
is easier for professional team no for racing cyclists, but this
masseurs to work on smooth is because of the amount of
rather than hairy legs. Shaving sweat, snot and sticky race
probably began in the HEROIC food involved rather than
ERA; with the amount of muck aerodynamics.
thrown up off the roads during Moustaches were relatively
races, the easier legs were to common in the Heroic Era—
wash, the better, and with Eugène Christophe was
crashes so common, shaven legs nicknamed “the Gaul” and then
meant bandages were simpler “the Old Gaul” because of his
to put on and remove. There are drooping Asterix-style ’taches.
exceptions: the Russian Dimitri Now, however, long hair, beards,
Konyshev had a reputation and moustaches tend to be the
for turning up to races with mark of nonconformists, such
unshaven legs and still winning. as American wild man Bob Roll,
v 173

Harris, Reg
who partnered his big beard with so that he would not want to go
Hells Angel jackets and skull- to nightclubs. The goatee grown
design rings. by MARCO PANTANI became
The same is true of the a key part of his carefully
ponytails tied with elastic bands nurtured “bad-boy’ image as
worn by LAURENT FIGNON, the “Pirate.” The most fearsome
ROBERT MILLAR, and PHIL beard cycling has ever seen was
ANDERSON in the 1980s. Fignon ÀFWLRQDOKRZHYHUWKHWHUULI\LQJ
said his fellow cyclists yelled facial hearthrug sported by
at him that he looked like a the Russian star in the FILM
girl. Millar would get a nasty American Flyers.
crewcut every winter, he said,
HARRIS, Reg comment: Who do you think you

IZM:MO0IZZQ['<PI\ZMÆMK\ML\PM
Born: Bury, England, March 1, 1920 X]JTQKXZWÅTMWN \PMUIV_PW_I[
Died: Macclesfield, England, June 22, 1992 the country’s best-known cyclist in
Major wins: World professional sprint the postwar years. Harris achieved
champion 1949, 1950, 1951, 1954; national fame for taking four world
amateur world sprint champion 1947; professional sprint titles between
seven British national titles; Olympic !!IVL!IN\MZUIVIOQVOI
silver medallist sprint and tandem sprint, brace of silver medals at the London
London 1948 7TaUXQK[QV! QV[XQ\MWN I[MZQM[
Catchphrase: “Reg rides a Raleigh” WN QVR]ZQM[QV\PMJ]QTL]X
Further viewing: DVD: Maestro, 1985 He was voted British sportsman
WN \PMaMIZQV!IVL_I[QV^WT^ML
1V\PM![IVL![IVaKaKTQ[\ in one of cycling’s most curious
seen pedaling at speed in a British KWUMJIKS[QVPQ[[0Q[VW\WZQM\a
town might draw the sarcastic at home surpassed even world road
v 174

Harris, Reg
champion TOM SIMPSON, who was TI\M![IVLMIZTa![_MZM

actually more famous in FRANCE and one of track racing’s boom times,
Belgium than in the UK. There is _Q\PÎ[\KZW_L[ÆWKSQVO\W^MV]M[
even a story that the sprinter himself such as the VÉLODROME D’HIVER in
was once stopped for running a red 8IZQ[.ITTW_ÅMTLQV5IVKPM[\MZIVL
light and asked by police whether he Milan’s Velodromo Vigorelli: Van
thought he was Reg Harris: his reply Vliet and Harris were always at the
is not recorded. \WXWN \PMJQTT0MZM\QZMLQV!
Harris began his working life at J]\ZM\]ZVML\WZIKQVOQV!IVL
I[IUW\WZUMKPIVQKQVPQ[VI\Q^M took a bronze medal in the British
Lancashire and raced as an amateur championships. The story goes
in the prewar years, working in a that Harris went to prepare at the
paper mill in winter, supporting Meadowbank stadium in Edinburgh
himself from prize money over the IVL_I[I[SMLJaIaW]VOWNÅKQIT
[]UUMZ1V!!PM\ZI^MTML\W\PM “Have you ridden on a track
world track championship in Milan, before?” Harris replied that he had,
only to be recalled on the outbreak but the blazer would not give up:
of war. A tank driver in North “Have you ridden on a proper track
)NZQKINWZ\PM\P0][[IZ[PM_I[ like this?” Finally, someone asked
wounded in a German attack that Harris who he was. He followed up
wiped out all the rest of his tank _Q\POWTLQV!_PMVPM_I[
KZM_IVL_I[LMMUML]VÅ\\WÅOP\ years old.
QV!L]M\WPQ[J]ZV[0MOW\ Like many successful cyclists, he
back on his bike to rehabilitate after was unable to match his sporting
PQ[QVR]ZQM[IVLIaMIZTI\MZ_WV prowess in business: a bike-making
three national championships on the venture failed, and he ended up as
track. He turned professional after a salesman. He is now remembered
the London Games and his battles _Q\PIÅVM[\I\]MQV\PM5IVKPM[\MZ
with the Dutchman Arie Van Vliet velodrome in bronze by the sculptor
on the indoor velodromes of Europe James Butler.
were legendary (see RIVALRIES). The (SEE ALSO TRACK RACING)
v 175

H e l met s
HELMETS Helmets became

compulsory in professional
racing from May 2003, although
initially riders were allowed
to remove them at the start of
WKHÀQDOFOLPEWRDPRXQWDLQ
WRSÀQLVK³ZKHUHWKHFOLPE
ZDVPRUHWKDQÀYHNLORPHWHUV
long—which led to the bizarre
VLJKWRIWKHHQWLUHÀHOGEXQJLQJ
their hats at team helpers as
they sped onto mountains like
l’Alpe d’Huez. That short-lived
exception ended in 2005.
The initial resistance was
partly cultural, partly macho.
Helmets had been rapidly made
mandatory for MOUNTAIN-BIKE
racing in the late 1980s because
of the risks involved and because
they had been part of the sport
from the beginning.
European road cyclists had
used “skid-lids” made of leather obligatory in Belgium and GREAT
strips since the early days; they BRITAIN; in many other countries
were of no use whatsoever in a such as FRANCE you raced bare-
direct impact but might prevent headed.
abrasions. FAUSTO COPPI was Polystyrene shell helmets
ridiculed for wearing one on came from America in the 1970s.
the orders of his wife after the They acted as an outer “crumple
death from head injuries of his zone” to protect the skull in
brother Serse in 1951. They were an impact, with either a stiff
v 176

H e l met s
outer polycarbonate layer or on their heads come the heat of

thin netting to protect the shell. summer.
Europeans mistrusted these There were calls for helmets
initial models from companies to be made obligatory four years
like Bell, even though they were later, after the events of July 18,
used by sensible types like GREG 1995. As the TOUR DE FRANCE
LEMOND and PHIL ANDERSON and peloton descended the narrow,
teams such as 7-Eleven. They twisting road from the Col de
were seen as a cultural imposition Portet d’Aspet in the Pyrenées,
rather than common sense. the Olympic champion Fabio
About 1990, helmets began Casartelli fell and hit his head
to use a thinner shell due to on one of the concrete blocks
improvements in the by the roadside. He died from
molding process; recent years his injuries. His MEMORIAL now
have seen improvements in stands on the mountainside.
VWUDSVDQGÀWWLQJDQGWKH 7KHÀQDOGHFLVLRQWRPDNH
LQWURGXFWLRQRIFDUERQÀEHU helmet use compulsory came
Thickness pads were used early after the Kazakh pro Andrei
on; today’s helmets have cradles Kivilev had a fatal accident in
that can be precisely adjusted. March 2003. Now no one has a
They were made compulsory in second thought about wearing
British racing from 1992. them, partly because technology
It seems incredible now, but means that helmets have become
in 1991 professional cyclists lighter and better ventilated,
went on strike in protest against partly because two fatal
a new rule that stipulated they accidents in eight years of pro
must wear shell helmets in racing was a strong message.
all races. It was early March, Helmets have to meet national
the Paris–Nice race, and safety standards. To meet the
temperatures were still cool; they criteria, helmets are tested by
were worried about how it would being dropped onto an anvil
feel wearing “big heavy things” to imitate what would happen
v 177

Heroic Era
if a cyclist fell off and hit his cycling by overstating its

or her head on the curb. The dangers, and that the overall
level set by the independent EHQHÀWWRKHDOWKE\DQ\
Snell Memorial Foundation is reduction in head injuries would
generally a little more strict than be countered by the negative
national standards. impact on health of people giving
Debate is ongoing over up cycling due to the perception
whether helmets should be that it is dangerous.
made compulsory for all cyclists. Regardless of the law, the
A 1996 study published in arguments for their use are
the British Journal of Sports convincing. As British Cycling
Medicine found that while doing Federation doctor Chris Jarvis
this might save cyclists’ lives, pointed out: while they might
there was an equally strong case not prevent death in the event
for making helmets obligatory for of a direct collision with a
motorists and pedestrians and motor vehicle, they are likely to
WKDWWKHUHZDV´QRMXVWLÀFDWLRQ downgrade head damage by one
for compelling cyclists to wear step in most impacts, turning
helmets without taking steps to what may have been concussion
improve the safety of all road into a severe headache and what
users.” may have been a cracked skull
Opponents contend that into concussion, and so on.
compulsion would discourage
HEROIC ERA The term used to made cycling more subtle, less
describe the pre–Second World purely physical, and less subject
War period of road racing, before to the vagaries of fortune and the
improved bikes, road surfaces, weather. Racing was strongly
and sophisticated team tactics LQÁXHQFHGE\TOUR DE FRANCE
v 178

Heroic Era
organizer HENRI DESGRANGE, who best epitomizes that time

who believed the ideal race was is Eugène Christophe of France,
one in which no cyclist was able known as the “Old Gaul,” who
WRÀQLVK2QHUHDVRQZK\WKH ZDVWKHÀUVWULGHUWRZHDUWKH
PARIS–ROUBAIX classic remains yellow jersey in the Tour (see
fascinating to this day is because 180).
it is professional cycling’s last As if the demands of the
throwback to this time. roads of the time were not
To create “the most VXIÀFLHQWWKHUHZDVQRPHGLFDO
courageous champions since backup on the race until 1925,
antiquity,” Desgrange banned journalists complained about
derailleurs, slowed down injured riders being left by
technical development, and ran the roadside after crashes,
the Tour over inhuman distances DQGRIÀFLDOVZHUHLPSODFDEOH
culminating in the 5,745 km- Christophe was not the only
long race of 1927. He imposed victim. The Pelissier brothers’
rules that now seem trivial and disputes with Desgrange were
that outraged champions such as typical of the frustrations felt
HENRI PÉLISSIER. by leading cyclists, captured in
The era is only just outside the celebrated article by Albert
living memory, but it seems Londres in 1924 that led to
remote, because few color the Tourmen being nicknamed
photographs and sparse “Convicts of the Road.”
television footage remain: the Mechanical troubles were
image is one of mud-spattered a universal problem: in the
cyclists carrying spare tires on 1919 Tour, one rider, Jean
their shoulders, gravelly roads, Alavoine, was estimated to
LOOÀWWLQJVKRUWVFOXQN\WXEHG have punctured 46 times. He
bikes, stoic faces in goggles, FRPSOHWHGKLVÀUVW7RXULQ
rickety cars, and spectators by carrying his broken bike six
who always seem to be in their PLOHVWRWKHÀQLVKOLQHZKLOH
Sunday best. The champion the 1928 overall win by Nicolas
v 179

Heroic Era
Heroes of the Heroic Era

=
Honoré Barthélemy (France, b. 1890, d. 1964) while descending the Col du Tourmalet.
The Man with the Glass Eye. In the 1920 Tour Outside assistance was forbidden, so he made
de France he lost an eye after it was struck his way on foot to a local blacksmith’s—eight
by a flint in a crash, but still finished the race miles away—and began repairing the fork
eighth, half-blind and with a broken shoulder and himself, beginning with plain tubing. At one point,
dislocated wrist. He later rode with a glass eye, he asked a local boy to use the bellows, because
which he would take out when the roads were too his hands were occupied with the hammer.
dusty, filling the socket with cotton wool. On one When he got back on his bike and completed
occasion the eye fell out at the finish, and he had the stage four hours behind the winner, he was
to go on his knees to find it. docked a further two minutes for accepting help
against the rules. A plaque now commemorates
Ottavio Bottecchia (Italy, b. 1894, d. 1927) the episode. Christophe had a similar problem
in the 1919 Tour when he had a 28 minute lead
In 1924 Bottecchia was the first Italian to win
and appeared to be guaranteed overall victory:
the Tour de France and the first rider to lead
repairing the fork, again in a roadside forge, cost
the race from beginning to end. Bottecchia
him two and a half hours.
died in mysterious circumstances, being found
dead on the roadside with head injuries: no one
knew whether he fell off due to sunstroke, was François Faber (Luxembourg, b. 1887, d. 1915)
murdered by the fascists, or killed by a farmer “The Giant,” born in France but taking the
who was annoyed that he was stealing grapes. nationality of his Luxembourgois father, had an
A brand of bikes bearing his name is still made imposing physique and won several CLASSICS
today. in the years leading up to the First World War;
he also took the 1909 Tour. It was a notoriously
Eugène Christophe (France, b. 1885, d. 1970) tough race: 50 of the field went home in the first
The “Old Gaul” won the 1910 Milan–San Remo in week due to the appalling weather: gale-force
horrendous snow, but the incident that made him winds and chilling rain that created deep ruts
legendary happened in the 1913 Tour. Christophe in the poorly made roads. He won five stages in
was leading the race and set for victory when a row, all the way from Roubaix on the Belgian
he was knocked off his bike and broke his forks border to Nice on the Mediterranean, and
v 180

Heroic Era
became massively popular, receiving poems and Lucien Petit-Breton (France, b. 1882, d. 1917)
marriage offers in the mail afterward. He was
Christened Lucien Mazan but raced under an
killed on the Western Front early in the war.
assumed name. Petit-Breton protested angrily
when promoters referrred to him as l’Argentin
Gustave Garrigou (France, b. 1884, d. 1963)
after his country of birth. First man to win
Finished in top five of the Tour de France eight Milan–San Remo, and set an early HOUR RECORD,
times between 1907 and 1914, winning the 1911 but is best known for winning the 1907 and 1908
race and taking a total of eight stages. One of the Tours, the latter with five stage wins along the
most consistent riders ever, finishing in the first way. His first Tour, 1905, was truly bizarre: the
10 of 96 of the 117 Tour stages he rode. Later race was sabotaged when nails were scattered
Garrigou described the roads in the mountains on the route; Petit-Breton had no tires left so he
of the time as “just donkey tracks and I’m quit and got the train to Paris, but he was then
being polite” and recalled how he was paid five persuaded to return to the race where he was
sovereigns for getting up the Tourmalet without relegated to last place on the stage—but he still
walking. ended up fifth overall. Like other champions of
the time, his life was cut short by the First
Octave Lapize (France, b. 1887, d. 1917) World War.
Faber’s big rival in the 1910 Tour, which was
the first to go through the Pyrénees or the Alps. Philippe Thys (Belgium, b. 1890, d. 1983)
Lapize won that year’s race, but entered Tour The first man to win the Tour three times, and
legend after muttering the words “assassins” he would surely have won more had the First
at the Tour organizers as he climbed the Col World War not intervened. He led the 1914 race
de l’Aubisque, fourth col of the first Pyrénean from start to finish and won in spite of being
stage. Lapize was an all-rounder who won Paris– fined half an hour for failing to show referees a
Roubaix three times; but the 1910 Tour was broken wheel to prove that he had changed a
the only one he completed. He quit five times, wheel because of an accident. In 1919 he was
complaining that the other riders ganged up on never outside the first five on any Tour stage and
him. He became a fighter pilot in the First World was the first of seven Belgians in the overall
War and died after being shot down in a dogfight. standings.
v 181

Heroic Era
Frantz of Luxembourg included a piteous state . . . a broken

55 miles spent on a borrowed collarbone and a deep wound
lady’s bike after his own broke LQKLVKHDG$VLWIUR]HÀWWR
between Metz and Charleville. crack stone on the Poitiers road,
Saddle boils were common due Trousselier escaped. There was
to woolen clothing and muddy a crazy chase from the peloton
roads; raw steaks might be and ‘Trou-Trou’ paid the price.
applied to ease the pain while The countryside was covered in a
as late as the 1920s the Tour’s white blanket.”
ration bags included a dose of With cyclists trailing all over
neat spirits. the countryside in most major
Accidents on the open road races, rather than passing
were frequent, particularly when quickly in one compact bunch,
the riders had to race at night they had more interaction with
on poorly maintained roads. The the public, who might watch a
following report from L’Auto cyclist in the Tour eat a quick
on the 1909 Bordeaux–Paris, meal in a bar, or thaw out a
sums up the spirit of the time: hypothermic competitor in
the race was “extremely hard: Milan–San Remo. There were
rain, snow and glacial cold. numerous episodes of tacks being
We watched a bitter battle in spread on the roads, while in the
the middle of the night, and an 1911 Tour it was alleged that one
DFFLGHQW$W/D&RXURQQHÀYH of the favorites, Paul Duboc, had
kilometers from Angouleme, been poisoned; so angry were the
Leon Georget hit a stone . . . fans in his home town of Rouen
performed a superb somersault, that the race leader Gustave
and as at that moment a [cycle] Garrigou had to be escorted
tourist was on his heels, he was through the town in disguise to
brutally thrown several meters avoid being lynched.
through the air. He lay stretched
(SEE ALSO ALFREDO BINDA, MAURICE
out, unconscious, and was taken GARIN, HUBERT OPPERMAN, HENRI
to the nearest checkpoint in PÉLISSIER)
v 182

Herrera, Luis
HERRERA, Luis (b. Colombia, 1961) mountain stage. Two years later
he added the Tour of Spain to his
The “little gardener” was the palmarès.
most successful of the wave of Together with FEDERICO
Colombian cyclists who came BAHAMONTES, Herrera is the only
to Europe after the TOUR DE climber to be crowned King of
FRANCE was declared “open” to the Mountains in all three major
amateurs in 1983. He became Tours. This was in spite of the
synonymous with their main fact that, like all Colombians,
sponsor, Café de Colombia. He he had trouble adapting to
earned his nickname because he European racing; he could not
VSHQWKLV\RXWKSLFNLQJÁRZHUV descend well and had trouble
LQWKHÀHOGVQHDUKLVELUWKSODFH time-trialling and sprinting.
Fusagasugá. When he stopped racing he set
,Q+HUUHUD·VÀUVW7RXUKH up a cattle-breeding business,
won the prestigious mountaintop which was estimated to have
ÀQLVKDWO·$OSHG·+XH]ULGLQJ made him $5 million, but his
away from BERNARD HINAULT and wealth made him a target for
LAURENT FIGNON with a smooth, kidnappers. He was seized from
metronomic pedaling style, while his home in 2000 and held for 20
in 1985 he won two more stages hours before being released; the
and took the mountains jersey, amount paid for his ransom has
after reaching an agreement never been disclosed.
WRKHOS+LQDXOWRQWKHÀUVW (SEE ALSO COLOMBIA, ALPS)
HIBELL, Ian (b. England, 1934, d. 2008) leave of absence from his job
in Brixham, Devon, in 1963,
Enjoyed perhaps the longest and Hibell became one of the world’s
most strenuous sabbatical in PRVWSUROLÀFF\FOHWRXULVWVXQWLO
cycling history. Given a year’s his untimely death 45 years
v 183

H i bel l , Ia n
later. He recounted his earlier KHEHFDPHWKHÀUVWPDQ

exploits in his memoirs Into the to travel on land up the entire
Remote Places (Sphere, 1984). length of the American continent
The image from that book that from Cape Horn to northwest
most perfectly sums up Hibell Alaska. That tour involved
shows him paddling his bike crossing the Darien Gap, where
across the Manurique river in the Atrato Swamp caused a
South America, precariously supposedly impassable hiatus
balanced on a native-style canoe in the Pan-American highway.
handmade of trees. The uncharted space between
Hibell estimated he had used the last village on either side
over 800 puncture-repair kits is about 30 kilometers; for just
while touring the world, and he under a month Hibell and his
had ridden over 250,000 miles two companions slashed their
on conventional British touring way through the jungle, carrying
cycles with handbuilt steel their bikes over a surface of
frames and drop handlebars: a JUDVVÁRDWLQJRQWKHPXGDWD
Freddie Grubb carried him for rate of about one kilometer per
over 100,000 miles, and he also day. In the process they ran out
used a pair of bikes made at of food, fell out terminally with
$UJRVLQ%ULVWRO$OOZHUHÀWWHG each other, and he came close to
with customized pannier racks, losing a foot after a misjudged
one with a brazed-on scraper blow with the machete.
to stop the frame clogging with Riding across Peru, he
mud. took with him a brown-haired
His voyages included: Norway girl from Manchester, Laura
to the Cape of Good Hope; Nichols—referred to in Into the
crossing the Sahara desert; Remote Places as Jean—with
Zeebrugge to Vladivostok; and whom he fell in love and had
north to south through China, a son. In 1975, his escapades
this last when he was in his earned him an appearance on
early 70s. Between 1971 and Blue Peter, where he cycled
v 184

High-wheeler
alongside presenter Peter Purves He also had encounters with

around the studio on his touring Eskimo princesses and a Dayak
bike. headman in Borneo. After all
A British adventurer in the this, Hibell was mown down
great tradition, he was caught in by a hit-and-run motorist in
landslides, contracted malaria, Greece while training for a trip
braved spear-throwing tribesmen to Tibet by riding from England
in Africa and murderous mobs to Athens. A collected volume of
LQÁDPHGE\ZLWFKGRFWRUVDQGDW his print articles, The Legend of
one point lay down under a thorn Ian Hibell, has been published
tree in the desert thinking he posthumously.
was going to die of dehydration.
HIGH-WHEELER Design of bike huge front wheel could absorb

from the late 19th century with a the ruts and potholes of poorly
large front wheel and small rear, made 19th century roads. But
with pedals driving direct to the it had its limitations: braking
front wheel. It is also referred ZDVGLIÀFXOWJHDULQJZDV
to as an “ordinary” or “penny restricted by the inside leg of
farthing.” It was developed the rider, and more seriously,
from the front-wheel driven it was intimidating to use and
BONESHAKER—in which both dangerous to ride, with head-
wheels were the same size— ÀUVWFUDVKHVDOOWRRIUHTXHQW
and had a heyday that lasted a and fatalities not uncommon.
quarter of a century, in which The rider’s position on top of the
cycling became almost universal. vast front wheel was inherently
It was superseded by the SAFETY unstable—particularly in any
BICYCLE. kind of a wind— while steering
The high-wheeler had a major was affected by the action of
advantage: if handled well the pedaling. It was recommended
v 185

High-wheeler
that when riding downhill, the

safest position was with the legs
over the handlebars so that if
a “header” occurred, the cyclist
could simply vault onto his feet.
Even so, high-wheelers
became astonishingly popular.
By the mid-1870s there were
estimated to be about 50,000 on up the League of American
British roads. Cycling clubs and Wheelmen to campaign for
cycle races sprung up rapidly, better roads for bicyclists. At the
which led to a battle between peak of bike mania, Pope was
manufacturers to reduce weight. making a quarter of a million
By the 1880s, the Cyclists’ bikes per year. The volume of
Touring Club had over 20,000 innovation was such that by the
members and had approved 1890s, the US needed a separate
almost 800 hotels for their use. SDWHQWRIÀFHIRUELF\FOHVZKLOH
By 1897 most major towns had DVLQJOHRIÀFHFRXOGFRYHU
cycling schools, teaching the skill everything else.
in the same way that driving is The basic limitations of the
taught today. high-wheeler led to further
In America, the 1880s invention: to counter the gearing
saw massive expansion in issue, machines such as the
high-wheeler use, with the Coventry-made “Kangaroo”
entrepreneurial Colonel used chain drive and geared
Albert A. Pope as the driving sprockets to enable a smaller
force: Pope bought up all the front wheel to be used, while
available cycle patents, set up numerous more stable variants
cycle mass production for his on the penny farthing design
Columbia machine in Hartford, were tried, including the “star,”
Connecticut, founded The which had the small wheel in
Wheelman magazine, and set front. The “xtraordinary” and
v 186

Hill Climbs
the “facile” used lever drives were all dubbed “safety” bikes,
to reduce the size of the front and eventually the high-wheeler
wheel. The “dicycle” had two became obsolete. Pope, naturally,
large wheels in parallel with the was at the forefront, making his
rider sitting in between. These ÀUVWVDIHW\ELNHLQ
HILL CLIMBS A mass-start Washington event is that apart

event up a major mountain from the three days when it is
pass, with the riders timed. open for hill-climbs, the road is
Classic climbs include the closed to cyclists.
Mount Evans hill-climb in The hill-climb in Great Britain
Colorado, which takes in the is a time trial up a hill, from top
highest paved road in the US, to bottom, usually run at the end
with a summit of 14,264 feet. of the season as autumn sets
It has been held since 1962. LQ7KHÀUVWKLOOFOLPEZDVUXQ
The course record for men is 1 by the Catford CC in 1887, and
hour 41 minutes 20 seconds by their event on Yorks hill near
Tom Danielson (2004). JEANNIE Sevenoaks in Kent remains one
LONGO holds the women’s record of the classics, along with its
with 1 hour 59 minutes 19 near neighbor run by the Bec
seconds. In New England, the CC at Titsey in Surrey. Other
Mount Washington Auto Road classic British climbs include
climb has been going for almost Monsal Head in Derbyshire, the
40 years; the climb is 7.6 miles, Ramsbottom Rake in Lancashire,
the summit 6,288 feet, the the Horseshoe Pass in North
steepest gradient 22 percent. Wales, and Snake Pass in
The big attraction of the Mount Derbyshire.
v 187

Hinault, Bernard
the badger would retire to its burrow,

HINAULT, Bernard TQKSQ\[K]\[\PMVKWUMW]\ÅOP\QVO
Celebrated as one of the elite
Born: Yffiniac, France, November 14, 1954 KT]J_PWPI^M_WVÅ^M<W]Z[
Major wins: World road race championship de France, Hinault is stocky and
1980; Tour de France 1978–9, 1981–2, outspoken, ready with a smile or a
1985, 28 stage wins; Giro d’Italia 1980, glare, aggressive on his bike and off
1982, 1985, six stage wins; Vuelta a it, most famously taking on a bunch
España 1978, 1983, seven stage wins; of striking dockers who stopped the
Paris–Roubaix 1981; Giro di Lombardia ! 8IZQ[·6QKMZIKM0M_I[VW\
1984; Liège–Bastogne–Liège 1977, 1980; beyond throwing the odd punch
Ghent–Wevelgem 1977, Flèche Wallonne in retirement, notably during
1979, 1983; Amstel Gold Race, 1981; \PM <W]ZLM.ZIVKM_PMV
GP des Nations 1977–9, 1982 a demonstrator rushed on to the
Nickname: the Badger winner’s podium at Nantes and the
Further reading: Memories of the Peloton, “Badger” gave no quarter. The clip
trans. Noel Henderson, 1989 is now a YouTube classic. Hinault
said that one of his main reasons for
,]ZQVO\PM!!TOUR DE FRANCE, going to school was that there might
aW]KW]TLJ]aÆ]NNaJILOMZ\Wa[ JMIÅOP\WV\PM_Ia\PMZM
_Q\PIXQK\]ZMWN \PMÅ^M\QUM<W]Z As a pro cyclist he was legendary
winner, nicknamed Le Blaireau (the as a boss or patron who would make
Badger), on sale for charity. It was a the bunch race his way or suffer
bizarre bit of marketing, as in real life for their impudence. “Sometimes
Hinault was anything but cuddly: he he would attack and the peloton
remains one of the most combative would string out into a long line.
cycling champions ever, earning Then he would sit up and start
his NICKNAME, as he said himself, laughing, mocking us. He had a
“because a badger is a devil of an god-like aura, but I didn’t like him,”
animal to deal with in a tight corner.” ZMKITTML\PMKaKTQ[\\]ZVMLRW]ZVITQ[\
It was also, he said on another Paul Kimmage. ROBERT MILLAR
occasion, because when wounded, said he was so fearsome that the
v 188

H o bb y H o rse
V]UJMZ[PW]TLJM\I\\WWMLWV Bastogne–Liège in a snowstorm

PQ[NWZMPMIL1V! PI^QVOTW[\ \PI\NWZKMLUW[\WN \PMÅMTL\W
the Tour to LAURENT FIGNON, he ZM\QZMQV! 0MZWLM_Q\PJIZM
took out a full-page advertisement TMO[IVLMVLML]X_Q\PÅVOMZ[\PI\
in L’Equipe, proclaiming: “I shall remained numb for three weeks
be back next year. The badger has IN\MZ_IZL0MIT[WKZ][PML\PMÅMTL
claws and intends to use them.” QV\PM! _WZTLKPIUXQWV[PQX
True to his word he returned to win to prove a point after quitting that
IÅN\P<W]ZQV! aMIZ¼[<W]Z_Q\PISVMMQVR]Za<PI\
Together with his La Vie Claire was a devastating race: a series of
teammate GREG LEMOND he searing attacks on the Domancy hill
produced one of the greatest Tours I\;ITTIVKPM[\PI\TMN\\PMÅMTLQV
M^MZ_PMVPMÅVQ[PML[MKWVLQV tatters. The Badger’s retirement was
! IN\MZ\PZMM_MMS[_PMV\PMQZ typical: he had always said he would
RIVALRY turned the event into a Y]Q\I\[WPMWZOIVQbMLIKaKTW
hotbed of intrigue and mindgames. cross race in his village in Brittany
His greatest wins came in the face of Å^MLIa[JMNWZMPQ[JQZ\PLIaÅVQ[PML
IL^MZ[Q\aJMQ\\PMKZI[PQV\PM! \PQVNZWV\WN IKZW_LWN
Tour that left him with two black and never raced again. He worked
eyes and a broken nose or the ding- for the Tour de France organizers
dong battle with Joop Zoetemelk in NZWU! !WV_IZL[IVLZMUIQV[I
\PM!!ZIKM\PI\MVLML_Q\P\PM pungent commentator on cycling,
XIQZ[XZQV\QVOW]\\PMÅVQ[P\WOM\PMZ UW[\VW\IJTaQV!_PMVPM
on the Champs-Elysées. had a media spat with LANCE
His greatest victory, perhaps, ARMSTRONG.
was when he dominated Liège–
HOBBY HORSE Early bicycle with no pedals, powered by the rider

pushing his feet against the ground, also known as the DRAISIENNE.
See that entry for more details.
v 189

Holland
HOLLAND The only European QHWZRUNRIWUDIÀFIUHHF\FOH

country where a conscious, paths, many of them two-way,
long-term nationwide effort has ZLWKMXQFWLRQVDWPRWRUWUDIÀF
been made to promote cycling roads specially designed for cycle
as transport. It has 19,000 safety, including underpasses
kilometers of bike lanes; nearly and bridges and clearly marked
85 percent of the population own areas where cyclists can wait
at least one bike, and there are DWWUDIÀFOLJKWVLQIURQWRIFDUV
estimated to be 16 million bikes The aim, said one cycling policy
in the country. Cycling has been paper, was to ensure that “all
made such an attractive option WUDIÀFSDUWLFLSDQWVPXVWKDYH
that in one town, Groningen, equal rights.”
57 percent of all journeys are Groningen offers a detailed
made by bike and virtually all view of what can be done.
the children cycle to school, some Proactive cycling policies began
travelling up to 20 km. in 1969: over the years, car
The Dutch did not implement access to the city center has been
a national cycling policy until restricted, initially in the face of
1990, but as early as the 1970s opposition from businesspeople
there had been an increasing DQGVKRSNHHSHUV7KURXJKWUDIÀF
awareness that unrestrained was removed from the center,
road building to accommodate and cars directed to parking lots.
HYHUJURZLQJFDUWUDIÀFZDV
not possible; there wasn’t
enough space in this densely AMUSING
populated country. Beginning DUTCH FACTOID
in 1974 the cycle route network
was massively expanded, with Cycle racing was banned on
investment of some $230 million; Sundays until the 1950s.
from 1990 all major cities had to
implement plans for increased 4
cycle use. The result is a massive
v 190

Horses
and carriers; there are 15 at

YDULRXVVFKRROV$WWUDIÀFOLJKWV
KHDY\ÁRZVRIF\FOLVWVZHUH
given priority. Investment in
F\FOHVSHFLÀFIDFLOLWLHVEHWZHHQ
1989 and 2000 was some 23
million euros, with cycle-friendly
facilities also forming part of
other investment programs.
Policy documents available
through the Dutch cycling
information service make it
clear that this has only been
achieved by sustained long-term
By 2000 a huge network of cycle investment over several decades,
lanes had been built (equivalent with every planning decision
to perhaps 60 percent of the taking into account how people
major roads); from 1980 secure, are going to travel and how they
supervised cycle storage facilities can best be accommodated. Food
were provided, roughly one a for thought as cities grapple with
year. These provide lockers, congestion and climate change.
repair facilities, rent racks,
HORSES Contests between $350 beating a bike over 49 miles

cyclists and horses were popular through Colorado, while the New
in the US in the pioneering days York Times published a lengthy
of bike racing. The Lordsburg report in 1888 of a SIX-DAY RACE
Liberal from 1888 tells of “an in Madison Square Garden
ugly but tough” horse that cost between men and horses, using
v 191

Horses
an earth track for the horses Horse contest took place between
outside a boarded bike track. 1985 and 1994 in the Mid-
The match pitted long-distance Wales town of Llanwrtyd Wells,
horse rider Charles M. Anderson which hosts various bizarre
against two cyclists, Irish events including the world bog-
champion William Woodside snorkelling championship. The
and Pennsylvania champion Man v. Horse marathon was
John Brooks; Anderson had for runners, mountain bikes,
20 horses and could change at and horses over an insanely
will, while the cyclists rode for mountainous 22-mile course that
an hour each. Racing was from included a forest section, where
1 PM to 1 AM, to the sound of a the cyclists had to crawl through
regimental band playing tunes GHHSPXGXQGHUQHDWKÀUWUHH
from The Mikado. The winner is branches that came down to a
not recorded. couple of feet above the track. It
Occasionally during the 20th was sponsored by bookmakers
century cyclists raced horses William Hill, who invited bets
purely as stunts, including on whether two legs could beat
Italian CAMPIONISSIMO IRXU7KHÀUVWELNHURUUXQQHU
Costante Girardengo, Rik to best the quadrupeds was
Van Steenbergen of Belgium, mountain-bike legend Tim Gould
and Italian climber Claudio of Yorkshire, who earned £5,000
Chiappucci. There was also in 1989 for beating a horse called
speculation about a match the Doid. Gould was helped a
between Mario Cipollini and little when the organizers ruled
a stallion named Varenne, that vets’ checks on the horses
although it seemed that Cipo’s had to be included in their times.
interest in the contest was partly Tougher regulations over
to invite comparison between his racing mountain bikes on
sexual exploits and those of the bridleways mean that the race is
stallion. (See SEX.) now restricted to runners against
The longest-standing Man v. horses.
v 192

Hour Record
HOUR RECORD Another RIWKHÀUVWELNHUDFHVLQWKHODWH

LQÁXHQWLDOLQQRYDWLRQIURPWKH 1860s. He covered 23 km on an
mind of TOUR DE FRANCE founder old ordinary in Wolverhampton
HENRI DESGRANGE, cycling’s Blue in 1873, but there was no world
Riband withstood the test of time governing body to recognize
almost as well as the Tour, but the feat. Desgrange, riding on
after more than a century it was the Buffalo track in Paris 20
eventually rendered meaningless \HDUVODWHUVHWWKHÀUVWRIÀFLDOO\
E\RIÀFLDOLQWHUIHUHQFH sanctioned distance, then retired
Whereas the Tour de France to work as a journalist. What
created its mystique by making he left cycling was an absolute
its participants into supermen measure of what men could
ZLWKGHHGVWKDWGHÀHGPRVW achieve on two wheels with the
people, the Hour is simplicity means available to them at a
itself: how far can you go in 60 certain time.
minutes? And while the Tour 7KHÀUVWJUHDW+RXUGXHO
men performed away from public lasted seven years. Just before
gaze, mediated by journalists the First World War the Swiss
and television—even if you see Oscar Egg and the Frenchman
the Tour today on the road, it’s Marcel Berthet between them
RQO\DÁHHWLQJJOLPSVH³WKH put 2.7 km on the distance.
Hour has always been a public Egg eventually took the record
display of just what a man can over 44 km, a distance that
physically achieve. Circling stood for 19 years. When it was
a velodrome for 60 minutes eventually beaten, the Swiss
against a schedule, any show of demanded that the track in
weakness is instantly visible: Holland used by Jan Van Hout
if an Hour contender has to be remeasured. Initially it was
give up, that means public ruled that Van Hout’s record was
humiliation. short, then it was decided that
7KHÀUVWPDQWRDWWHPSWWKH the measurement had been done
feat was JAMES MOORE, winner too low down the track, and the
v 193

Hour Record
record stood. light as possible. His handlebars

The distance set by FAUSTO had 48 drill holes, 95 g were
COPPI in 1942 is legendary less saved by drilling every slot in
for the distance than for another the chain, and his bike maker
spat over measuring, with Ernesto Colnago made specially
the previous holder Maurice light tubular tires (70 g) and
Archambaud, and the fact that used titanium for spokes, stem,
Coppi was racing in extreme and bars. Merckx also attempted
conditions, with Milan under to replicate the high altitude of
British bombardment. The Mexico by training in a mask
attempt was timed for the early so that he breathed in air with
afternoon, as the bombers tended reduced oxygen content as he
not to attack during factory trained.
lunchbreaks.
After Coppi, the Hour became
obligatory for any great: JACQUES Athlete’s Hour Record:
ANQUETIL succeeded in breaking 2000 CHRIS BOARDMAN Manchester 49.441 km
the record twice, but his second 2005 Ondrej Sosenka Moscow 49.700 km
attempt was not recognized,
as he refused to undergo drug
testing. EDDY MERCKX set what However, his approach was
ZDVYLHZHGDVDGHÀQLWLYH positively primitive compared
distance in Mexico City in 1972. with FRANCESCO MOSER 12
He virtually had to be lifted off years later. The Italian and
his bike afterward, and swore he his 50-strong backup team
would never attempt the record paid meticulous attention to
again because he had suffered so AERODYNAMICS and diet, and
much for his 49.431 km. the outcome was that Merckx’s
Merckx had used what was record was smashed not once,
then cutting-edge technology, but twice in a few days. That
UHÁHFWLQJWKHLGHDWKDWZKDW feat led to aerodynamic aids
mattered was making the bike as VXFKDVORZSURÀOHELNHVGLVF
v 194

Hour Record
wheels, and teardrop-shaped a machine at the limit of what

helmets becoming widely was permitted at the time.
accepted. ´,GLGRQHPLQXWHÁDWIRUWKH
7KHÀQDODQGSHUKDSVÀQHVW last kilometer which is about
ÁXUU\RIDFWLYLW\FDPHEHWZHHQ a second off the world record,”
1993 and 1996 when GRAEME recalled Boardman. “That is how
OBREE and CHRIS BOARDMAN good I felt.”
pushed the boundaries of But the Hour’s time was up.
aerodynamics and technology Cycling’s governing body, the UCI,
still further. Obree’s radical had been concerned by Obree’s
tuck position proved that new innovations and by Boardman’s
thinking was possible in cycling, use of the radical Lotus bike (see
while Boardman—and his coach MIKE BURROWS for more on that
3HWHU.HHQ³WRRNWKHVFLHQWLÀF machine) and felt that technology
approach that was a foretaste was beginning to detract from the
of the British Olympic team’s human side of cycling: the bikes
philosophy a few years later. were becoming more important
That it took two of the best road than the men on them.
racers of the 1990s, MIGUEL Their answer was to have
INDURAIN and his understudy two records. Any technology
Tony Rominger, to wrest the was acceptable in setting the
record from the two Britons Best Hour Performance, while
spoke volumes about their gear similar to that used by
achievements. Merckx was obligatory for the
The Hour that stands above Athlete’s Hour. Boardman’s
all the rest was also the record’s ÀQDOIHDWEHIRUHUHWLUHPHQWZDV
last 60 minutes: Boardman’s to break, narrowly, Merckx’s
56.375 km, set in Manchester distance, but the next beating of
after the 1996 Olympics the hour, by the Russian Ondrej
using Obree’s stretched out Sosenka, barely made headlines.
“Superman” position. Here Meanwhile, the legal niceties of
was a man in perfect form on what equipment could and could
v 195

Hour Record
not be used—there was debate Further reading/viewing: The Hour:

over pulse monitors and cycle Sporting Immortality the Hard Way,
computers, for example—made Michael Hutchinson, Yellow Jersey, 2006;
future hour attempts akin to DVD: The Final Hour
tiptoeing through a bureaucratic
PLQHÀHOG
v 196

Hoy, Sir Chris
HOY, Sir Chris KPIUXQWV[PQXQV!!0Wa¼[KIZMMZ

was transformed when national
Born: Edinburgh, Scotland, March 23, 1976 lottery funding arrived in British
Major wins: Olympic gold sprint, team KaKTQVOQV!!#PM_I[WVMWN \PM
sprint, kilometer 2008; Olympic gold MIZTaJMVMÅKQIZQM[WN \PM?WZTL
kilometer 2004; Olympic silver team Class Performance Plan put together
sprint 2000; world champion sprint 2008, by CHRIS BOARDMAN’s trainer Peter
Keirin 2007–8; kilometer 2002, 2004, Keen.
2006, 2007, team sprint 2002, 2005; Together with Jason Queally
Commonwealth champion, kilometer, and Craig Maclean, he made the
2002, team sprint 2006; MBE 2004; initial breakthrough with a silver
knighted 2008 UMLITQV\PM\MIU[XZQV\I\\PM!!!
Nickname: the Real McHoy world championship in Berlin. The
Further reading: Heroes, Villains and Sydney Olympic Games a year later
Velodromes, Richard Moore, Harpersport, saw Queally take kilometer gold
2008; Chris Hoy, the Autobiography, Chris while Hoy, Queally, and Maclean
Hoy, Harper Collins UK, 2010 raced to silver in the team sprint.
0Wa¼[JZMIS\PZW]OPaMIZ_I[
The greatest cycling Olympian with gold medals in the kilometer
GREAT BRITAIN has produced, and team sprint at the world
winner of three Olympic gold KPIUXQWV[PQX1VPM\WWS
UMLIT[I\\PM*MQRQVO/IUM[QV the kilometer gold at the Athens
IVL\PMÅZ[\KaKTQ[\\WJM Games, only for the UCI to drop the
elected BBC Sports Personality event from the Olympic program.
of the Year since TOM SIMPSON in Even so, Hoy then added a further
!0WaJMOIVPQ[KaKTQVOTQNMI[ six world titles in the next three
IR]^MVQTMBMX star and moved to years, including the world sprint
mountain-biking and road racing championship in Manchester in
before becoming a track racer 6W*ZQ\WVPIL_WV\PM\Q\TM
at the Meadowbank velodrome since REG HARRISQV!
in Edinburgh, taking a silver 1V0Wa\ZI^MTML\W\PM
UMLITQV\PM*ZQ\Q[PR]VQWZ[XZQV\ Bolivian capital, La Paz, to attack
v 197

Hoy, Sir Chris
the Frenchman Arnaud Tournant’s fastest time ever recorded for the
standing start kilometer record. The three-man, three-lap effort, which
Scot was warned before he rode that broke the spirit of their main rivals,
there was a risk he might collapse the French and Australians. The
afterward with pulmonary edema, ÅVIT_I[INWZUITQ\a#I[_I[0Wa¼[
IJ]QTL]XWN Æ]QLWV\PMT]VO[ title in the KEIRIN the following
Oxygen canisters and an oxygen- day. From the previous year’s world
ÅTTMLJWLaJIO_MZMWV[\IVLJa championship in Palma, Mallorca,
The velodrome there is poorly he had developed his own style,
maintained: the surface is bumpy attacking early and relying on his
and before Hoy made his bid, the strength to keep him ahead of the
waist-high grass in the track center opposition. The silver medal went to
had to be cut with scythes. another Scot, Ross Edgar, on a day
Hoy’s attempt cost tens of when Great Britain landed seven
\PW][IVL[WN XW]VL[¸PMUILM medals.
no money out of it for himself, The third event was the most
the sponsorship cash all went into prestigious of the series, the match
TWOQ[\QK[¸\WWSIaMIZ¼[XTIVVQVO [XZQV\IVLQV\PMÅVIT0Wa_I[
and ended in relative failure when pitted against Kenny, who was
he failed, twice, to beat Tournant’s no match for the older man. On
\QUMNITTQVO[PWZ\JaR][\ taking gold number three the Scot
seconds on his second attempt. collapsed into the arms of his
;UI[PQVO\PMUZMKWZL_I[ father, David, and dissolved into
meager compensation, but record- tears prompting the headline: “The
breaking is an unforgiving business. Great Bawl of China.” “We try to
*MQRQVO_I[\PMKTQUI`WN PQ[ act like robots, to keep our emotions
career, however. The gold rush capped throughout the whole
began on day one with a blistering process. That’s why it all came out
team sprint together with Jamie afterwards,” Hoy later explained.
Staff and the virtually unknown Hoy is outwardly mild-mannered
Jason Kenny. The trio recorded and genial, but inside he is a driven
![MKWVL[QVY]ITQNaQVO\PM UIV¹*W\\WUTQVMPM¼[[MTÅ[Pº
v 198

Human Powered Vehicles
said performance manager Shane can be intimidating. “There’s a

Sutton. “He’s a gentle giant with myth that sports people are very
the big Mike Tyson neck. He’s [MTNKWVÅLMV\J]\1¼L[IaIPQOPXMZ
a trainoholic: he loves getting centage are wracked with self-doubt.
up, going to work and leaving Ten minutes before the start you’d
everything on the track.” Hoy rather be anywhere else.” Hoy wrote
worked with the team psychiatrist his MEMOIRSQV!IVLI[\PM
Steve Peters in the buildup to the London Games hove into view, he
Athens Olympics to overcome his was hinting that his best days might
VMZ^M[¸\PMSQTWUM\MZQ[I_IQ\QVO be yet to come.
game, when you have to watch (SEE ALSO TRACK RACING, OLYMPIC
the opposition performing which GAMES)
HUMAN POWERED VEHICLES The International Human Powered

Vehicle Assocation was founded in California in 1975. HPVs are in
essence any cycle with aerodynamic parts that fall outside UCI rules.
These can include conventional diamond-frame bikes with fairings to
enhance AERODYNAMICS, or RECUMBENT machines that offer a lower
SURÀOH7KHHPV HOUR RECORD is 87.123 km, set in 2008; compared
with the conventional bike record of 49.7 km, the speed advantage
speaks for itself.
v 199

I
INDOOR CYCLING Umbrella and BERNARD HINAULT wore their
term for two disciplines in hearts on their sleeves and FAUSTO
which the UCI recognizes world COPPI and JACQUES ANQUETIL
championships: cycle ball and made headlines with scandal in
DUWLVWLFF\FOLQJ7KHÀUVWLVVLPLODU their private lives, “Big Mig” was
to soccer, with the cycle wheels famously impenetrable, verging
used to kick the ball; the second is on the boring. However, he was
a form of bicycle gymnastics using not without his wry side, as the
specially made low-gear cycles. )UMZQKIVRW]ZVITQ[\,IV+WaTM
depicted in the book Tour de
INDURAIN, Miguel Force. Indurain is shown a
\QUM\ZQITJQSMLM^MTWXML
Born: Villava, Spain, July 16, 1964 QV[MKZM\JaI\MIUWN \MKPVQKQIV[#
Major wins: Olympic time trial champion asked what he thinks of it, he
1996; world time trial champion 1995; replies, “Very good, but don’t forget
Tour de France 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, about the legs.”
1995, 12 stage wins; Giro d’Italia 1992, The suspicion lingered that
1993, four stage wins; San Sebastian anyone who delved behind a façade
Classic 1990; world hour record 1994 consisting of a shy grin, understated
Nicknames: Big Mig humor, and banal statements of the
Interests outside cycling: tractor repair, WJ^QW][_W]TLÅVL\PMZM_I[VW\
reading, sleeping a great deal hidden underneath,
other than the fact that Miguel was
While other TOUR DE FRANCE a dab hand at tractor maintenance
greats such as LANCE ARMSTRONG and was sadly missed on his family’s
v 200

Indurain, Miguel
farm when he was away racing. One shoulders, he was seen riding over
;XIVQ[P[XWZ\[RW]ZVITQ[\KWUXTIQVML the Mont Ventoux in the Tour at
that “Twenty years from now, the UXP_Q\PPQ[\MIUUIVIOMZ[
woman of his life will not know who pleading with him to slow down for
she has spent her life with.” PQ[W_VOWWL#\PI\aMIZPMX]\QV\PM
Indurain’s cycling career began LMÅVQ\Q^MUW]V\IQVXMZNWZUIVKM
with the tractor: one day as a child of his career, burning off all the
PMZWLM\W\PMÅMTL[\WXTIaWV\PM climbers such as MARCO PANTANI
machine and had his bike stolen at Hautacam in the Pyrenées. He
by a pair of tramps. To console also broke the HOUR RECORD at
PQUPM_I[OQ^MVPQ[ÅZ[\ZIKQVO the end of that year. A pragmatic,
JQSMJMKWUQVOIÅVM[XZQV\MZI[ gentle giant, he dominated the Tour
a teenager. Slimmed down from because his fellow cyclists liked him
his amateur days but still weighing as well as fearing the power in his
QVI\ XW]VL[1VL]ZIQVKW]TL legs. “I pray to Saint Michael every
PI^M_WV\PM!!<W]ZPILPM time I want to stop for a pee,” said
not been told to assist his team ROBERT MILLAR, implying that if
leader Pedro Delgado at a critical Indurain decided to attack he might
moment. As it was, he dominated be in serious trouble.
\PM<W]ZLM.ZIVKMNZWU!!\W 1VL]ZIQVNIKMLWVMUIRWZKZQ[Q[QV
!!\ISQVOI¹LW]JTMWN LW]JTM[º PQ[Å^M^QK\WZQW][<W]Z[_PMV\PM
QV!!IVL!!QV\PM/QZWIVL ONCE team put him under massive
<W]ZIVLJMKWUQVOJZQMÆa;XIQV¼[ XZM[[]ZMQVI!!<W]Z[\IOM
most popular sportsman, named through the Massif Central to the
\PMKW]V\Za¼[I\PTM\MWN \PM\P \W_VWN 5MVLM#*QO5QO¼[*IVM[\W
KMV\]Za"\PM^QK\WZa\PI\LMÅVMLPQ[ team cracked but he had given out
career was in the Luxembourg time so many favors in the previous four
\ZQITQV\PM!!<W]Z\PI\GREG Tours that virtually every team in the
LEMOND described as “from another race was willing to help in the chase.
planet.” For the next three years, he Indurain was said to have lost his
was totally dominant in the event. temper while racing only four or
1V!!NWZITTPQ[UI[[Q^M Å^M\QUM[WVKMMVZW]\M\WLMNMI\
v 201

I r el a n d
QV\PM!!<W]Z0Q[QUXTIKIJTM ZM\QZMLQV2IV]IZa!!MUJQ\\MZML
good nature meant he remained at his team after they pushed him
immune to stress as the Tour grew \W[\IZ\\PM!!<W]ZWN ;XIQV
QV[QbM\PZW]OP\PM!!["PQ[ITUW[\ against his will, and now lives near
M`KT][Q^MNWK][WV\PMZIKM¸PM][ML the family home in Villava, a suburb
\PM/QZWM[[MV\QITTaI[XZMXIZI\QWV¸ of the northern Spanish city of
contributed to the Tour’s Pamplona. His brother Prudencio
transformation into the dominant IT[WZIKMLJZQMÆaI[IXZW
event in the cycling calendar. He (SEE ALSO SPAIN)
IRELAND A “small” cycling national identity. Even so, TIME

nation that has consistently TRIALLING, British style, went
punched above its weight on, but with one important
DQGKDVSURGXFHGDÀQH difference: the Irish could wear
array of international stars shorts rather than black alpaca
in spite of over half a century tights. That meant they could
RISROLWLFDOFRQÁLFWEHWZHHQ go faster, and the outcome
various governing bodies. More was that the key time-trialling
VLJQLÀFDQWO\SHUKDSV,UHODQG barrier for the English, 25 miles
was where the pneumatic tire LQVLGHDQKRXUZDVDFWXDOO\ÀUVW
was patented by John Boyd broken in Ireland in 1934, when
'XQORSDQGWKHÀUVWELNHXVLQJ Alo Donegan rode 59 minutes
those tires was advertised by 5 seconds; four years later, the
one Will Edlin, of Dunlop’s home Englishman George Fleming
city, Belfast. visited Ireland to push the record
Ireland had an early star in down to 57 minutes 56 seconds.
Harry Reynolds, world amateur 5HÁHFWLQJWKHSROLWLFVRIWKH
sprint champion in 1896. Then island, Irish cycling was split
it lay fallow as cycling became between those who wanted it
ERXQGXSLQWKHFRQÁLFWRYHU united, north and south, and
v 202

I r el a n d
those who didn’t. The dispute led Cookstown there was a riot
to violent scenes such as those involving a unionist crowd and
in 1956 at the RÁS—an eight-day police, and one rider was badly
stage race which remains the beaten.
linchpin of the calendar—when There were also incidents at
an Irish tricolor was carried over the 1955 world championship
the border to Northern Ireland and the 1972 Olympic Games,
on the race lead car. The Irish ZKHUHWKHUHZHUHÀJKWVEHWZHHQ
ÁDJZDVEDQQHGLQWKH1RUWK rival Irish teams.
so when police tried to remove Amid all this, Ireland’s
WKHÁDJWKHUHZDVDIUDFDVDQG pioneer emerged: in 1954 Shay
the stage was abandoned. As Elliott, a quiet lad from Dublin,
WKHULGHUVF\FOHGWRWKHÀQLVK won a mountain stage in the
Republican songs were sung and Route de France amateur race;
one rider tried to remove a Union the following season he raced
Jack from a telegraph pole. In for ACBB in Paris (see FOREIGN
Irish Cycle Racing at a Glance

=
Biggest race: The Rás
Legendary racing hill: St Patrick’s Hill, Cork
Biggest star: Sean Kelly
First Tour stage win: Shay Elliott, Roubaix, 1961
Tour overall wins to 2010: Stephen Roche, 1987
Further reading/viewing: Sean Kelly: A Man For All Seasons, David Walsh, Grafton, 1986;
Rough Ride: Behind the Wheel with a Pro Cyclist, Paul Kimmage, Random House UK, 2007;
The Foreign Legion, Rupert Guinness, Springfield, 1993; The Rás: the Story of Ireland’s Unique
Stage Race, Tom Daly, Collins Press, 2003; DVD: Cycle of Betrayal (Shay Elliott’s story)
v 203

I r el a n d
LEGION for other stars to come ROCHE joining him in taking

through this club) and in 1956 the sport to new heights in the
he turned professional, at a time 1980s, when between them the
when racers from outside the pair won all three major Tours,
European heartland were truly the world championships, and
the exception. a welter of stage races and
Elliott took groundbreaking Classics, with Kelly ranked
wins in the Het Volk CLASSIC world number one for six years.
and stages in the Giro, Tour, That decade also saw the
and VUELTA A ESPAÑA, as well foundation of the around-Ireland
DVEHFRPLQJWKHÀUVW,ULVKPDQ Nissan Classic stage race and
to lead the Tour and the Vuelta. produced other professionals:
He also took a silver medal Martin Earley, who enjoyed a
in the 1962 world road race solid career as a domestique,
championship, but by the late Roche’s brother Laurence, and
1960s his career was on the Paul Kimmage, who went on to a
slide. His marriage failed, as controversial career as an award-
did a hotel he owned; he winning journalist.
returned to Ireland but never After Kelly and Roche retired,
truly put his life back on the the Nissan ended and Irish
rails and in 1971 he committed cycling reverted to what it had
suicide. He is remembered been: based around the Rás, with
with a MEMORIAL on the pass occasional star performances at
of Glenmalure in the Wicklow international level. The 1998
Hills, and a road race is world junior champion Mark
organized annually in his honor. Scanlon never quite made it, but
The political rumblings the foundation of an Irish cycling
continued, and it took six years academy in 2005, and a second
for Elliott’s successor to emerge: division pro team—both with
the arrival of SEAN KELLY in Kelly’s support—provided an
pro cycling began a golden era injection of energy.
for Irish cycling, with STEPHEN Most promisingly of all, in
v 204

Italy
²WKHVSRUWZDVXQLÀHG his nephew Daniel Martin, and

IRUWKHÀUVWWLPHWKDQNVWRWKH Philip Deignan, who won a stage
process of political reconciliation in the 2009 Vuelta.
in the North. A professional Tour Ireland has given cycling the
of Ireland emerged again, with pneumatic tire, PHIL LIGGETT’S
LANCE ARMSTRONG among the most memorable quote (“It’s
ÀHOGDQGWKDW\HDUVDZ Roche, it’s Stephen Roche”), and
three promising young riders too many convivial evenings
on the pro circuit: Roche’s son to count on the Nissan Classic
Nicolas—who came close to and Rás.
winning a stage in the Tour—
ITALY Cycle racing began early and DOLOMITESGLGQRWÀJXUH

LQ,WDO\ZLWKWKHÀUVWHYHQW until the 1930s—whereas in
recorded in Padua in 1869. France HENRI DESGRANGE sought
Firenze–Pistoia, the oldest cycle to make his Tour as tough as
race still run, began in 1870, possible.
Milan–Turin in 1876. The GIRO Italian cycling developed its
D’ITALIA was founded in 1909 but own way of thinking, focused
WKHUHZDVQRQHRIWKHFRQÁLFW heavily on the campione or
with the bike manufacturers CAMPIONISSIMO, with teams
that resulted in tension at the constructed around helping
TOUR DE FRANCE. Instead, the the star. For example, just
organizers welcomed the bike four riders—Binda, Costante
makers’ teams, who in turn liked Girardengo, Gaetano Belloni,
an easier course that would and Giovanni Brunero—won
result in more predictable racing, virtually every major race
one result being ALFREDO BINDA’s in the 1920s, and that set a
outrageous dominance. The ALPS pattern that lasted until the
v 205

Italy
21st century, when campioni

regularly fell foul of antidoping
rules. The small number of stars
set the stage for the RIVALRIES
that marked Italian cycling—
some real, many blown up by
the press—while making cycling
easy to read for the public.
Desgrange’s decision to move
to national teams prompted more
of the campioni to appear in the
Tour, with GINO BARTALI taking a
dominant win in the 1938 edition
with the backing of Mussolini’s
fascist regime, which pulled
strings to make sure he did not
waste his strength racing that
year’s Giro.
Italian Cycle Racing at a Glance

=
Biggest race: Milan–San Remo
Legendary racing hill: Stelvio or Poggio
Biggest star: Fausto. Or is it Gino?
First Tour stage win: Vincenzo Borgarello, Perpignan, 1912
Tour overall wins to 2009: 9
Italy has given cycling: Campagnolo, Coppi, the campione concept, team racing, rivalries,
the tifosi, polemica, but one thing above all else: passion
v 206

Italy
Great Italian Cycling Manufacturers:

Where They Live and the Bits They Make
=
Campagnolo: Vicenza. See separate section on Colnago: Cambiago, near Milan. Established
the iconic component maker. in 1954 by Ernesto Colnago, with its emblem a
clover leaf. Colnago made the super-light bike
Pinarello: Treviso. Founded 1952, Italy’s most
used by EDDY MERCKX to break the HOUR RECORD
successful frame maker of recent years, winning
in 1972 and Giuseppe Saronni’s world-title-
Tour de France nine times since 1988, notably
winning bike in 1982, and was a partner to the
with MIGUEL INDURAIN from 1991–5. Sponsors
Mapei team in the 1990s. Made the first front
British Team Sky in 2010. Iconic machines:
fork with straight blades, the Precisa in 1982.
Montello SLX used by Alexi Grewal to win 1984
Now sources some of its bikes in Taiwan. Iconic
Olympic road race, made with Columbus steel
designs: Master, C-40.
tubing rifled inside for strength; initials GPT
(Giovanni Pinarello, Treviso) stamped in various De Rosa: Cusano Milanino, near Milan. Founded
places. Paris, aluminium frame with carbon front mid-1950s by Ugo de Rosa; a small concern that
and rear forks used by Jan Ullrich to win 1997 began making bikes for Eddy Merckx in the late
Tour. 1960s and later became official supplier to his
Molteni team. Later, De Rosa advised Merckx
Cinelli: Milan. Component maker established
when he started his own bike factory. Other stars
in 1948 by Cino Cinelli, a pro who won the 1943
to ride De Rosa include Francesco Moser, Moreno
Milan–San Remo, and passed to the Columbus
Argentin. Iconic design: Titanio, ridden by Gewiss
owners in 1978; emblem is a winged C. Cino
in 1994.
set out making bars and stems with his brother
Giotto, but the company produced a limited Bianchi: Treviglio, east of Milan. The oldest
number of frames in the 1970s, including an surviving bike-making company in the world,
aerodynamic machine for Ole Ritter’s HOUR founded 1885 by Edoardo Bianchi, now owned
RECORD attempt of 1974, and still makes bikes by CycleEurope conglomerate. Logo is a
in the green-white-red of the Italian flag. Iconic crowned eagle. Its reputation is forged by links
products: Cork bicycle ribbon (1987); Spinaci with Fausto Coppi, Felice Gimondi, and Marco
handlebar extensions (1996). Pantani. Still makes some 15,000 high-end bikes
v 207

Italy
annually, 60–70 percent painted in the light blue aluminium and carbon tubes. Iconic products:
associated with Coppi. Iconic products: 1953 SLX, internally rifled tubing made in the 1980s;
world championship winning machine ridden by Max framesets, the first with variable sizing for
Coppi, celeste blue on chrome, early Campagnolo increased strength, from 1987.
Gran Sport 10-speed gears; handlebar mounted
Gios: Turin. Frame maker founded in 1948,
bottle cage with a spring to hold the bottle in.
best known for supplying bikes in bright blue
Columbus: Milan. Founded early in 20th century for the Brooklyn team led by ROGER DE VLAEMINCK
as general producer of metal tubing, whose in the early 1970s. Head badge features the
products also include tubular furniture, boiler Italian tricolor. Iconic machine is the original
tubes, ski sticks, and car chassis under the 1973 Brooklyn team bike in Columbus SL with
name Gilco (used by Ferrari and Maserati); made chromed forks.
its first cycle tubing in 1931; now also makes
The years after the Second WKHEHVWZULWLQJDQGÀOPPDNLQJ

World War were key for Italian has been about the Tour itself
cycling with the rivalry between whereas in Italy it is Coppi’s
Bartali and FAUSTO COPPI story that has given rise to
giving the sport a central place QRYHOVÀOPVRSHUDVSOD\VDQG
in the nation’s cultural fabric eternal controversy.
that is only matched in France, The Italian cycle industry
or in smaller heartlands such developed in the duo’s wake and
as FLANDERS or the Basque remains strong in the north of
Country. While in France the WKHFRXQWU\ÀHUFHQDWLRQDOSULGH
focus is an event, the Tour, meant that in the 1980s, when
in Italy the two stars are the imports were making a huge
reference point for Italian impact on the industry across
cycling. No surprise then that Europe, Italian manufacturers
Coppi was elected the most such as CAMPAGNOLO were
popular Italian sportsman of the able to adapt to the new world.
20th century. In France, most of The tradition is expressed in
v 208

Italy
a company like Masi, still run FRANCESCO MOSER never lived

by Alberto, son of the founder up to them, and only MARCO
Faliero, who used to build frames PANTANI achieved anything like
for Fausto Coppi and who still their notoriety. Italian cycling
keeps the original jigs used to was at the center of affairs in
build bikes for the campionissimo another way, however, as the
in his shop next to the Vigorelli place where blood doping with
velodrome in Milan. EPO gained strength fastest in
Coppi and Bartali’s lasting the early 1990s, resulting in a
importance means that Italian VXGGHQÁRZHULQJRIVWDUVEHIRUH
cycling is often backward- the rest of the sport caught up.
looking, and that explains But a succession of campioni
its gradual move toward the were busted in Pantani’s
margins. All the stars since the wake—Ivan Basso, Danilo di
1950s have been compared to the Luca, Davide Rebellin, Riccardo
big two. Vittorio Adorni, Felice Ricco—and currently Italy is
Gimondi, Giuseppe Saronni, and looking for new heroes.
v 209

J
JOURNALISTS Cycling is cycling movement. Lesclide was
unique among sports in that its one, as were others such as S. S.
biggest and oldest events were McClure of The Wheelman in
founded and run by journalists. America. In France, the writer
This led to an unusually close Paul de Viviès, who wrote under
relationship between the written the name VELOCIO, founded the
press and bike racing, which “diagonals”—touring routes from
lasted over a century and has one corner of France to another—
only changed in recent years. and campaigned for the use of
7KHÀUVWSODFHWRSODFHF\FOH the derailleur (see Velocio’s entry
race, Paris–Rouen in 1868, was for his seven commandments of
founded by Richard Lesclide, cycling). The director of Le Petit
HGLWRURIWKHWKHÀUVWF\FOLQJ Journal, Albert Lejeune, was
magazine, Le Vélocipede Illustré. behind Paris–Nice, which has
PARIS–BREST–PARIS, the TOUR perhaps the most evocative name
DE FRANCE, and GIRO D’ITALIA in cycling: La Course au Soleil,
began during daily newspaper “the race to the sun.”
circulation wars by the sports While Robin Magowan
newspapers Le Vélo, l’Auto, and ZDVRQHRIWKHÀUVW$PHULFDQ
Gazzetta dello Sport respectively. journalists to cover the Tour de
The Het Volk Classic in Belgium France, in 1978 (his book on that
was run by the paper of that year’s race, Tour de France, the
name. 75th Anniversary Race, is now
Early writers were often out of print), Samuel Abt was
propagandists for the nascent WKHÀUVW86MRXUQDOLVWWRFRYHU
v 210

Journalists
the Tour regularly, producing edits the American magazine

dispatches for the Herald Velo News (which he founded
Tribune for over a quarter of together with Magowan’s son
a century. His books include Felix). Wilcockson, a former
In High Gear: The World of correspondent for the London
Professional Bicycle Racing; Times, has covered 40 Tours
Greg LeMond: The Incredible since the 1960s. Jacques
Comeback; and Off to the Races: Augendre of l’Equipe was the
25 Years of Cycling Journalism. ÀUVWZULWHUWRFRYHU7RXUV
$EWZDVWKHÀUVW$PHULFDQWR As the French writer Jacques
be awarded the Tour de France Marchand notes, the relationship
medal for long service on the between the press and the sport
race. Abt said that the main has changed in recent years. In
challenge he faced was that the days of l’Auto, journalists
he could not produce technical treaded carefully around the
writing, since a newspaper issue of doping since the small
audience does not have specialist number who covered cycling
knowledge of cycling, and were an integrated part of the
instead he had to write about sport: their papers ran races,
the people, the surroundings, they stayed with the cyclists, and
and the strategy of the race, if it they traveled with the teams.
could be “explained coherently.” Although few of them were
Rupert Guinness performed former professional cyclists—
a similar role in bringing the Louison Bobet’s brother Jean
sport to the Australian public by was an exception—but many
following PHIL ANDERSON, while had been keen amateurs. The
the British pioneer was J. B. sport was small in scale, and the
Wadley for the Daily Telegraph cyclists were accessible and open.
in the 1950s and 1960s. The As late as 1989, it was possible
doyen of the press pack in to turn up at a hotel the night
cycling these days is the British before the world championship
writer John Wilcockson, who and interview the Tour de
v 211

Journalists
France winner off-the-cuff. it doesn’t exist, but most admire

The rise of television in the the sport and hate doping and
1990s and the arrival of big have an honest desire to give
money in sports ended that close F\FOLVWVWKHEHQHÀWRIWKHGRXEW
rapport, which has been made unless charges are proven. There
LQÀQLWHO\PRUHFRPSOLFDWHGE\ are relatively few writers who
a decade of doping scandals, as actively campaign against doping:
the Times writer Jeremy Whittle the exceptions are l’Equipe’s
portrayed in his 2008 account of specialist Damien Ressiot, who
his career, Bad Blood. Cycling in August 2005 broke the news
journalists are now divided that EPO had been detected in
into specialists, who cover the urine samples given by LANCE
sport all season and have close ARMSTRONG during the 1999
relations with the teams, and Tour, and the London Sunday
the outsiders who turn up for the Times sportswriter David
Tour de France. The riders are Walsh, who has produced a
shielded by their agents and PR series of books detailing doping
men, at races they hide in vast allegations against Lance
buses, and they are mistrustful Armstrong, culminating in From
of the press because of its Lance to Landis: Inside the
coverage of drug scandals. American Doping Controversy at
Most writers today are divided the Tour de France (Ballantine
on the doping issue: some pretend Books, 2007).
v 212

K
KEIRIN Probably the richest a small motorbike with pedals to
form of cycle racing on the supplement the engine, known
planet, this Japanese discipline as a DERNY. In Japan the pacer
takes its name from the words who takes the sprinters up to
for wheel and bet. This is a paced launch speed is another cyclist.
track event in which a group of In Japan, the riders wear
QLQHVSULQWHUVDUHOHGXSWRÀQLVK motorbike helmets and body
speed before the pacer pulls off— padding, with racing gear in full
usually with two or two and a color depending on their rank.
half laps to go—so the sprinters They bow as they enter the
can launch themselves for the arena; the races typically are 2
line. It is the heart of a massive, kilometers, with a bell ringing
intricate betting industry that constantly from 1.5 laps to go.
is hugely popular in Japan. The The races are overseen by four
sport was launched there in 1948 judges, each one sitting in a
and is run by the Nihon Jitensha tower on one of the four corners.
6KLQNÚRNDL1DWLRQDO.HLULQ The most successful keirin
Association). winner ever is Koichi Nakano,
Keirin has been part of the who also won the professional
world track championships since world sprint championship from
1980, and an Olympic discipline 1977 to 1986.
since 2000, but with two subtle “The top Japanese riders drive
differences. In the international Ferraris and Lamborghinis and
DUHQDWKHÀHOGLVVL[ULGHUVSHU they’re shocked at how penniless
heat, and the pacing is done by we are,” Scotland’s Olympic
v 213

K ei ri n
medalist Craig MacLean told

author Richard Moore in Heroes, Keirin Figures*
Villains and Velodromes. The =
top-ranked Keirin Grand Prix
t QSPGFTTJPOBMSJEFST
is worth over $1 million. A
t FWFOUT
select group of foreigners—less
tWFMPESPNFT
than 10—race the circuit each tNJMMJPOTQFDUBUPST
year, but before competing they tCJMMJPOJOCFUUJOHSFWFOVF
have to attend keirin school
on a campus which has no less WITH THANKS TO RICHARD MOORE’S
HEROES, VILLAINS AND VELODROMES
than four velodromes. There,
the foreigners are fast-tracked
but the Japanese entrants have
to train and study for up to 15 All components must be
hours a day. Among the entry approved by the NJS. Riders are
criteria, new recruits must have responsible for their own bike
no Yakuza (i.e., organized crime) maintenance, which has to be
connections. done in silence.
As with sumo wrestling, The hierarchy among the
keirin rules are arcane, devised several thousand pros is
to ensure that races cannot be determined by points awarded
À[HG³WKHHDUO\\HDUVRINHLULQ for wins and placings, with a
were marred by scandals—and cut taken each month: the top
cannot be affected by outside 50 from each category go up,
factors, so that racing conditions the bottom 50 are “relegated.”
are perceived as fair by the The lowest-ranked riders are
betting punters. The bikes and eventually replaced by recruits
equipment have to be made to from keirin school.
VWULFWJXLGHOLQHVE\DFHUWLÀHG Tactics—where the rider
builder, and have not changed will sit in the string behind the
for 20 years: frames are steel, pacer and when he will launch
and wheels have to be 36-spoked. his move—have to be declared
v 214

K ei ri n
Keirin Tactics
=
Senko: lead-out man, attacks 800–400 m from finish
Makuri: 2nd or 3rd in line, cannot attack until 300 m from the line
Oikomi: third or fourth, must wait until last 150 m
Keirin Offenses
=
Shikaku: major, offender must leave velodrome for the rest of the meeting
Juchu: serious, fine and percentage loss of prize money
Sochu: trivial
Keirin Ranking and Colors

=
SS: red shorts, black stripe, white stars—the highest ranking
S1 and S2: black shorts, red stripe
A1, A2, A3: black shorts, green stripe, white stars—the lowest
Keirin Betting Terms

=
ni-sha-tan: Exacta—first two finishers in order
ni-sha-fuku: Quinella—first two in any order
san-ren-tan: Trifecta—first three in exact order
san-ren-fuku: Trio—first three in any order
uaido: Wide—two of first three in any order
v 215

K e l l y , S ea n
in advance and strictly adhered celebrate a race win.

WRRQSDLQRIÀQHVRUEDQV Foreigners to race the circuit
During a three-day keirin meet, include CHRIS HOY, who went
the riders have to cut off all on to be Olympic champion in
contact with the outside world. 2008. But outsiders rarely win.
Mobile phones, computers, and The best Japanese, on the other
other means of communication hand, rarely turn up at the
are banned. Riders cannot major championships. It’s more
make gestures that could be lucrative to stay at home.
interpreted by illicit gamblers, (SEE TRACK RACING FOR OTHER
such as lifting the arms to INTERNATIONAL DISCIPLINES)
KELLY, Sean a fellow cyclist of the star who was

IRELAND’s leading sportsman in the
Born: Carrick-on-Suir, Ireland, May 24, 1956 ! [¹1ZWVUIVQ[V¼\MVW]OP0M¼[
Major wins: Tour of Spain 1988; points made of stainless steel.” Kelly was
jersey Tour de France 1982–3, 1985, the leader of the FOREIGN LEGION:
1989, four stage wins; Milan–San Remo a group of English-speaking
1986, 1992; Giro di Lombardia 1983, professional cyclists who opened
1985, 1991; Liège–Bastogne–Liège 1984, up the European sport during the
1989; Paris–Roubaix 1984, 1986; Ghent– ! [7\PMZVW\IJTM[QVKT]LML
Wevelgem 1988; Créteil–Chaville 1984; STEPHEN ROCHE, ROBERT MILLAR,
Tour of Switzerland 1990 PHIL ANDERSON, and GREG LEMOND.
Nicknames: King Kelly, the New Cannibal 3MTTa¼[ aMIZKIZMMZ_I[WVMWN
Further reading: Sean Kelly: A Man for All the longest in cycling: he spanned
Seasons, David Walsh, Grafton, 1986 the years from EDDY MERCKX to
LANCE ARMSTRONG via BERNARD
“I haven’t ridden with anyone who HINAULT and MIGUEL INDURAIN
has that aura of strength,” wrote and topped the world rankings from
v 216

K e l l y , S ea n
! \W! !?Q\P!XZWNM[[QWVIT DE FRANCEIVL\PMÅZ[\WN NW]Z

wins in events varying from Milan– OZMMVXWQV\[RMZ[Ma[1VPQ[XZQUM
San Remo to the Tour of Spain and NZWU! \W! !3MTTaKW]TL
GP des Nations time trial, Kelly was _QVIVa[PWZ\[\IOMZIKM¸QVW\PMZ
the last of the traditional cycling _WZL[IXIZ\NZWU\PM\PZMMUIRWZ
champions, capable of performing <W]Z[¸IVLIVa+TI[[QK\PIVS[\W
in every event of every kind from his sheer power and cunning. In a
February to October, able to win UIRWZ<W]ZPM_W]TL][]ITTaPI^M
time trials, bunch sprints, and stage one bad day in the mountains. No
races. His successors are specialists, Irish sportsman had dominated
to the detriment of the sport. Kelly any arena as Kelly did, and with
is the last man to win both the Stephen Roche as number two on
cobbled PARIS–ROUBAIX Classic \PMJQTT\PMKZW_L[ÆWKSML\W[MM
and its hilly counterpart LIÈGE– their heroes in a newly created Tour
BASTOGNE–LIÈGE in the same year WN 1ZMTIVLQV\PMTI\M! [
! <WLIaVWWVMIQU[\W_QV 1N \PMZM_I[WVMUIRWZ
both. disappointment for Kelly, it was that
Kelly was born and raised on a he never won the world road-race
small farm near Carrick-on-Suir, in KPIUXQWV[PQX1V! PM\WWS\PM
County Waterford. As an amateur silver medal in Goodwood, England,
he was banned for racing in South IVLQV! !PM[PMLJQ\\MZ\MIZ[
Africa and went to France to turn at Chambéry, France, after being
professional (see POLITICS). From outsprinted by Greg LeMond. He
!\W! PM_I[XZQUIZQTa IT[WTW[\\PM! VUELTA A ESPAÑA
a sprinter with a reputation as a due to a saddle boil, which was
LIZMLM^QTJ]\QV! PQ[UMV\WZ TIVKML\PZMMLIa[JMNWZM\PMÅVQ[P
Jean de Gribaldy persuaded 0M\WTLVWWVMJ]\IRW]ZVITQ[\PIL
him that he could do more. The heard rumors of screams coming
breakthrough came in that year’s from his room in the dead of night
Paris–Nice, which he was to win and made sure a photographer was
NWZ[M^MVaMIZ[QVIZW_#QV2]TaPM on hand to capture the moment
won a mountain stage in the TOUR when he climbed off his bike.
v 217

Knowledge
Kelly’s absolute dedication to Kelly’s status in his home

his sport remains legendary. In country was such that the then Irish
!!PM[IQLITQ\\TM_Q[\N]TTa\PI\ president Mary Robinson turned up
he might break out once or twice in \WPQ[ZM\QZMUMV\XIZ\aQV!!¸I[
the winter and have a fry-up or an well as a host of stars including
ice cream. He famously said that he Hinault, ROGER DE VLAEMINCK,
abstained from SEXJMNWZMUIRWZ and double Tour winner LAURENT
races. When he came back from any FIGNON. He still lives near Carrick,
event, no matter how late or how _PMZMI[UITT¹[Y]IZMº¸QVNIK\
LIZSQ\_I[PM_W]TLKTMIVPQ[JQSM# R][\I[UITT_QLMVQVOQV\PMUIQV
the family with whom he lived in [\ZMM\¸IVLI[XWZ\[KMV\MZPI^M
Belgium could not work out what been named after him. He has a
he was doing when he went to bed farm and works as a commentator
I\!PM every night, without fail. for television, amusingly for a cyclist
They assumed he was writing letters famed in his early years for being
or reading, but when they did peep so unwilling to talk that he was
through the door, they found him said to have nodded during a radio
fast asleep. interview.
KNOWLEDGE, the Body of

tradition and received opinion
Learn to swear in different
languages. Other riders will
“compiled” by ROBERT MILLAR in appreciate your efforts to
idle moments and written up by communicate. They’ll also
Millar in Cycle Sport magazine know who you are talking to.
as a Tour de France survival
guide. Alongside common sense
If you need a push in the
mountains, looking really
items that would have a place in sick or completely knackered
any coaching manual, it included LVDVXUHÀUHZD\RIJHWWLQJ
the following gems: crowd sympathy. However,
v 218

Kraftwerk
should a commissaire spot you so, the third means you have
getting a push, shout loudly survived the mountains, and
DQGDWOHDVW\RXUÀQHWKDW getting to the fourth means
night won’t be for a solicited deliverance.
push.
Take something nice to eat
Focus on Sundays. There are

IRXURIWKHP7KHÀUVWLVIDLUO\
on your survival days. It’ll
probably be the only good
easy to get to, the second less moment that day.
KRAFTWERK German electronic Through the 1980s the group

music pioneers who were cycling became increasingly passionate
PDGDQGFUHDWHGWKHGHÀQLWLYH about cycling, causing one of the
tune “Tour de France” in 1983, classic line-up, Wolfgang Flur,
sampling various cycling to leave because, he said later,
sounds—breathing, a chain “there was too much cycling
running, gears changing. In 2003 inside Kraftwerk and too little
the group released an entire music. I didn’t want to become
album themed around cycling, a top-level sportsman as a side-
Tour de France Soundtracks. effect.”
v 219

L
LEMOND, Greg _WZTLKPIUXQWV[PQXQV! IVL
\PMÅZ[\=;<W]Z_QVVMZ_PMVPM
Born: Lakewood, California, June 26, 1961 ÅVITTa\ZQ]UXPMLQVIZIKMTWVO
Major wins: World road championship battle with his own teammate
1983, 1989; Tour de France 1986, 1989, BERNARD HINAULT.
1990, five stage wins Like many American cyclists,
Interests outside cycling: wine, cross- LeMond’s background was middle
country skiing KTI[[#PQ[NI\PMZ*WJ_I[IZMIT
Further reading: Greg LeMond, The estate agent. Initially LeMond was
Incredible Comeback, by Samuel Abt a downhill skier, but he switched
(Stanley Paul, 1991) \WKaKTQVOI\IVLJa PMPIL
_WV\PM_WZTLR]VQWZZWILZIKM
A year later, he was a professional
<PMÅZ[\)UMZQKIV_QVVMZWN \PM with the Renault-Elf team, led then
TOUR DE FRANCE, the author of by Hinault and managed by Cyrille
one of the sport’s most dramatic Guimard (see TEAMS for more on
comebacks, the victor of perhaps :MVI]T\IVLW\PMZOZMI\[Y]IL[#QV
the most epic Tour ever, and one ! PM\WWS\PM[QT^MZUMLITI\
of the men who did most to change the world road championship
XZWNM[[QWVITKaKTQVOQV\PMTI\M\P IVL_WV\PM<W]ZLMT¼)^MVQZ¸I
KMV\]Za4M5WVL_I[VW\\PMÅZ[\ “mini-Tour de France” for young
)UMZQKIV\WÅVQ[P\PM<W]Z#\PI\ ZQLMZ[¸_PQTMQV! PMZWLM\WI
honor goes to Jonathan Boyer (see solo win in the world championship
UNITED STATES*]\PM_I[\PMÅZ[\ at Altenrhein, Austria.
American to win the professional LeMond’s Tour debut came in
v 220

LeMond, Greg
v 221

LeMond, Greg
! _PMVPMÅVQ[PML\PQZLJMPQVL had tampered with the American’s

his team leader LAURENT FIGNON bike. To this day LeMond believes
and Hinault, who had moved to the Hinault was trying to win the
4I>QM+TIQZM[Y]IL1V! PM ZIKMNWZIZMKWZL[Q`\P\QUM#¹\PM
RWQVML0QVI]T\WVI\PZMMaMIZLMIT Badger,” on the other hand, still
\PI\_I[KaKTQVO¼[ÅZ[\UQTTQWVLWTTIZ maintains he could have won the
contract, with the understanding race if he had wanted, but he was
that he would help Hinault win that helping LeMond.
year’s Tour and the Frenchman <PM)UMZQKIV_I[WVTaIVL
_W]TLI[[Q[\PQUQV! 1V! seemingly set for a long reign over
LeMond looked the strongest in the the Tour, but the following spring
ÅVIT_MMSI\WVMXWQV\JMQVO\WTL he was shot in a hunting accident in
to soft-pedal when he was in a key California, losing a large amount of
breakaway, and had the chance of blood, suffering a partially collapsed
\ISQVO\PMaMTTW_RMZ[Ma lung, and ending up with pellets in
<PM! ZIKM\]ZVMLQV\WI PQ[QV\M[\QVMTQ^MZIVLLQIXPZIOU#
psychological battle with Hinault, WN \PMUIZM[\QTT\PMZM0M_I[
who attacked continually, insisting UQV]\M[NZWULMI\P#Ja[PMMZKPIVKM
as he did so that he was softening a highway patrol helicopter was
up LeMond’s rivals and helping his nearby and he was airlifted quickly
protégé become a stronger, harder to a trauma hospital.
cyclist. At one point, Hinault had 0Q[KWUMJIKS_I[XIQVN]T#!
a four-and-a-half-minute overall was fallow, and he suffered in the
lead, but the Frenchman cracked MIZTaXIZ\WN \PM! ![MI[WVJMNWZM
in the Alps before escaping with ZM\]ZVQVO\WPQ[JM[\QV\PM! !
LeMond on the climb to l’Alpe Tour, a three-way battle with Pedro
d’Huez, where they crossed the Delgado and LeMond’s former
line with their arms around each team leader Fignon. The lead
other’s shoulders. But Hinault still oscillated between LeMond and the
would not say the Tour was over, Frenchman while Delgado strove
and there were even accusations to recover three minutes he had
\PI\[WUMWVM¸I.ZMVKPNIV'¸ lost on the opening day when he
v 222

LeMond, Greg
turned up late for the prologue time LeMond was one of the most
trial. Finally, LeMond won the race QVVWÎ\Q^MKaKTQ[\[WN \PM\P
when he used new aerodynamic century, on a par with FAUSTO COPPI
PIVLTMJIZ[\WW^MZ\]ZVI[MKWVL in the way he pushed the sport
LMÅKQ\WV.QOVWVQV\PMÅVITLIa¼[ NWZ_IZL)[_MTTI[JMQVO\PMÅZ[\
\QUM\ZQIT\W\PM+PIUX[-Ta[uM[#PQ[ professional cyclist to use “triathlon”
[MKWVLILÎV\IOM_I[\PMKTW[M[\ handlebars in time trials (see
in Tour history. AERODYNAMICS), LeMond helped to
Four weeks later, on a rainy day popularize hard-shell cycle helmets,
in the French Alps, he outsprinted regarded with some suspicion when
Russian Dimitri Konychev and SEAN PMJMOIV][QVO\PMUQV!!J]\
KELLY for the world championship, now universal. He also pioneered
sealing his incredible comeback. communication with the team
The upshot of that was cycling’s car via mini-radios, rode titanium
JQOOM[\M^MZKWV\ZIK\"IUQTTQWV frames, and experimented with
plus bonuses deal with French team handlebar design in collaboration
Z, backed by a clothing company. with the Scott company. He was also
That contract dragged cycling into \PMÅZ[\KaKTQ[\\WZQLM\PMPARIS–
the modern world, where at last ROUBAIX Classic using MOUNTAIN
realistic payments were given to its BIKE front suspension forks. Not
top performers. surprisingly, he ended up with his
1V!!4M5WVL\WWSI\PQZL own cycle company.
<W]ZUI\KPQVO4W]Q[WV*WJM\# 4M5WVL_I[\PMÅZ[\[\IZKaKTQ[\
at the time only EDDY MERCKX, to break with the European belief
Hinault, and JACQUES ANQUETIL that cyclists should be subservient
PILLWVMJM\\MZ*]\QV!!IVL to promoters, race organizers,
!!4M5WVL[\Z]OOTML[WUM\PQVO and team managers, in essence
that he now interprets as being an attitude that went back to the
down to the arrival of a new drug postwar years when the stars had
in the peloton, EPO, and he quit in come from blue-collar stock and
!!LQ[MVKPIV\ML_Q\PPQ[ÅVIT reckoned they were lucky to be
years in the sport. racing at all. He brought his family
v 223

LeMond, Greg
with him to races, breaking a huge NZWUMI[\MZV.ZIVKM¸\WOM\I

taboo, raised eyebrows by getting replacement. This was before the
an agent (his father) to negotiate era of mobile phones: when the
his contracts, and insisted on doing mistake was discovered, the police
things his way, whether that meant had to be sent to chase down the
eating McDonald’s occasionally mechanic as he sped down the
or bringing his own portable air autoroute.
conditioner to hotels on the Tour de LeMond’s life after retirement
France. was as turbulent as before. He
He had a close-knit inner circle came close to divorcing his wife
around him: a grumpy Belgian Kathy, he revealed that he had
mechanic, Julien de Vries, who had been abused as a child, and he
worked with Merckx and would made a dramatic intervention in the
go on to wield a wrench for LANCE <W]Z_QVVMZ.TWaL4IVLQ[¼[
ARMSTRONG, and the distinctive doping hearing. He also became a
ÅO]ZMWN 5M`QKIVSOIGNEUR Otto critic of seven-time Tour winner
Jacome, who had the biceps of a Lance Armstrong. He attacked
JW`MZIVL_WZMIÆWXXa;\M\[WV the Texan over his work with the
And LeMond brought a certain controversial trainer MICHELE
MKKMV\ZQKQ\a_Q\PPQU#QV\PM!! FERRARI, alleged that Armstrong
Tour he decided to take a special had said LeMond could not have
KIZJWVÅJMZJQSM]X\WPQ[PW\MT _WV\PM<W]Z_Q\PW]\][QVO-87¸
bedroom but neglected to tell the _PQKP)ZU[\ZWVOLMVQM[¸IVL
Z team mechanics. De Vries was raised questions about Armstrong’s
in tears, convinced the machine personal antidoping program when
had been stolen, and a second the seven-time Tour winner made
UMKPIVQK_I[LQ[XI\KPML\W8IZQ[¸ PQ[KWUMJIKSQV!
v 224

Leth, Jorgen
LETH, Jorgen (b. Denmark, 1937) “chapters” including “the trial

of truth,” centered on a time
'DQLVKSRHWDQGÀOPGLUHFWRU trial involving the Danish star
best known in cycling for Ole Ritter. The pursuiter/time
three documentaries: Stars WULDOOLVWLVDOVRWKHNH\ÀJXUHLQ
and Watercarriers (1974), The Impossible Hour, about
The Impossible Hour (1974), his three attempts to break the
and Sunday in Hell (1977). HOUR RECORD in Mexico City in
His work has lent a whole 1974. Sunday in Hell centers
new dimension to cycling and on the 1976 PARIS–ROUBAIX and
sports documentary: deeply LV/HWK·VGHÀQLQJF\FOLQJZRUN
impressionistic, epic in tone but He shot the event from all angles
very human, with the interplay and included a now legendary
of music and action footage sequence with the cyclists
playing a key role. Leth has also bouncing in slow-motion over the
written 10 volumes of poetry and cobbles. Cycling also features in
QRQÀFWLRQZRUNVLQFOXGLQJ /HWK·VÀOPEddy Merckx in
his controversial autobiography the Vicinity of a Cup of Coffee,
The Imperfect Man. He has been a surreal mix of the director
FKDLUPDQRIWKH'DQLVKÀOP reading his poetry while subtitles
institute and commentated on deliver comment; the second half
some 20 Tours de France for RIWKHÀOPLQFOXGHVIRRWDJHIURP
television. He has lived in Haiti the 1970 TOUR DE FRANCE.
since 1991 and was honorary Leth was also involved in
Danish consul on the island an abortive attempt to make a
between 1999 and 2005. IHDWXUHÀOPDERXWWKH7RXUGH
Stars and Watercarriers France starring Dustin Hoffman;
tells the tale of the 1973 GIRO footage was shot on the 1986
D’ITALIAIRFXVLQJRQWKHFRQÁLFW 7RXUEXWWKHÀOPQHYHUVDZWKH
between EDDY MERCKX and light of day.
the little climber Jose-Manuel (SEE FILMS FOR MORE CYCLING ON
Fuente. It is split into 10 CELLULOID)
v 225

Li è g e – Bas t o g n e– L i èg e
LIÈGE–BASTOGNE–LIÈGE WKHÀQDOSKDVHEHJLQVZLWKWKH
The oldest CLASSIC on the cycling toughest climb on the course,
calendar, nicknamed la doyenne La Redoute—where a plaque
because it dates back to 1892. celebrates the race and its
The route was chosen mainly riders—which is followed by four
because Bastogne, 50-odd miles RUÀYHPRUHDVFHQWVEHIRUHWKH
south of Liège through the ÀQLVKPRVWUHFHQWO\KHOGDERYH
Ardennes hills, was the farthest Liège in the suburb of Ans.
anyone could get to and return The doyenne is now a tactical
by train in a day, which meant battle, but the past has witnessed
WKDWDQRIÀFLDOFRXOGEHVHQWWR epic lone victories for EDDY
manage the checkpoint there. MERCKX, in 1969, when he broke
There were several years when away with one of his domestiques
the race was not run, and it PLOHVIURPWKHÀQLVKDQG
gained true prestige only when JACQUES ANQUETIL, who took his
it began to be run the day after best one-day win there in 1966.
a neighboring race, Flèche The weather is often a factor as
Wallonne (see Classics), with the race crosses the high hills,
DQRYHUDOOFODVVLÀFDWLRQNQRZQ notably in BERNARD HINAULT’s
as the Ardennes Weekend. The 1980 win, on a day of snow and
DOUBLE in the two races is a rare ice that Pierre Chany described
and coveted feat. as “phantasmagoric.” Only 40
The race’s distinctive feature RIWKHULGHUÀHOGZHUHVWLOO
is the succession of small but LQWKHUDFHDIWHUWKHÀUVW
tough climbs through the PLOHVDQG+LQDXOWURGHWKHÀQDO
Ardennes hills, where American 40 miles alone to win by nine
and German forces fought the PLQXWHV7ZRMRLQWVLQWKHÀQJHUV
Battle of the Bulge in 1944. The of his right hand remain numb
hills start well before halfway to this day. The best specialist
at the town of Houffalize, where in Liège is the Italian Moreno
the US Army completed its Argentin, winner four times
encirclement of the Germans; between 1985 and 1991.
v 226

Li è g e – Bast o g n e– L i èg e
v 227

Li g g et t , P h i l
LIGGETT, Phil (b. England, 1943)
The hardworking and constantly traveling television commentator

and former Daily Telegraph correspondent is the biggest media star
in English-speaking cycling worldwide. He has a near monopoly
on mainstream TV in the UK, Australia, South Africa, and the
US, together with his business partner Paul Sherwen, a former
professional and one of the cycling FOREIGN LEGION. By 2009 he had
covered 38 Tours de France and 13 OLYMPIC GAMES.
Liggett started out as a racing cyclist in the 1960s, competing in
Belgium before realizing that he wasn’t going to make it. In the 1970s
he went to the TOUR DE FRANCE as driver for the journalist David
Saunders and took over Saunders’s TV and newspaper work when the
latter was killed in a car accident in 1978. Between 1972 and 1993 he
was technical director of the around-Britain MILK RACE.
Liggett’s career expanded in the late 1980s with the start of
Channel Four’s daily Tour de France coverage and its coverage of the
Tour of Britain and UK city center races (see GREAT BRITAIN). His
ubiquity stems from his relationship with the television production
company that put together the packages for Channel Four using a
mix of live images shot by Tour de France television company SFP for
the organizers ASO; their material is used by almost all the English-
speaking nations. Liggett has his own CYCLOSPORTIVE through the
Pennines; a collection of “Liggettisms” was published in 2005.
LITERATURE A quick freewheel sexually explicit 1960s novels

through some “serious” writers such as Tropic of Cancer, called
for whom cycling is more than a a volume of his memoirs My Bike
brief reference. and Other Friends and devoted
Henry Miller, writer of various WKHÀQDOFKDSWHUWRDQDFFRXQW
v 228

Literature
of his love affair with a German- transfer of atoms from one to

made track bike bought after the other. As a result, say the
a SIX-DAY at Madison Square policemen, people who spend a
Garden. His veneration of the lot of time on their bikes become
bike is linked to an unrequited “part-man, part-bike” while the
passion for a young woman he cycles develop personalities, try
met at high school; the bike is to get warm, and try to eat food:
both substitute for the woman “The behaviour of a bicycle that
(he would take it to bed if he has a high content of humanity
could) and a means of escape. is very cunning and very
Another cycling fan was remarkable. You never see them
Ernest Hemingway, who wrote moving . . . but you meet them
about the six-days and described in the least accountable places
the Tour of the Basque Country unexpectedly.” Similarly, you can
(see SPAIN) in The Sun Also tell “a man with a lot of bicycle
Rises. in his veins” by his walk.
Cult Irish writer Flann In Paris at the end of the 19th
O’Brien, also known as a century, the surrealist writer
hilarious columnist in the Irish Alfred Jarry—known for the play
Times and for producing the Ubu Roi—had a state-of-the-art
magical realist novel At Swim- Clément machine customized
Two-Birds, wrote captivatingly with wooden rims and caused a
about bikes in The Third sensation when he turned up at
Policeman. This is a surreal the funeral of the poet Stéphane
murder thriller that features a Mallarmé wearing cycling gear.
pair of bike-obsessed policemen. He produced a calendar that
It includes digressions on includes a month called Pédale.
wooden rims, cycling with your Jarry wrote a short story entitled
mouth open, saddles, and the ´7KH&UXFLÀ[LRQ&RQVLGHUHG
celebrated “atomic theory.” as an Uphill Bicycle Race,”
According to this, impacts satirizing both the Parisian
between two objects result in a obsession with all things two-
v 229

Literature
wheeled and the epic imagery Perpetual Motion Food, a blend

used to describe cycle races by of alcohol and strychnine. One
writers like HENRI DESGRANGE. of the cyclists dies in the saddle
It includes the memorable but continues because he has
lines “Barabbas, slated to race, signed a contract with a massive
was scratched” and “There are ÀQDQFLDOSHQDOW\LIKHSXOOVRXW
fourteen turns in the testing The references to the extreme
Golgotha course.” Jarry’s scenes in six-day racing would
sarcasm has not prevented have been clear at the time; the
journalists using the term “a satirical take on professional
Calvary” as a metaphor for sports—in which the human
extreme suffering in a bike race element has been overtaken
time and again over the last 110 by outside interests and the
years. participants are risking their
Jarry also came up with a OLYHVWRIXOÀOWKHLUFRQWUDFWV³
prescient picture of bike racing has resonances throughout the
in his 1902 novel The Supermale, history of professional cycling
which has a chapter dealing and is probably the inspiration
with a Perpetual Motion Race. for the race to nowhere in the
,QWKLVÀYHF\FOLVWVDUHVWUDSSHG critically acclaimed animated
to a bike that is propelled across movie Les Triplettes de Belleville
Europe and Asia in a race (see FILMS).
against an express train. The (FOR A SELECTION OF WRITING
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT CYCLING, SEE
riders are paced by jet cars and
BOOKS—SUBDIVIDED INTO FICTION,
Á\LQJPDFKLQHVDWVSHHGVRIXS NONFICTION, MEMOIRS/AUTOBIOGRAPHY,
to 300 km per hour and fed on AND TRAVEL)
v 230

Lo n g ev i t y
LONGEVITY Cycling is not just which time she will be almost

a young man’s sport, although 54.
the accepted view is that a male
cyclist matures at between 27
RAYMOND POULIDOR’s pro
career lasted 18 seasons, his
and 29, after which his power ÀUVWSRGLXPSODFHLQWKH7RXU
declines with every passing year. coming in 1962, his last in
Some examples of unusually long 1976 when he was 40.
cycling careers:
LANCE ARMSTRONG turned
Reggie MacNamara of
Australia was a SIX-DAY racer
professional in 1992 and
made a comeback in 2009 to
who competed from 1912 to ÀQLVKWKLUGLQWKH7RXUDJHG
1939, retiring at 50. 37.
GINO BARTALI won the TOUR

DE FRANCE in 1938 and
Joop Zoetemelk won an
Olympic gold medal (as an
1948, by which time he was amateur) in 1968 and the pro
+HZRQKLVÀUVW,WDOLDQ world road title in 1985 when
championships in 1935, his he was 38. In between he
last in 1952, and retired in ÀQLVKHGWKH7RXUGH)UDQFH
1954 after 20 seasons as a pro. 16 times, winning in 1980.
BERYL BURTON won 72 British

national titles in a run that
Malcolm Elliott is currently
the oldest pro on the elite
lasted from 1957 to 1986, by men’s circuit. He won a
which time she was 49. When COMMONWEALTH GAMES gold
she died at the age of 59 she medal as long ago as 1982,
was still competing. turned pro in 1983, and rode
JEANNIE LONGO was still

riding the world road race
the Tour de France in 1987.
In 2009 at the age of 48 he
championship in 2009, 23 was still good enough to post
\HDUVDIWHUKHUÀUVWWLWOH6KH top-10 stage placings in the
has every intention of racing Tours of Ireland and Great
in the London Olympics, by Britain.
v 231

Longo, Jeannie
LONGO, Jeannie toward the absolute record of nine

games held by the Austrian sailor
Born: Annecy, France, October 31, 1958 Hubert Raudaschl. Initially Longo
Major wins: Gold, Olympic road race 1996; seemed cursed by the Olympics:
world road champion 1985, 1986, 1987, she crashed in the road race in
1989, 1995; world time trial champion, ! JZWSMIPQXIUWV\PJMNWZM
1995, 1996, 1997, 2001; world pursuit the Seoul Games, and made a
champion 1986, 1988–9; world points \IK\QKITMZZWZQV!!JMTQM^QVO[PM
race champion, 1989; women’s Tour de had won, but being unaware that
France 1987, 1988, 1989; 15 French Kathy Watt of Australia had already
national road titles (between 1979 and crossed the line. Since then her
2009); world hour records 1986, 1997, record speaks for itself: four medals
2000 including gold in a rain-hit women’s
Nicknames: Ma Dalton, La Cannibale ZWILZIKMQV)\TIV\IQV!!
)[]XMZJKTQUJMZIVLIÅVM\QUM
Soft-spoken, almost shy, “the triallist but lacking a sprint, she
grandmother of womens’ cycling” IT[W_WV_WZTL\Q\TM[JM\_MMV
does not have the abrasive attitude ! IVLWVZWILIVL\ZIKS
that might be expected of one of took the women’s Tour de France
the most competitive cyclists to \PZMM\QUM[! ·!IVLKTIQUML
grace the sport. She certainly does the women’s HOUR RECORD. In
not seem like a woman who is famed [PM\WWSPMZ\P.ZMVKP
for falling out with teammates, VI\QWVIT\Q\TM[QVKM!!IZMKWZL
WNÅKQIT[IVL[]XXTQMZ[IVL_PW_I[ for longevity to compare with British
described as being “the best [athlete] great BERYL BURTON. Longo began
with the worst of personalities” (Le PMZ[XWZ\QVOTQNMI[I[SQMZ¸[PM
Nouvel Observateur). was three-time French university
1V*MQRQVOIOML4WVOW champion and her husband,
became one of a handful of athletes Patrice Ciprelli, was also a French
to compete in seven successive KPIUXQWV¸IVLQVQ\QITTaKWUJQVML
OLYMPIC GAMES, and in London she the two sports like her great rival
can expect to move another step Maria Canins. What motivates her
v 232

Longo, Jeannie
to keep on her bike, she says, is high on a mountain above Grenoble

that “cycling is her favorite means QV\PM)TX[_Q\PPMZÆWKSWN OWI\[
WN OM\\QVOIZW]VLIVLÅVLQVOVM_ IVL¸IT\PW]OP[PM\ZI^MT[\W\PM
places.” =;\WXZMXIZMNWZUIRWZM^MV\[¸
She also has a degree in she rarely goes to another country
mathematics and is celebrated without taking her own organic
for her green lifestyle. She says KIZZW\[_I\MZÅT\MZIVLLMQWVQbMZ
she cannot stand the chemical
(SEE WOMEN FOR A HISTORY OF WOMEN’S
disinfectants and cleaners used CYCLE RACING AND OTHER TOP WOMEN TO
across the Western world and lives GRACE CYCLING)
v 233

M
MACMILLAN, Kirkpatrick heavy, but he managed a speed
(b. Scotland, 1812, d. 1878) of about 14 mph, and in 1842 he
rode it from southwest Scotland
Claimed to be the inventor to Glasgow, a distance of 68
of the rear-wheel-driven miles, in two days. During the
pedal cycle. Macmillan was trip he had an accident involving
a Dumfriesshire blacksmith a child and was taken to court
who decided to make himself DQGÀQHGÀYHVKLOOLQJVWKH
a hobby horse (see BICYCLE for following day.
the importance of this early Macmillan’s machine does not
bike). The breakthrough from survive, and he never patented
earlier machines came when the design. A copy made by a
he realized that it would be cooper from Lanarkshire, Gavin
improved if it could be propelled Dalzell, appeared in 1847 and
without one of his feet being on is in the Museum of Transport
the ground. in Glasgow. Further copies were
His design had suspended made some 20 years later by
pedals at the front with long a wheelwright in Kilmarnock,
connecting rods linking them to Thomas McCall, inspired by the
cranks on the rear wheel. It was Macmillan velocipede.
v 234

Mangeas, Daniel
MANGEAS, Daniel (b. France, 1949) of the professional peloton is

HQF\FORSHGLF0DQJHDVÀUVW
The voice of cycling in France. worked on the Tour in 1974, and
As the speaker of the TOUR DE the 2010 Tour is set to be his
FRANCE and up to 200 other 37th. In 2002 the race organizers
races a year, the former baker gave him the ultimate accolade:
introduces the riders as they his own stage start in his home
sign on at the start and keeps village of Saint-Martin-de-
the crowds entertained at the Landelles on the Norman-Breton
ÀQLVK+LVNQRZOHGJHRIHYHQ border, where he organizes the
the most obscure members annual after-Tour criterium.
MEMORIALS Cycle races have the spot where TOM SIMPSON

crisscrossed Europe for over died on Mont Ventoux and
130 years so not surprisingly the modernistic sculpture just
the roads of the continent are downhill from the bend on the
dotted with memorials to great Col du Portet d’Aspet where the
cyclists and also race organizers 1992 Olympic champion Fabio
and journalists, while there Casartelli had a fatal crash in
are also plaques to recall major the 1995 Tour de France. In
events, particularly on the other places, plaques denote
great mountain passes. These notable episodes from the past:
in turn serve as objectives for one is to be found outside the
F\FOHWRXULVWVZKROD\ÁRZHUV building in Sainte-Marie de
and souvenirs just as medieval Campan, France, where the Tour
pilgrims would have done at the cyclist Eugène Christophe had to
shrine of a saint. repair his forks in the 1913 race
Among the most celebrated (See HEROIC ERA for more stories
are the bleak bas-relief at about “The Old Gaul”).
v 235

M e mo ri a l s
Also in the Pyrenées, on one an annual religious service is

bend of the Col de Menté, a held there. Close to the top of
plaque marks the spot where an l’Alpe d’Huez is a small plaque
epic duel between EDDY MERCKX that denotes the spot where
and the Spaniard Luis Ocana the climber LUIS HERRERA put
in the 1971 Tour ended when two pieces of lava from his
Ocana crashed in a rainstorm. home country in thanks to the
Another plaque, on the Col people of France after they
d’Aubisque, recalls the day in sent humanitarian relief to the
1951 when the Dutchman Wim victims of the volcanic eruption
Van Est fell 200 meters into a at Armero in 1985. A plaque
ravine and was rescued with a at the Réveil-Matin restaurant
rope improvised from tires tied in Montgeron, near Paris,
WRJHWKHU7KHÀUVWPDQWRFURVVD celebrates the start point of the
mountain in the Tour in the lead, ÀUVWTOUR DE FRANCE in 1903.
Rene Pottier, is remembered by a On a main road outside
small memorial at the summit of Malaga in southern Spain,
WKHÀUVWSDVVFRYHUHGE\WKHUDFH DSODTXHDQGÁRZHUVGHQRWH
the Ballon d’Alsace. the spot where the Spanish
The graves of the greats are professional Ricardo Oxtoa and
also frequently visited by cycling his brother Xavier were mown
fans who leave mementoes such down by a car in 2002. Other
as racing hats and bottles. So cyclists who have been killed in
many are left at the Simpson WUDIÀFDFFLGHQWVDUHQRZUHFDOOHG
memorial that every now and worldwide by GHOST BIKES.
then it has to be cleaned up. FAUSTO COPPI and MARCO
It’s not just famous racers and PANTANI have between them
legendary racing episodes that inspired more memorials
are remembered, however. In than any other cyclists—those
Britain, a memorial at Meriden, are listed in their individual
Warwickshire, celebrates cyclists entries—but other notable
who fell in both World Wars: names are remembered as well.
v 236

M e mo ri a l s
Cycling Memorials
=
Cyclist/organizer Location
Joaquim Agostino Bend 14, l’Alpe d’Huez, France

Jacques Anquetil Piste Municipale, Paris
Alfredo Binda Cittiglio, Italy
Louison Bobet Col d’Izoard, France
Tullio Campagnolo Croce d’Aune pass, Italy
Fabio Casartelli Col du Portet d’Aspet, France
Henri Desgrange Col du Galibier, France
Shay Elliott Glenmalure, Ireland
Maurice Garin Armier, Italy
Jacques Goddet Col du Tourmalet, France
Reg Harris Manchester Velodrome, England
Hugo Koblet Passo di Monte Ceneri, Switzerland
Octave Lapize Col du Tourmalet, France
Eddy Merckx Stockeu, Belgium
Luis Ocaña Col de Menté, France
Stan Ockers Côte des Forges, Belgium
Sir Hubert Opperman Rochester, Australia
Ricardo Oxtoa Malaga, Spain
Roger Rivière Col du Perjuret, Central France
Tom Simpson Mont Ventoux, France
Tom Simpson Harworth, England
Jean Stablinski Troisvilles, Northern France
James Starley Coventry, England
Marshall “Major” Taylor Worcester, Massachussetts
Paul de Viviès Col de la République, France
v 237

Merckx, Eddy
MERCKX, Eddy QV[\IZ\[QV!#_QV[QV

[\IZ\[NZWU!!·6WKaKTQ[\
Born: Meensel, Belgium, June 17, 1945 as “winning” is likely to be seen
Major wins: World pro road champion again. Merckx had looks as well: a
1967, 1971, 1974; Tour de France UWXWN LIZSPIQZÅVMTa[K]TX\ML
1969–72, 1974, 34 stage wins; Giro cheekbones, sideburns worthy of the
d’Italia 1968, 1970, 1972–4, 34 stage ¼[IVLIVM`XZM[[QWVWN \W\IT[MTN
wins; Vuelta a España 1973, six stage absorption.
wins; Milan–San Remo 1966–7, 1969, The scale and volume of
1971–2, 1975–6; Tour of Flanders 1969, Merckx’s dominance was
1975; Paris–Roubaix 1968, 1970, 1973; ]VXZMKMLMV\ML.WZMÌUXTMQVR][\
Liège–Bastogne–Liège 1969, 1971–3, VQVM_MMS[QV!PM_WVNW]Z
1975; Giro di Lombardia 1971–2; Het Volk UIRWZCLASSICS¸/PMV\·?M^MTOMU
1971–3; Ghent–Wevelgem 1967, 1969, Amstel Gold Race, PARIS–ROUBAIX,
1972; Flèche Wallonne 1967, 1970, 1972; and LIÈGE–BASTOGNE–LIÈGE—
Amstel Gold Race, 1973, 1975; Paris– followed that with overall victory in
Brussels, 1973; GP Nations 1973; world the three-week VUELTA A ESPAÑA,
hour record 1972 with six stage wins en route, and,
Nicknames: Big Ted, the Cannibal after a brief break, added the
GIRO D’ITALIA, taking another half-
Every sport has its nonpareil and dozen stages. In winning, Merckx
Eddy Merckx is to cycling what Pele would leave the opposition minutes
is to soccer or Muhammad Ali to behind. “He always does more
boxing. While Merckx’s records in than is necessary to win. He is not
QVLQ^QL]ITM^MV\[UIaJMJMI\MV¸ content with mere glory,” wrote the
LANCE ARMSTRONG has outstripped Tour organizer Jacques Goddet.
PQ[Å^M<W]Z_QV[¸PQ[ZMKWZLWN He was christened “the Cannibal”
domination over half a dozen years by the daughter of a French rival,
JM\_MMV!!IVL!KIVVM^MZ Christian Raymond, because of his
be equaled. Indeed, across any voracious appetite for victory, after
[XWZ\Q\¼[PIZL\WÅVLIXIZITTMTNWZ a stage in France where the bunch
5MZKS`¼[]VQY]M[\ZQSMZI\M"_QV[ trailed in half an hour behind him
v 238

Merckx, Eddy
(see NICKNAMES for other interesting races and go to his garage to check
cycling monickers). PQ[JQSM[_MZMILR][\MLR][\ZQOP\
But Merckx is not a domineering 0Q[JI[MUMV\PMTL\]J]TIZ\QZM[
personality in the style of Lance that he would season for two years
Armstrong or BERNARD HINAULT. to reduce the risk of punctures.
“I’m not a cannibal, I’m the )\WVM/QZWPM\ZI^MTTML_Q\P
sensitive kind,” he said. He bikes and personally drilled out the
explained that his need to crush the componentry on each to save a few
opposition so absolutely stemmed grams.
NZWUITIKSWN KWVÅLMVKM¹?PMV While Hinault played up
you are alone in a one-day race, his “grumpy badger” image
you’re certain to win. In a stage and JACQUES ANQUETIL played
race, it’s never certain, you can mindgames with the opposition
always have a bad day. The bigger and press, Merckx was famed for
your lead, the more you have [in hiding his feelings. “Merckx, a
hand] if that happens.” super winner, walks away without
Two devastating events early in a trace of fatigue, with nothing to
his career made Merckx obsessively [IaR][\IPQV\WN JWZMLWUº_ZW\MI
insecure in spite of his obvious .ZMVKPRW]ZVITQ[\QV!¹0MPI[
physical strength: a positive drugs robotised himself . . . transformed
\M[\QV\PM! /QZW_PQKPPM_I[ himself into a machine with the
adamant came from a spiked bottle, utmost meticulousness. He is half-
IVLIPWZZQÅKKZI[PQVIUW\WZXIKML man, half-bike.” “Most of the time,
ZIKMQV!!QV_PQKP\PMLZQ^MZ there was nothing anyone could do
was killed. The accident left Merckx against him,” said the British pro
with constant back pain that in turn Derek Harrison. “His legs were like
made him worry about his position pistons. The way he sat on the bike
on the bike, which he would check _I[R][\JMI]\QN]Tº
before every race and sometimes Many of Merckx’s achievements
change while riding, carrying a have entered cycling legend. In
_ZMVKPITWVOR][\QVKI[M0M_W]TL !PMJZWSM\PMHOUR RECORD
_ISM]XQV\PMVQOP\JMNWZMUIRWZ in Mexico City in a ride that now
v 239

Merckx, Eddy
seems poorly scheduled: he started

WNN NIZ\WWY]QKSTa¹LQMLºNWZ The Merckx Joke
minutes, and had to be lifted off his
JQSMI\\PMÅVQ[P,]ZQVOPQ[ÅZ[\
=
TOUR DE FRANCE_QVQV!!PM
_I[ITZMILaQV\PMaMTTW_RMZ[MaIVL T he tale is told that after the death of
a cyclist who tried to beat Merckx for
years but was constantly frustrated, the
well ahead when he found himself
pro went to Heaven and was greeted by
QVNZWV\WV\PMÅVIT8aZMVMIV St. Peter. The saint put him in a race on
[\IOM0MTMLNWZ UQTM[IVL the smoothest velodrome he had ever
ÅVQ[PMLMQOP\IVLIPITN UQV]\M[ seen, on the finest Italian frame. All the
ahead of the next rider, on a stage greats who had predeceased him were
when he really only needed to race on the start line: COPPI, GARIN, and so on,
LMNMV[Q^MTa1V! I\I/QZW[\IOM but he knew he would win. As the line
approached, however, he felt a wheel
ÅVQ[PI\\PM<ZM+QUMLQ4IÎZMLW
coming past, glanced up, and saw the
mountaintop he fought his way
face of the Cannibal; disconsolate, he
through a snowstorm to mop up went to St. Peter and said, “Eddy isn’t
a break that had started the climb dead yet, what’s he doing here?”
nine minutes ahead. St. Peter replied gravely: “That wasn’t
Merckx had no rivals, only Merckx. It was God. He likes to pretend
occasional challengers. In the he’s Merckx.”
Classics ROGER DE VLAEMINCK
and Freddy Maertens fought him
gallantly, while in the Tour de Ocana summed up his rival: “It’s
France the Spaniard Luis Ocaña not enough for him to win one day,
\PZM_LW_V\PMOI]V\TM\QV! he wants to win the next day and
ÅVQ[PQVOITUW[\VQVMUQV]\M[IPMIL the day after that. Ayrton Senna has
at the Orcières-Merlette ski resort the same mentality, he’s eaten away
in the ALPS. On the next stage, out by the same thirst for victory. Only
of the Alps to Marseille, Merckx the very great have it. Winning for
attacked from the start and rode so them is second nature. When they
fast that the race was half an hour don’t win any more, they come face
IPMILWN [KPML]TMI\\PMÅVQ[P to face with a void.”
v 240

M i l an– S a n R emo
The Cannibal’s career began to up with the help of his former bike
_IVMQV!_PMV\PM.ZMVKPUIV UISMZ=OWLM:W[I#PMIT[W_WZS[
Bernard Thevenet overcame him in on ASO’s Tour of Qatar. His son Axel
\PM<W]Z¸5MZKS`KZI[PMLITWVO ZIKMLL]ZQVO\PM!![NWZ\MIU[
the way and broke a cheekbone but such as Motorola and Telekom.
[\QTTÅVQ[PML[MKWVL¸IVLPMZM\QZML Merckx grew close to Lance
NZWUZIKQVOQV[XZQVO! =V\QT Armstrong when the Texan raced
ZM\QZMUMV\QV!PMZIVIJQSM on his bikes while at the Motorola
factory in Belgium, which was set team, and the pair remain friends.
MILAN–SAN REMO The longest Primavera” by the Italians, for

of the one-day CLASSICS and the whom it symbolizes the arrival
only one to retain a course that of spring with the passage from
is virtually identical to the one fog and cold in Milan to sunshine
ÀUVWXVHGLQ)LUVWFRPH on the Riviera. Victory here has
WKHÁDWSODLQVVRXWKRI0LODQ been a rite of passage for every
then the Apennines via the Italian campione from ALFREDO
Turchino pass, then it’s around BINDA to FRANCESCO MOSER.
Genova and along the old Roman In its early years, Milan–San
Mediterranean coast road Remo was occasionally hit by
through Imperia and Alassio to hellish weather. The snowy 1910
San Remo, the last substantial edition remains legendary: the
town before the French border. winner Eugène Christophe (see
The race was founded to MEMORIALSWRÀQGRXWZKHUHKLV
publicize what was then a broken forks are remembered)
fading seaside resort known might well have died of
only for gambling; today it is the hypothermia had he not been
ÀUVWWUXO\PDMRUHYHQWRQWKH rescued by a farmer. He warmed
cycling calendar, nicknamed “La up in the farmhouse for half an
v 241

M i l an– S a n R emo
v 242

M i l k R a ce
hour, then set off to complete little ascents to headlands, Mele,

the 12-hour trek. Only two other &HUYR%HUWD³EHIRUHWKHÀQDO
ULGHUVÀQLVKHG&KULVWRSKHWKHQ test: the sinuous Poggio.
spent a month in the hospital While FAUSTO COPPI
recovering and did not race scored several notable solo
properly for another two years. wins, including a legendary
Such feats were typical of the 160-kilometer escape in 1946
HEROIC ERA. that began before the Turchino
7RGD\WKHODUJHO\ÁDWFRXUVH was crossed, the record holder
means that in spite of its 190- in San Remo is EDDY MERCKX
mile length, Milan–San Remo is who won seven times in 11
essentially a tactical battle that years. Between 1997 and 2001
frequently ends in a mass sprint the German Erik Zabel achieved
between the men strong enough a dominance unique in any
to survive the series of short one-day event in recent years,
climbs that test their legs in the ZLWKIRXUZLQVRXWRIÀYHMARK
ÀQDONLORPHWHUV)LUVWFRPHV CAVENDISH gave Britain its
the Cipressa, a series of steep second win in the event (after
hairpins through olive groves TOM SIMPSON in 1964) with his
with a dangerous descent back to narrow sprint victory in 2009.
the coast, next up are the Capi—
MILK RACE One of the longest- such as Brighton–Glasgow and

lasting race sponsorships in the Circuit of Britain, backed by
cycling. This amateur Tour of companies such as Quaker Oats
%ULWDLQZDVÀUVWKHOGLQ and the Daily Express.
with its roots in a variety of The Milk Race was sponsored
around Britain events run by the Milk Marketing Board, a
during the 1940s and 1950s, government body responsible for
v 243

M i l k R a ce
selling milk produced by Welsh from 1977 to 1984, apart from

and English farmers until the 1978, when a Pole won, and 1983,
agency was abolished in 1993. when the American Matt Eaton
It always had a down-home feel won. The era is captured in the
WRLW7KHÀUVWHYHQWZDVÁDJJHG documentary Manpower. The race
away by the comedian Norman tended to visit all areas of England
Wisdom and run by the West and Wales—but never Scotland.
/RQGRQRIÀFLDO&KDV0HVVHQJHU Malcolm Elliott, winner in
who produced famously tough ZHQWRQWRÀQLVKWKH7RXU
courses. He managed a trans- GH)UDQFHWKDW\HDUDQGEULHÁ\
Pennine stage lasting seven EHFDPHDSUROLÀFZLQQHULQ
hours in 1962. The Milk Race Europe, while the last winner,
also has a place in antidoping in 1993, was Chris Lillywhite
history: soon after drugs were riding for the Banana-Falcon
banned in 1965, tests carried out pro team. There have been other
RQWKHUDFHUVUHVXOWHGLQWKHÀUVW Tours of Britain. The Butlin Tour
three positives in cycling. was a seven-day event between
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Butlin’s holiday camps in 1951.
Milk Race became one of the The Sealink Tour ran through
biggest amateur stage races in the 1970s, usually including a
the world, behind the Peace Race transfer on the nationalized ferry
(see EASTERN EUROPEWRÀQGRXW company, while the Kellogg’s
more about this one) and the Tour Tour was an all-professional
de l’Avenir, run by the Tour de event that lasted from 1987 to
France organizers. It welcomed 1994, and the PruTour, backed by
competitors from Russia and WKH3UXGHQWLDOÀQDQFLDOVHUYLFHV
Poland in spite of the fact that company, took place in 1998 and
these state-sponsored professional 1999. Since 2004 the Milk Race
amateurs were usually victorious has had a successor in the Tour
over the home cyclists who worked of Britain, run by the Sweetspot
full-time and only raced part-time. promotions company and taking
The Russians won every year place over nine days in September.
v 244

Millar, Robert
MILLAR, Robert amateur champion, Millar was one

of the FOREIGN LEGION who turned
Born: Glasgow, Scotland, September 13, XZWNM[[QWVIT_PQKPPMLQLQV!
1958 with the PEUGEOT team. Initially
Major wins: Three stages Tour de France; overlooked by the management,
King of the Mountains Tour de France PMJMKIUM\PMÅZ[\*ZQ\WV\W_QV
1984; Giro d’Italia 1987; British national IUIRWZUW]V\IQV[\IOMWN \PM
road titles 1978–9 (amateur), 1995 (pro); <W]ZI\4]KPWVQV! IVL
Dauphiné Libéré stage race 1990 added a second stage and the King
Further reading/viewing: In Search WN \PM5W]V\IQV[RMZ[MaQV!
of Robert Millar, Richard Moore, His fourth place overall remains a
HarperCollins UK, 2008; documentary on *ZQ\Q[PZMKWZLMY]ITMLQV!Ja
DVD: The High Life BRADLEY WIGGINS.
1V! PM_W]TLPI^M_WV
The Glaswegian is Britain’s best the VUELTA A ESPAÑA if the home
ever TOUR DE FRANCE cyclist, one teams had not ganged up on him
of cycling’s greatest climbers, and on the penultimate stage to ensure
one of the sport’s great eccentrics. victory for one of their own, Pedro
,]ZQVO\PM!!¹-]ZW<W]Zº Delgado, who made a long-range
_PMZM\PMZIKMV]UJMZ[JWZM\PM attack on the Scot to overturn a
stars of the European Union, Millar LMÅKQ\WN UWZM\PIV[M^MVUQV]\M[
spent several minutes each morning Later, Millar’s manager Roland
scraping the stars off and carefully Berland claimed that he had an
inscribing a Scottish saltire instead. agreement with the Panasonic
He has an acerbic, rather black team that they would help Millar
[MV[MWN P]UWZQ[IÅVM_ZQ\MZ during the stage if his teammates
coined various NICKNAMES for his _MZMV¼\]X\W\PM\I[S#QV[\MIL\PMa
contemporaries, and featured in a went back on the deal. Afterward,
ÅVM\MTM^Q[QWVLWK]UMV\IZaThe Delgado thanked the managers of
High Life, with soundtrack by Steve \PM;XIVQ[P\MIU[¹NWZ[IKZQÅKQVO
Winwood. their chances for me.” Later, in
A double British national .MJZ]IZa!!5QTTIZIVITabML
v 245

Monuments
the defeat in Cycle Sport magazine, KPIUXQWV[PQXQV!!PQ[KIZMMZ

and made the following comments. ended abruptly when his sponsor
He was not informed of who was went bust.
in front or what the time gap was. Millar wrote a column for the
His Peugeot team did not have British magazine Cycle Sport for
the legs to help him defend the several years, and later wrote bike
RMZ[Ma*MZTIVLLQLVW\UIVIOM\W tests for procycling magazine. His
make any deals with other teams best piece was a feature called
to make up for their weakness. His “THE KNOWLEDGE,” which detailed
conclusion was “Delgado didn’t the dos and don’ts of professional
win, I lost, mainly thanks to some cycling. After retirement he managed
circumstances that shouldn’t have the British national road team for
happened.” a year, then slipped off the radar.
At the time, it seemed likely 0MMUMZOMLNZWUWJ[K]ZQ\aQV!
5QTTIZ_W]TLOWWV\W_QVIUIRWZ \W_ZQ\MIJW]\\PM! <W]ZNWZ
Tour, but it did not happen: Millar Rouleur magazine, offered Eurosport
added a stage win and second insights on the mountains of the
W^MZITTQV\PM! /QZW_PMZMPM Tour de France and gave the Observer
took the King of the Mountains newspaper his thoughts on Wiggins.
XZQbM#PM\WWSI\PQZL<W]Z[\IOMQV His younger namesake David,
! !IVL_WV\PM,I]XPQVu4QJuZu who won the prologue of the Tour
[\IOMZIKMQV!!)NM_LIa[ QVIVLIN]Z\PMZ[\IOMQV
after he won the British national is no relation.
MONUMENTS 7KHÀYHJUHDWHVWRQHGD\HYHQWVLQWKHVSRUWDUH
often referred to as the “monuments”: Milan–San Remo, the Tour
of Flanders, Paris–Roubaix, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and the Tour of
Lombardy. See their individual entries.
v 246

Moore, James
MOORE, James in his history of cycling, however.

(b. England, 1849, d. 1935) Moore had contacts with the
Michaux family, who owned a
:LQQHURIWKHÀUVWURDGUDFHKHOG factory where HOBBY HORSES were
from city to city, Paris–Rouen, in made. Not surprisingly, he rode
October 1869. Moore was a vet one for Paris–Rouen, although it
from Bury St. Edmunds with a was one of the few bikes at the
practice in Paris when he won WLPHÀWWHGZLWKDUHYROXWLRQDU\
ZKDWLVVDLGWREHWKHÀUVWELNH new invention: ball bearings in
race, held over 1,200 m at Paris’s the wheels. His time for the 123
Parc St. Cloud on May 31, 1868, km was 10 hours 40 minutes.
with 10 starters. He covered the Amusingly, an initial report in
distance in 3 minutes 50 seconds; the organizing magazine gave his
the spectators included members nationality as “French although
of the Parisian aristocracy, his name is English” but Moore
according to reports of the time. wrote in to correct the error.
There were almost certainly In 1874 Moore won the
races before this but the Parc McGregor Cup over one mile
6W&ORXGHYHQWZDVWKHÀUVWIRU at Wolverhampton, which
which records exist. According to XQRIÀFLDOO\PDGHKLPZRUOG
the historian Benjo Maso, Moore champion. He also served in the
won the second of two events; French ambulance corps in the
the French writer Pierre Chany Franco-Prussian war and was
mentions only one “trial of speed” awarded the Légion d’Honneur.
MOSER, Francesco (b. Italy, 1951) known for bringing cycling into
a new era by breaking EDDY
“Il Cecco” is the only cyclist to MERCKX’s HOUR RECORD in
have won PARIS–ROUBAIX three Mexico City on January 19, 1984,
times in a row, but he is better then improving his distance
v 247

Moser, Francesco
four days later. Moser was 32 up moderately steep climbs using

years old and had looked a spent high gears.
force, but thanks to sponsorship Aerodynamics, energy drinks,
from the sports drinks company DQGVFLHQWLÀFPRQLWRULQJDUH
Enervit he assembled a team of ubiquitous in cycling today,
50 technicians to look at every thanks partly to the emphatic
area from AERODYNAMICS to diet way in which Moser broke a
and training. They included record that had been assumed
MICHELE FERRARI, who went to be unbeatable. Following
on to a controversial career the record, Moser appeared
that included helping LANCE rejuvenated and won MILAN–SAN
ARMSTRONG win seven Tours de REMO, then took a controversial
France. win in the GIRO D’ITALIA
The buildup lasted three where it was alleged that the
months; Moser earned £96,000 organizers had worked behind
for breaking the record. Although the scenes to ensure a home
the record was subsequently winner.
discredited when Moser As well as his record in Paris–
confessed that he had used blood 5RXEDL[³ZKLFKKHÀQLVKHG
doping—not a practice banned times between 1974 and 1986,
at the time, but one forbidden never coming home lower than
in later years—it led to huge 13th—Moser was also involved
interest in aerodynamics. Moser in one of Italian cycling’s
used disc wheels, skinsuits, greatest RIVALRIES, with the
ORZSURÀOHIUDPHO\FUDVNLQKDW 1982 world champion Giuseppe
and shoe covers, and cow-horn Saronni. He later retired to start
handlebars, all of which became DELNHFRPSDQ\FDPHEULHÁ\RXW
popular. He also gauged his of retirement in 1995 to attempt
training with a pulse monitor an hour record using the tuck
and trained specially with what position invented by GRAEME
amounted to weight training on OBREE, and ran a vineyard in his
his bike, riding for long periods native Trento.
v 248

M o to rp a ci n g
MOTORPACING Racing on the the saddle. A roller attached

track behind full-size adapted to the back of the motorbike
motorbikes, known as the “big meant that if the cyclist’s
motors,” is rarely seen nowadays, front wheel made contact, he
but was popular through the would stay upright. These were
golden era of track racing, hugely dangerous events: in
reaching a peak in the 1920s one attempt, Vanderstuyft wore
with what French historian seven jerseys for protection if he
Pierre Chany termed “the happened to fall.
speed frenzy,” when motorpace 0RWRUSDFHGZDVWKHÀUVW
specialists would vie to become event on the track world-
the fastest man in the world. The championship program in
speeds reached were terrifying. A 1895, and the machines
season-long duel in 1925 between and bikes used today look
the Belgian Leon Vanderstuyft like throwbacks to the 1920s;
and the Frenchman Jean spectacular as the discipline
Brunier, one attempt after the is, it is only feasible on larger,
other, culminated with Brunier often open-air tracks, and there
getting past 75 mph (120 kph). was constant speculation about
They used specially adapted deals being done between the
“stayer” bikes, with small front small group of drivers at the
wheels and straight forks to Worlds. It was removed from
enable them to get closer to the championship after the
the motorbike—on which the 1994 Worlds in Palermo, Sicily.
rider stood at the very rear, bolt The last world motorpaced
upright (with long handlebars) champion was Carsten Podlesch
to give the maximum amount of Germany.
of shelter. A second seat-post Smaller motorbikes with pedal
PLJKWEHÀWWHGEHWZHHQWKHQRVH assistance known as DERNYS are
of the saddle and the top tube used in some track events. Some
to counter G-forces pushing the SIX-DAY RACES and track meets
rider downward and distorting include Derny-paced races, and a
v 249

Moulton, Dr. Alex
single Derny makes the pace for cycle-pacing until 1930, after
the initial laps in KEIRIN races which the riders were paced
outside Japan. They are also either by commercially available
used by track racers for training, motorbikes or Dernys for all
although the Great Britain team or part of the distance until
tends to use a full-size motorbike the race’s demise in 1988. The
to get greater speed. record for the event’s 580-odd
The Bordeaux–Paris “Derby of kilometers was just under
the road” was the only CLASSIC 30 mph (47.610 kph set by
to keep up the tradition of both Andre Chalmel in 1979).
motor- and cycle-pacing. It had
MOULTON, Dr. Alex, CBE or 700C wheels with pneumatic

(b. England, 1920) WLUHVRIIHUVXIÀFLHQWFRPIRUWDQG
durability to make suspension an
'HVLJQHUZKRZDVWKHÀUVW unnecessary complication.
man to make a fundamental Moulton worked initially in
change to cycle design since airplane engineering, then on
the invention of the SAFETY car suspensions using rubber,
BICYCLE, when he launched a and is best known for developing
small-wheeled machine with and producing the system used
full suspension in 1962. From in another iconic 1960s design,
a swinging ’60s novelty to go the Mini. He took six years to
with miniskirts and beehive produce his bike, which had a
hairdos, the Moulton cycle is frame shaped like an F lying on
now a design classic, although its side. The critical factor was
it has never ousted the large- the rubber-based suspension, a
wheeled cycle. That’s because for version of that used on the Mini,
road use conventional 27-inch enabling the small wheels to be
v 250

Moulton, Dr. Alex
used with high pressure tires so aimed at the mass market;

there was no compromise in ride the marriage was an unhappy
or performance. A principal base one and subsequently Sir
tube connected the top of the Alex focused on high-quality,
front fork and the rear drop-out, hand-built bikes. In 1983 the
while two extensions held the AM (Alex Moulton) 7 bike was
saddle and the handlebars. launched, with the “space frame”
To convince a sceptical, made up of a lattice of small
conservative market that this was diameter tubes. A Moulton
a serious machine, Moulton and ÀWWHGZLWKDIDLULQJWRLPSURYH
his marketing manager David AERODYNAMICS was ridden at 51
'XIÀHOGZHQWLQWRVSRQVRUVKLS mph over 200 m, a world record.
A month after its launch, top Today, the latest Moultons
British time triallist John incorporate suspension with
Woodburn broke the Cardiff– rubber springs and adjustable
London record on one of the bikes; ÁXLGGDPSLQJDQGRIIHUWZR
a team pursuit team proved key features: because they are
successful on them—because the shallow in height they can be
small wheels enabled the team used by cyclists of all sizes, and
to keep closer together, reducing they can be “separated”—divided
drag—and TOM SIMPSON became into several bits—making them
a fan when he rode one at the HDV\WRÀWLQDFDUWUXQNRUD
Herne Hill track. With help from suitcase. The top-of-the-range
the British Motoring Corporation, models are made in Reynolds
Moulton rapidly became Britain’s 531 (see FRAMES—MATERIALS),
second-largest cycle maker with adjustable bars, stem, and
behind RALEIGH, selling 1,000 brake levers. Moulton APBs (all
bikes a week by 1965. Other purpose bicycles) are made under
companies produced small-wheel licence by bicycle and tricycle
bikes but never really caught up. makers Pashley in Stratford-on-
Initially Moulton worked Avon, while Moultons are also
with Raleigh to produce bikes made in Japan.
v 251

M o unt ai n - b i k i n g
Moultons have gained a long-distance touring rides—

passionate worldwide following, their strong small wheels and
many of whom are members low center of gravity make
of the Moulton Bicycle Club them well-adapted for carrying
and visit the annual Moulton luggage—although they are best
weekend at the company’s loved by commuters.
headquarters in Bradford-on- (SEE WHEELS)
Avon. They have been used for
MOUNTAIN-BIKING Sprang components, then using them

up in the US in the late 1970s until they broke. He was also the
from various antiestablishment chronicler,” wrote Richard Grant
off-road rides, most notably the in his introduction to the 1988
DOWNHILL races held on the Richard’s Mountain-bike Book.
REPACK trail in California. Of Repack was just one of several
the Repack crew, Charlie Kelly underground off-road rides in
started the magazine Fat Tire the US at the time. Another was
Flyer, Mike Sinyard produced the annual trek from Crested
the groundbreaking Specialized Butte to Aspen over Pearl Pass
Stumpjumper, and frame- using an old mining road, while
builders Joe Breeze and Tom WKHÀUVWUHFRUGHGFURVVFRXQWU\
Ritchey and GARY FISHER all race was held in Marin County
EHFDPHNH\ÀJXUHVLQPRXQWDLQ in 1977. Many of the bikes used
bike mythology. were “clunkers,” based on the
“Gary was the mechanic, 1930s cruiser machines made by
the inventor, and a test rider SCHWINN, scavenged from bike-
. . . Charlie was also a test shop scrap heaps and customized
rider, constantly suggesting with motorbike brake levers,
improvements, tracking down bar-mounted shift levers, fat
v 252

M o unta i n - b i k i n g
tires, and primitive hub brakes. market in 1981. A year later

The term “mountain bike” was SHIMANO and SunTour brought
ÀUVWXVHGIRUDFRPSDQ\VHWXS out mountain-bike groupsets and
by Kelly and Fisher in 1979 to by 1984, US mountain-bike sales
market the machines. had hit a million.
Breeze built an early run 7KHÀUVWXPEUHOODERG\
of 10 replica “clunkers” for National Off-Road Bicycle
Kelly—with cantilever brakes Association, was founded in
and Magura motorbike brake Kelly’s house in 1983 and set
levers—but Ritchey made the the early pace for developing
ÀUVWRQHVWRHQWHUWKHPDUNHW off-road racing. At the same
at $1,300 each, and began using time, off-road tourists such as
the 26-inch wheels that are Nicholas Crane (later to present
now standard. In 1980 Sinyard the BBC series Coast) pushed
bought some Ritchey bikes and the boundaries and helped boost
used them as the basis for the WKHSURÀOHRIWKHQHZELNHVE\
Stumpjumper, which hit the taking the machines to places
v 253

M o unt ai n - b i k i n g
like Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc, sport began to be matched by

and the Yukon. Australians European cyclists such as Henrik
Tim Gartside and Peter Murphy Djernis of Denmark and Thomas
crossed the Sahara in 1983. Frischknecht of Switzerland who
The general public might not had transferred from CYCLO-
have wanted to ride in those CROSS. Early British stars were
places, but they liked having also ’cross riders such as David
machines that looked as if they Baker and Tim Gould, who
could. Cycling off-road was not formed a strong partnership for
new but the notion that doing PEUGEOT.
it made you part of a movement During the 1990s stage
was a novelty, and it was jumped races became popular, with the
upon rapidly by well-marketed TOUR DE FRANCE organizers
companies such as Muddy Fox, experimenting with a mountain-
who pushed their product hard bike Tour in which the riders
in the British market. and caravan slept out in tents.
In 1987 there were two world France’s Fred Moncassin became
championships run by rival the only man to win stages in the
governing bodies, one in the Alps mountain-bike and road Tours.
at Villard de Lans, one in the US A VUELTA A ESPAÑA was also
at Mammoth, California. The UCI run, and a Tour of Switzerland.
sanctioned mountain-biking in In Australia, the Crocodile
DQGWKHÀUVWRIÀFLDOWORLD Trophy was born, with 17 stages
CHAMPIONSHIPS took place at averaging 150 km in length. In
Durango, with Ned Overend and 1996, cross-country was accepted
Juli Furtado of the US winning into the OLYMPIC GAMES with
the cross-country events. The Paola Pezzo and Bart Brentjens
ÀUVW8&,VDQFWLRQHG:RUOG&XS WKHÀUVWFKDPSLRQV7KHEORQG
series, sponsored by Grundig, haired Pezzo, heavily marketed
was run in 1991. by Cannondale, gave the sport a
In the early 1990s, the glamour side.
Americans who had founded the By then, mountain-bike
v 254

M o unta i n - b i k i n g
sales had outstripped road-bike Cannondale, while suspension

sales in the US and UK and the came in from the early
arrival of the fat-tire bikes had 1990s. The 1990 men’s world
led to a complete change in the championship was won using
cycling marketplace, introducing front suspension, and Rockshox’s
vast numbers of new people to provision of forks to GREG
bike riding. It also radically LEMOND and company in PARIS–
restructured the market, ROUBAIX from 1991 onward
bringing technical innovation created a useful buzz.
in its wake that eventually Mountain-biking spawned
transferred into road racing. a number of off-shoots to go
Helmets were quickly made with the original cross-country
compulsory in mountain-biking and downhill. Enduros are
and were improved rapidly as a run along the same lines as
result, making them acceptable CYCLOSPORTIVES, which actually
to road racers. drew on early mountain-
There was almost constant bike cross-country races for
technical development as inspiration. Mountain-bike
Shimano and SunTour orienteering has a hard-core
experimented with componentry following while trials contests
and conditioned the market are centerd on the central notion
to expect annual upgrades. of mountain-biking—that you
All the while manufacturers have to get over, around, up and
vied to produce the sexiest down obstacles you wouldn’t dare
suspension bikes. Oversize tackle on a road bike.
aluminium became popular (SEE CYCLO-CROSS AND ROUGH STUFF
thanks to makers like Klein and FOR OTHER WAYS OF CYCLING OFF-ROAD)
v 255

Murphy, Charles
MURPHY, Charles (b. New York, 1871, could not go fast enough and, in
d. 1950) spite of the adaptations to the
coach, Murphy was constantly
Charles “Mile a Minute” battered by turbulence during
0XUSK\ZDVWKHÀUVWPDQLQ the minute he spent at 60 mph
history to go faster than 60 mph and weaved from side to side,
using human muscle power. almost losing control of his bike
He covered a measured mile as the boards undulated due to
in 57.8 seconds at Maywood, the weight of the engine. He was
Long Island, on June 30, 1899, splattered with dust, cinders,
and epitomized an era when and burning rubber from under
cyclists were pushing the limits the carriage.
of human propulsion with At the end of the mile, the
whatever pacing assistance could train slowed down; Murphy
EHGHYLVHG$ÁDPER\DQWWUDFN couldn’t. He slammed into
racer, Murphy would appear at the back of the coach and was
events dressed in a racing suit dragged on board with his
EDVHGRQWKH86ÁDJZLWKD bike still attached to his feet.
huge eagle on the chest. Murphy 7KHVLJKWWHUULÀHGWKHVHYHUDO
set his record behind a steam thousand onlookers including his
railway engine pulling a coach wife and children.
with a boarded enclosure at the Murphy went on to a
back to shelter him; two and a successful professional career,
half miles of planks were laid claiming seven world records by
between the railway tracks to 1895, and became a policeman
take the bike. Initially the engine when his racing days ended.
v 256

N
NICKNAMES Not surprisingly in Raymond, after the Belgian won
a sport created by JOURNALISTS, a stage in the Midi Libre race by
from the very earliest days it half an hour. In the 1980s, SEAN
has been the press rather than KELLY was nicknamed “the New
the fans who have tended to give Cannibal” while JEANNIE LONGO
cyclists their nicknames in order is “the Lady Cannibal.”
to dramatize a sport in which The lexicon of cycling beasts
much of the action can be a little is endless: the Spaniard Vicente
monotonous. Tour founder HENRI Trueba was “the Flea,” because
DESGRANGE and his sidekick Géo of the way he jumped in the
Lefèvre are the founding fathers mountains. BERNARD HINAULT
here too: their dispatches in said that he was called “the
L’Auto refer to cyclists as “the Badger” because the beast
Furniture Makers” champion,” ÀJKWVKDUGZKHQLWLVFRUQHUHG
the “Prince of the Miners,” or Laurent Jalabert never really
the “White Bulldog.” (For why liked being known as “the
MAURICE GARIN, winner of the Panda,” because of the dark
ÀUVWTOUR DE FRANCE, was circles around his eyes, while
nicknamed “the Little Chimney Joop Zoetemelk was referred
Sweep,” see his entry.) to as “the Rat,” because he
The most famous nickname of allegedly did not contribute in
all was given to EDDY MERCKX: races. Climbing “eagles” such
“the Cannibal” was coined as FEDERICO BAHAMONTES and
in 1971 by the daughter of a Ferdi Kubler are numerous,
frustrated Frenchman, Christian so too valiant “lions” such as
v 257

Ni c k n a mes
Fiorenzo Magni, while Jan Uzbek sprinter DJAMOLIDIN

Ullrich was known as “Der ABDUZHAPAROV was known; he
Uhle,” the Owl, a wordplay on was also called “the Terminator,”
an abbreviation of his surname: for the way Abdu’ kept falling
Ulli. The British Olympic down and getting up again.
medalist Geraint Thomas has Some nicknames just happen:
been called “the Penguin,” QRRQHNQRZVZKRÀUVWFDOOHG
because, said David Millar, he SEAN YATES “Tonk” or “Horse”
resembles the characters from although the sense is obvious.
WKHÀOPMadagascar: cute on the British journalists referred to
outside, ruthless inside. (Millar French climber Richard Virenque
was nicknamed “Boy Dave” as “Tricky Dicky”—when he was
until he fell foul of a DOPING being evasive about the Festina
scandal in 2004.) The French drug scandal—and also “Spotted
call any Australian cyclist “le Dick,” a reference to the red and
Kangourou.” white Tour climber’s jersey.
There have been several Some cyclists have coined their
“eternal seconds,” riders more own nicknames for marketing
famous for never quite managing purposes. Tour climber Claudio
to win: Zoetemelk was one, &KLDSSXFFLZDVWKHÀUVWFDOOLQJ
RAYMOND POULIDOR another. The himself “il Diablo.” MARCO
diminutive is common—Perico PANTANIZDVÀUVWNQRZQDV
for Pedro Delgado, Poupou for “Elefantino”—Dumbo—because of
Poulidor—but on the other his big ears, and also “Nosferatu”
hand “Big Mig,” the nickname because of his emaciated face,
for MIGUEL INDURAIN, was but sold himself as “Il Pirata,”
invented by British journalists because of his seaside roots,
when asked by an American and created a line of bandanas,
colleague for a translation of his saddles, and other accessories
Spanish monicker Miguelon. with a skull and crossbones motif;
The author can claim credit for his 1999 team launch featured
the “Tashkent Terror,” as the a vast mock-up of a pirate ship.
v 258

Nude Cycling
With the help of a shoe company, by male writers) as “La Mamma

sprinter Mario Cipollini went Volanteµ³WKHÁ\LQJPRWKHU
through many incarnations: Other great nicknames: “the
for instance “the Sun King,” “il Cycling Brummel” (1935 world
0DJQLÀFR.” He was also referred champion Jean Aerts), “The
to as “SuperMario” and as Pious One” (GINO BARTALI),
“Moussolini,” for his hair gel. “the Mason of Friuli” (Ottavio
Nicknames are less prevalent Bottecchia, 1924–5 Tour de
in women’s cycling, but the France winner), “le Pedaleur
dominant force, Jeannie Longo, de Charme” (Hugo Koblet), and
has been called “Ma Dalton,” “Major Tom” (TOM SIMPSON).
after the ferocious old lady “The Professor” was LAURENT
created by the cartoonist FIGNON, 1983–4 Tour winner;
Goscinny; her great rival the “Gypsy” or “Beast of Eeklo”
Maria Canins was rather four-time Paris–Roubaix winner
patronizingly known (probably ROGER DE VLAEMINCK.
NUDE CYCLING First depicted, song “Bicycle Race” in 1978; 24

perhaps, in an 18th-century years later the photoshoot was
English church window and recreated with 18 models on BMX
popular in turn-of-the-century bikes to promote a computer
French POSTERS, cycling with game.
nothing on has gone from a LANCE ARMSTRONG brought
fringe activity to a way of nudity into the mainstream by
garnering publicity and money. posing naked—side on—on his
The rock band Queen gathered bike for Annie Leibovitz for the
a bevy of naked models on bikes magazine Vanity Fair in 1999.
at the Crystal Palace cycling Armstrong’s pose was copied
circuit to shoot the cover for their by the British OLYMPIC team
v 259

Nude Cycling
sprinter Victoria Pendleton— Britain, Canada, Spain, and

VDLGWREHZHDULQJÁHVKFRORUHG Germany. The extent of undress
underwear—for the magazine is up to the participants and
Observer Sport Monthly in includes various forms of
2008. Apparently her dentist body-painting but nudity is here
disapproved, but her parents used as a metaphor to express
were happy with the picture. the vulnerability of cyclists in
Later, Pendleton’s fellow Beijing WUDIÀF
gold-medalist Rebecca Romero In reference to the CRITICAL
was depicted wearing only gold MASS RIDESLQSURWHVWDWWUDIÀF
body paint in a sports drink conditions, there are also naked
advertisement that made it into rides called Critical Ass and
the British tabloid press. Critical Tits. At the British
More seriously, naked cycling event in Brighton one March, the
is now a form of protest, with temperature meant the ride had
the annual world naked bike to be brief and the participants
ride (www.worldnakedbikeride. wore woolly hats and gloves. In
org) against car culture and June 2009, 700 rode in the event,
climate change taking place in then went skinny-dipping in the
60 countries, including the US, sea.
v 260

O
OBREE, Graeme mamma’s farm to eat pasta.
But in one of cycling’s most
Born: Ayrshire, Scotland, September 11, improbable rises to fame, if not
1965 exactly fortune, Obree not only
Major wins: World pursuit champion 1993, bettered Moser’s distance on the
1995; world Hour Records 1993, 1994 velodrome at Hamar, Norway,
Nickname: the Flying Scotsman but did so at his second attempt
Further reading/viewing: Flying WV\PMZMKWZL_Q\PQV PW]Z[
Scotsman, Graeme Obree, Velo Press, Conventional wisdom has it that it is
2005; DVD Battle of the Bikes impossible to recover from an effort
such as this overnight, but Obree
1V2]Ta!!ITMILQVO1\ITQIV kept his legs from stiffening up by
RW]ZVITQ[\PMIZL\PI\I;KW\\Q[P drinking copious amounts of water
amateur on a homemade bike so he had to wake up to urinate.
_I[UISQVOITIZOMTa[MTNÅVIVKML Each time he woke, he did stretching
attempt to break the fearsome HOUR exercises to ease his muscles.
RECORD held by the legendary He followed that up with a world
Italian FRANCESCO MOSER. The championship in the individual
nine-year-old record was considered pursuit, beating the Olympic
LMÅVQ\Q^MIVLKaKTQVOOZMI\[[]KP champion CHRIS BOARDMAN, and he
as BERNARD HINAULT and GREG ILLMLI[MKWVL_WZTL\Q\TMQV!!
LEMOND felt it was too hard for He later wrote a detailed account
them. The writer scoffed and said of his severe depression and suicide
that if Graeme Obree beat Moser attempts.
he would retire and return to his Obree is a policeman’s son
v 261

Obree, Graeme
from Ayrshire who was drawn training was done on an adapted

to cycling partly to escape being PWUM\ZIQVMZ_Q\PITMI\PMZJMT\¸
bullied at school, and he has always ¹TQSMNWZZW]VLaW]Z_IQ[\º¸\W
had an unconventional approach control resistance.
to the sport. He turned up at his The machine he designed to
ÅZ[\ZIKMI\QUM\ZQIT_MIZQVO,Z beat Moser’s hour record had an
Martens shoes and stopped before F-shaped frame like a MOULTON
\PMÅVQ[PJMKI][MPMI[[]UML\PM folding bike, a narrow bottom
race ended where it had began. By bracket to keep his feet close
\PMMIZTa!![PQ[RIVALRY with together, and high handlebars so
Boardman had become intense, as that his arms could be bent up
much due to the contrast between underneath his chest. To get the
the pair as what happened on the bike narrow, he incorporated a
road. It was captured in a television washing-machine bearing, not
documentary, Battle of the Bikes. because it was all he could afford,
Obree built his own bikes and lived but because it was the perfect size.
off a diet of sliced white bread, Riding on the Bordeaux velodrome,
UIZUMTILMIVLKWZVÆISM[)\WVM Boardman bettered Obree’s distance
point in his life, when his phone was a week after the Scot beat Moser’s
cut off, he could only be reached by distance, but Obree returned the
calling the pay phone on the street following April to regain the record.
where he lived. Five months later, the quintuple
The key to Obree’s success was
his hunch that a radical “tucked-in”
aerodynamic position would make
him faster (see AERODYNAMICS). “I
got the hacksaw out, turned the
bars up, cut the extra off and that
was me. I hadn’t been riding much,
J]\1LQLIXMZ[WVITJM[\º1V! !
PM_WV\QUM\ZQIT[IVL\WWS\PM
British hour record. Much of his
v 262

Obree, Graeme
Tour winner MIGUEL INDURAIN went enabled Obree to beat his distance.
even faster. The cycling authorities felt that too
Obree’s sporting success and much attention was being paid to
easygoing manner hid the fact that aerodynamics and banned the tuck a
he was mentally ill. His successes, he few minutes before Obree defended
said, came from a terror of failing. PQ[X]Z[]Q\\Q\TMQV!!
He was driven, he said, by “a need After being prevented from riding
to win to feel worthwhile enough to that year, Obree responded by
go about the daily business of life.” creating a new position nicknamed
Obree made several attempts to kill “Superman,” in which his arms
himself before he was eventually pointed straight forward, and he used
diagnosed as manic depressive with Q\\W_QV\PM!!_WZTLX]Z[]Q\\Q\TM
a personality disorder. His record Superman was used by the Italian
and world championship had been \MIU\WLWUQVI\M\PM!!7TaUXQK
“a life shock” he said later, taking Games track events, while Boardman
him from hunting for pennies down [M\ILMÅVQ\Q^M0W]Z:MKWZL][QVO
the back of his sofa to contracts it later that year. The position was
worth thousands of dollars. “I was Z]TMLQTTMOITI\\PMMVLWN !!IVL
R][\[_MX\ITWVO+aKTQVO_I[IXIZ\a Obree retired from cycling, although
trick and I liked the reaction.” PMZM\]ZVMLQV\W\ISM\PM\MIU
The radical position adopted XZQbMQV\PM;KW\\Q[PUQTM\QUM
by Obree challenged conventional trial championship. A FILM entitled
thinking, which was that the the Flying Scotsman was made of his
diamond frame adopted in the late life story starring Johnny Lee Miller.
!\PKMV\]Za_I[\PMUW[\MNÅKQMV\ 1V.MJZ]IZa7JZMMIOIQVUILM
form for cyclists: other cyclists headlines with his revelation that he
tried the tuck, including Moser, is homosexual, which made him the
who made a comeback in order to ÅZ[\PQOPXZWÅTMUITMKaKTQ[\\WKWUM
prove that only the position had out.
v 263

Ochowicz, Jim
OCHOWICZ, Jim (b. Milwaukee, initially relied on the

Wisconsin, 1951) Australian veteran Phil
Anderson and was then built
A mainstay of US road racing for around a rising star: Lance
30 years, and a legendary team Armstrong. Motorola ceased
manager, Ochowicz began his sponsorship at the end of
cycling career as a track racer, 1996, and Ochowicz became
competing in the team pursuit a stockbroker working with
at the 1972 and 1976 summer Thomas Weisl, owner of the
Olympics. He was one of the US Postal Service team. He
founders of the 7-Eleven cycling maintained his links with
team in 1981 and managed professional cycling by managing
the squad when it successfully the US national team at the
transferred to European racing world road race championships
LQEHFRPLQJWKHÀUVW and served as president of US
US team to start the Tour Cycling from 2002 to 2006. In
the following year. The squad 2007 he began working with
included stars of US cycling the Swiss squad BMC, the
such as Davis Phinney and Andy connection being that Ochowicz
Hampsten, who gave the United helped secure sponsorship for
6WDWHVWKHLUÀUVWYLFWRU\LQWKH the team’s precursor Phonak
1988 Giro d’Italia. In 1990, with the iShares company, only
Ochowicz’s team led the TOUR DE for the deal to fall through when
FRANCE for nine stages with the Phonak leader Floyd Landis
Canadian STEVE BAUER. When tested positive. Ochowicz helped
7-Eleven ceased sponsorship guide BMC to ProTour status
at the end of 1990, Ochowicz in 2010. He is married to the
obtained backing from the former track cyclist and Olympic
Motorola corporation. The team speed skater Sheila Young.
v 264

O l y m p i c G a mes
OLYMPIC GAMES Cycling was in Los Angeles. In track racing,

included in the Olympics when WKHZRPHQ·VVSULQWGLGQRWÀJXUH
they were founded in 1896 by until 1988, and the pursuit in
Baron de Coubertin and has been 1992, and women remained
in every Games since, apart from hard done by well into the 21st
ZKHQWKHUHZHUHQRRIÀFLDO century, with only one event for
events. For 100 years, however, female sprinters compared to
the Olympics carried less weight three for the men.
in the cycling world than the 7KHPRVWVLJQLÀFDQWUHFHQW
TOUR DE FRANCE or road-race change occurred in 1996 in
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. The Atlanta, when “open” cycling
professional elite were unable to events were held, with the
compete so the Games were seen best professionals permitted to
as, at best, a stepping stone to compete. That was achieved by
a pro career. As a result, prior removing the distinction between
to 1996, very few of cycling’s top the amateur and pro sides of
QDPHVÀJXUHGLQWKHUHVXOWV the sport; in that year, the road
for example, the only “amateur” time trial was also introduced,
Games medalist to win a Tour and MIGUEL INDURAIN’s victory
de France is Joop Zoetemelk of symbolized the arrival at the
Holland. Games of the biggest names in
The program has undergone cycling. In the same year, the
numerous changes. Women’s MOUNTAIN-BIKE cross-country
cycling was a disgracefully was brought in.
late inclusion in the Games, BMX was made an Olympic
given that women were brought sport in 2008, but this happened
into the world road-race amid huge controversy, as the
championships in 1958. It was kilometer time trial—an event
another 26 years before the dating back to the 1896 Games—
Games recognized women’s was dropped in spite of intense
cyclists, with Connie Carpenter opposition. More hot debate
winning the inaugural road race looked to be in store running up
v 265

O l y m pi c G a mes
United States Olympic Medals

=
Paris, 1900 bronze: John Henry Lake, sprint
St. Louis, 1904 only US cyclists competed in all seven cycling events, thus winning 21
medals. Marcus Hurley won four gold medals and a bronze; Burton Downing won
two golds, three silvers, and a bronze.
Stockholm, 1912 bronze: road-race team; Carl Schutte, road race
Los Angeles, 1984 gold: Mark Gorski, sprint; Steve Hegg, pursuit; Alexi Grewal, road race; Connie
Carpenter, women’s road race
silver: Nelson Vails, sprint; Rebecca Twigg, women’s road race
bronze: Leonard Harvey Nitz, pursuit; time-trial team
Seoul, 1988 bronze: Connie Young, women’s sprint
Barcelona, 1992 bronze: Erin Hartwell, kilometer; Rebecca Twigg, women’s pursuit
Atlanta, 1996 silver: Marty Nothstein, sprint; Erin Hartwell, kilometer; Susan DeMattei, women’s
cross-country
Sydney, 2000 gold: Marty Nothstein, sprint
silver: Mari Holden, women’s individual time trial
bronze: Lance Armstrong, individual time trial
Athens, 2004 gold: Tyler Hamilton, individual time trial
silver: Deirdre Demet-Barry, women’s individual time trial
bronze: Bobby Julich, individual time trial
Beijing, 2008 gold: Kristin Armstrong, women’s individual time trail
silver: Mike Day, BMX
bronze: Levi Leipheimer, individual time trial; Donny Robinson, BMX; Jill
Kintner, women’s BMX
v 266

Opperman, Sir Hubert
to 2012, as radical alterations combining a kilometer time trial,

were made to the track program PÁ\LQJVWDUWWLPHWULDO
to achieve parity for men and points, scratch, “devil take the
women Olympians. hindmost,” and pursuit. The
Three events with long- women sprinters were set to gain
standing traditions, the pursuit, two events, the team sprint and
points race, and Madison, were KEIRIN, gaining parity with their
removed. They were replaced by male counterparts.
a new event, the omnium, a six- (SEE TRACK RACING FOR MORE ON THESE
event “pentathlon” style event DISCIPLINES.)
OPPERMAN, Sir Hubert cricket at school, and was picked

]XI\\PMIOMWN Ja5IT^MZV
Born: Rochester, Australia, May 29, 1904 Star Cycles. Opperman won four
Died: Knox, Australia, April 24, 1996 Australian road championships for
Major wins: Australian champion 1924, the bike company, and his name was
1926–7, 1929; Paris–Brest–Paris 1931; always to be associated with them.
OBE 1952, knighted 1980 Through Malvern boss Bruce Small,
Nickname: Oppy who would remain his manager
throughout his cycling career, he
One of AUSTRALIA’s greatest was introduced to Don Kirkham,
sportsmen in any arena, “Oppy” WVMWN \_W)][\ZITQIV[\WÅVQ[P
was a pioneer who won hearts and \PM!TOUR DE FRANCE (the
UQVL[QV-]ZWXMQV\PM![\PMV other being Iddo “Snowy” Munro).
went on to a successful career in <PM aMIZWTL7XXa[WISML]X
POLITICS after the Second World Kirkham’s tales of racing in Europe
War. Opperman was a butcher’s son IVL[M\WNN QV! NWZPQ[W_V
who delivered telegrams on his bike, campaign that would include the
played Australian Rules Football and Tour de France, paid for in part by
v 267

a fundraising campaign in three for his ability to urinate while riding.

newspapers in Australia and New 0MKWUXTM\ML!!SUUQTM[
Zealand. In the Tour, Opperman and was persuaded to keep going
and his three teammates were at NWZIVW\PMZ!UQV]\M[\WILL\PM
a huge disadvantage: most of the _WZTLSQTWUM\MZZMKWZL;W
stages were TEAM TIME TRIALS in popular were his feats in France that
which they would struggle against he was voted athlete of the year by
UIV[Y]IL[_PQTMPI^QVO\W the readers of L’Auto, the paper that
ÅVQ[P_Q\PQVMIKPLIa¼[\QUMTQUQ\ ran the Tour.
<PMaIT[WNIKMLTIVO]IOMLQNÅK]T\QM[" 1V!PMZM\]ZVMLNWZI[MKWVL
their manager was French and the I\\MUX\I\\PM<W]ZÅVQ[PQVO\P
race organizers would not permit J]\UWZM[QOVQÅKIV\TaPMUIVIOML
him to talk to their translator, the to win PARIS–BREST–PARIS\PMÅZ[\
RW]ZVITQ[\:MVMLM4I\W]Z_PW victory by a non-European in the
wrote of “poor lonely Opperman toughest CLASSIC of the time. The
being caught day after day by the race was run in rain and headwinds,
various teams of ten super athletes, but the biggest obstacle was simply
swopping their pace beautifully.” staying awake through two nights
Even so, Opperman rode into Paris on the road. Here Opperman
\PW^MZITTW^MZMQOP\IVLIPITN admitted that he was helped by his
hours behind the winner Nicolas experiences racing massive distances
Frantz of Luxembourg. He was in Australian events such as Sydney–
immediately invited to ride the Bol Melbourne: he banged his head
L¼7ZPW]ZZIKMI\\PM*]NNITW with his hands, sang tunelessly every
velodrome in Paris, a nonstop event few minutes, and swallowed the
in which the stars were assisted coffee, tea, soup, and chops provided
by teams of pacers. There were Ja;UITT1VKZMLQJTa\PM!PW]Z
two attempts to sabotage his bike ZIKMKIUMLW_V\WIÅ^MUIV[XZQV\
by sawing through the chain, but on the Versailles velodrome, where
his team manager found a heavy 7XXMZUIV_WVJaTMVO\P[
substitute machine to enable Oppy 1V!7XXMZUIVUW^ML\W
to win. He was warmly applauded Britain for a road-record campaign,
v 268

sponsored by BSA, who were linked After serving in the war in the
\W5IT^MZV0MJZWSMÅ^MLQ[\IVKM Royal Australian Air Force, he
records in a fortnight, including entered the Australian Parliament
the END TO END from Land’s End– and was, variously, minister for
2WPV7¼/ZWI\[QV!0MJZWSM transport, minister for immigration,
virtually every record on the books and high commissioner to Malta.
in Australia, setting a Freemantle– He continued cycling until the
;aLVMa\QUMWN LIa[PW]Z[ IOMWN !IVL_I[IK\]ITTaWVIV
UQV]\M[IVLKTW[QVOPQ[KIZMMZJa exercise bike when he died.
[UI[PQVOZMKWZL[QVIPW]Z
attempt in Sydney.
v 269

P
PANTANI, Marco achieve the DOUBLE of wins in the
GIRO D’ITALIA and TOUR DE FRANCE
Born: Cesena, Italy, January 13, 1970 in the same year, but died a tragic
Died: Rimini, Italy, February 14, 2004 death and came to epitomize the
Major wins: Tour de France and Giro drug problems of the sport in the
d’Italia 1998, eight stage wins in each; !![IVLJMaWVL
second, 1997 Tour; third, 1994 Tour; Pantani emerged as a professional
second, 1994 Giro; bronze medal, 1995 QV\PM!!/QZW\ISQVO[MKWVL\W
world road championships Evgeni Berzin and showing MIGUEL
Nicknames: Dumbo, the Little Elephant, INDURAIN a clean pair of heels in
Nosferatu, the Pirate, and Pac-man— \PMUW]V\IQV[1V\PM!!<W]ZLM
because of the way he would gobble France it was impossible to ignore
up rivals one by one en route to a him: he made dramatic attacks, fell
mountaintop finish WNN M^MZaVW_IVL\PMVIVLÅVQ[PML
Reading: The Death of Marco Pantani, third. Every mountain inspired the
Matt Rendell, Phoenix, 2007 same thought: when would Pantani
make his move, and what would
The charismatic and deeply happen?
troubled Italian was one of 1V!!PM_WV\_W<W]Z[\IOM[
professional cycling’s most J]\[]NNMZMLIPWZZQÅKKWTTQ[QWV_Q\P
celebrated climbing talents and one I÷_PQTMLM[KMVLQVOQV\PM
of its most distinctive stars thanks 5QTIV·<]ZQV#Q\_I[_QLMTaI[[]UML
to his shaven head and big ears. that the compound fracture of his
He was one of a small minority to right shin had ended his career.
v 270

Pantani, Marco
1V)XZQT!!Q\PILPMITML\WI insulin, found in a syringe when

massive lump, with livid scars where XWTQKMZIQLML\PM/QZW1VPM
the pins had been put in to stabilize returned to cycling to complete
the fracture. At that point he could \PM/QZW¸IN\MZIXIXITZMKMX\QWV
only pedal a low gear, to avoid QV\PM>I\QKIV¸IVL_WV\PM
putting pressure on the leg. Mont Ventoux stage of the Tour,
*a2]Ta!!PMPILZMKW^MZML but during his spell in limbo he
[]NÅKQMV\Ta\W_QV\_WUW]V\IQV had acquired a cocaine habit that
stages of the Tour and take second dogged him to his retirement in
W^MZITT0Q[_QV[QV\PM!! /QZW IVLJMaWVL¹1¼UÅOP\QVO
d’Italia and Tour were inspiring simply to get back my peace of
after the DOPING scandal that hit the mind and my love of the bike,”
!! <W]Z<PMTMOMVLIZaLW]JTM he said early that year. When he
put him on a level with the greats of was found dead of a heart attack
KaKTQVO#W^MZVQOP\PMJMKIUM1\ITa¼[ in a hotel in Rimini on Valentine’s
biggest sports star, with earnings ,IaPM_I[IVILLQK\_PW[M
M[\QUI\MLI\UQTTQWVIaMIZ friends had made numerous, fruitless
But his downfall came suddenly in attempts to clean him up.
2]VM!!!_PMVPM_I[\PZW_VWNN Pantani’s death has inspired
the Giro d’Italia, at a point where a charitable foundation and an
a crushing victory was seemingly elaborate mausoleum in his home
assured, for failing a blood test that town, where his statue stands on
indicated possible use of EPO. He the main square. There are also
was embittered for the rest of his life roadside MEMORIALS to recall
Ja\PMQVKQLMV\#PM_I[KWV^QVKML some of his greatest exploits: on
he had been unfairly targeted and the Mortirolo and Fauniera passes
could not believe the way that the in Italy and at the Deux Alpes
cycling milieu turned its back on [SQZM[WZ\QV.ZIVKM<_WUIRWZ
him. CYCLOSPORTIVES, the Nove Colli
;]J[MY]MV\TaWNÅKQIT[NW]VL and the Marco Pantani, go over
M^QLMVKMPMPIL][ML-87#PM climbs associated with him.
was later banned for the use of (SEE ALSO ITALY, DRUGS)
v 271

Par al y m p i c C y cl i n g
PARALYMPIC CYCLING Brought in life can lead to the same

in as an Olympic sport in Seoul symptoms, and these athletes
in 1988—for road events only— compete with congenital CP
ZLWKWKHÀUVWWUDFNHYHQWV cyclists. Locomotor athletes
in Atlanta in 1996. The UCI are divided into four categories
recognizes three categories of depending on the level of limb
event in Disability Cycling: disability; they can and often do
Blind and Partially Sighted (VI compete on handcycles.
or B/VI), Cerebral Palsy (CP), The GREAT BRITAIN cycling
and Locomotor (LC). Riders are team has a dedicated paralympic
assessed before their category section that dominated its
is allotted. VI riders race on the events in Beijing in 2008,
back of a tandem with a fully winning 17 gold medals and 3
sighted pilot. Races include silvers. Britain’s leading cycling
Á\LQJPPDWFKVSULQW Paralympian is Darren Kenny
kilometer time trial, and from Dorset, a double gold medal
pursuit. winner in Athens and a triple
CP is a condition occurring gold medalist in Beijing in 2008.
at birth that interferes with Kenny injured his neck in the
the development of the brain, RÁS Tour of Ireland aged 19 and
affecting muscle tone and spinal returned to racing 11 years later
UHÁH[HV%UDLQLQMXULHVODWHU PHUHO\LQRUGHUWRJHWÀW
PARIS–BREST–PARIS Every riding through the night in

few years strange sights are to great streams of cycle lights,
be seen on back roads between bedraggled cyclists lining up
Paris and Brittany: vast outside school cafeterias and
groups of cyclists with their village salles de fêtesWRÀOOXS
bikes festooned with panniers on carbohydrate-rich food, and,
v 272

Par i s – B rest – P a ri s
oddest of all, men and women frames. Charles Terront won the
clad in lycra sleeping wherever ÀUVWUDFHLQKRXUVPLQXWHV
they can by the roadside: in with the aid of the 10 pacers
haystacks, hedges, doorways. placed along the route to help
Such is Paris–Brest–Paris, the riders. The race’s distance,
one of the great pioneering races straight down Route Nationale
when it was founded in 1891, 12 and back, was such that it
now two different mass events was decided to organize it only
UXQLQIRXUDQGÀYH\HDUF\FOHV once every 10 years. The great
for several thousand cycle- publicity line was that as the
tourists who don’t mind a little turn point was in the French
sleep deprivation. In villages département of Finistère, it could
and towns along the 1,200 km be billed as a race “to the ends of
route, the population turns out the earth.” The second edition,
to watch the cyclists, who try to 1901, was won by MAURICE
complete the event within the GARIN in just over 52 hours.
90-hour limit. That means riding Le Petit Journal was joined as
through the night, three times, sponsor by L’Auto; such was the
with a few short naps along the paper’s increase in sales that its
way: sometimes in market halls, editor HENRI DESGRANGE began
with labels at their feet to tell looking for ideas for an annual
helpers when they want to be event that would last even longer
woken up. In parts of Brittany, and be an even greater test of
local people still turn out to place stamina: he and his colleague
candles in jam jars and tins to Géo Lefèvre came up with the
light the way into their villages TOUR DE FRANCE.
at the dead of night. The last pro PBP race was in
PBP was founded in 1891 by 1951 and was won by Frenchman
the newspaper Le Petit Journal, Maurice Diot in a record 38
as a test of bicycle reliability at a hours 55 minutes, a time that
time when penny farthings were still stands today. Randonneur
being supplanted by diamond and AUDAX events had begun
v 273

Par i s – Br est – P a ri s
in 1931, and while the pro race the controllers at a control,

could not draw enough entrants, urinating in a built-up area, not
the touristes kept turning up. respecting red lights and stop
The randonneur and audax signs on numerous occasions,
events were run by different using the lights of a following
organizations until 1991 when car illegally and not letting a
the events were combined. controller’s car pass.” In essence,
,QVRPHRIWKHÀUVW those penalized had crossed the
PDOHÀQLVKHUVZHUHH[FOXGHG intangible line between a “tourist
from the closing ceremony event,” in which a time may be
and penalized two hours after taken but the spirit of the event
ÀQLVKLQJZLWKWKHIDVWHVWWLPHV is amicable, and a race, in which
in the event’s history. They anything goes in order to be
had contravened various rules quickest from A to B.
but more importantly were (SEE CAPE TOWN, CYCLOSPORTIVES,
felt to have behaved in a way AND ÉTAPE DU TOUR FOR OTHER LONG-
DISTANCE CHALLENGES)
that contravened the spirit of
the event, including “pushing
v 274

Par i s – R o u b a i x
PARIS–ROUBAIX The “Queen SPORT ORGANISATION, and French

of Classics,” La Pascale, or television devotes vast resources
simply the “Hell of the North,” to covering it, including specially
this is the most coveted one- adapted motorcross bikes to get
day CLASSIC of them all. All LQUDFHIRRWDJHDQGÀ[HGFDPHUDV
the MONUMENTS of cycling on the main cobbled sections.
are founded on tradition: the Paris–Roubaix goes back
inclusion of over 30 miles of to 1896 and was originally
COBBLES means that Paris– run to publicize a newly built
Roubaix is simply a throwback velodrome in an industrial
to the HEROIC ERA, when road suburb of the city of Lille. It
surfaces played a key role in was run on Easter Sunday in
every cycle race. The event is the face of opposition from the
not universally popular among Church; to placate them, a mass
professionals because of the risks was held at 4 AM before the
involved: every year there are VWDUW7KHHYHQWVWLOOÀQLVKHVRQ
crashes on the cobblestones and the velodrome although there
a cyclist’s entire season can be KDYHEHHQEULHIÁLUWDWLRQVZLWK
compromised. “Une cochonnerie,” RWKHUÀQLVKHVZLWKLQ5RXEDL[
was the verdict of BERNARD The riders collapse on to the
HINAULT. “A man’s race,” said grass in the middle of the track
SEAN YATES, the best Briton in DIWHUWKHÀQLVKWKH\DUHGRLQJ
the event. “Cycling’s last bit of H[DFWO\ZKDWWKHÀUVWZLQQHU
madness,” according to the TOUR the German Josef Fischer,
DE FRANCE organizer Jacques would have done. Uniquely for a
Goddet. modern race, the riders shower
The event was immortalized off the mud and blood in an
LQRQHRIWKHÀQHVWF\FOLQJFILMS archaic washroom, where the
ever: JORGEN LETH’s masterpiece press can interview them. No
A Sunday in Hell. Today, it is a other Classic has stayed so close
key event on the roster of Tour to its past.
de France organizers AMAURY Initially the cobbles were just
v 275

seeking out cobbled sections to

liven up the event. The turning
point came in 1968 with the
discovery of a horribly deformed,
undulating track through the
Wallers-Arenberg forest—close
to the coalmines that featured in
Émile Zola’s Germinal—that has
been the centerpoint of the race
since then.
Now the cobbles are
threatened by development
and restricted to back roads
WKURXJKWKHÀHOGVZLWKEXFROLF
names such as Prayers’ Lane
and Sugar Mill Lane. The
Amis de Paris–Roubaix exist to
maintain them, investing a lot of
labor and about €15,000 a year.
There are about 30 sections, all
subtly different depending on
whether the cobbles are slate
(slippery) or granite (bad for
punctures), uphill, downhill, well
maintained, or badly drained
and full of water. The decisive
point today is about 20 km from
WKHÀQLVKWKHORQJGUDJJLQJ
section that leads to a lonely
part of the route as they were café at Carrefour de l’Arbre: the
in other races, but by the 1960s Crossroads of the Tree.
the organizers were actively Racing on the cobbles is a
v 276

unique skill, based on pushing like off-piste skiing through

a big gear, for as long as your trees: you have to have wide
strength lasts, while trying vision, all the time.” A single
to avoid the potholes and rider losing control can result
keeping an eye open for crashes. in an instant pile-up; if a rider
“You can’t make any abrupt punctures, it can take several
movements. If it’s wet and you minutes to get a wheel
make a last-minute movement, change because team cars
you’re down,” said Yates. “It’s get left way behind as the
The Four- and Five-Star Sections

=
T he cobbled sections are numbered, in descending order to the finish, and given star ratings
for difficulty by the organizers according to how long they are and the condition of the
cobbles. Four and five stars are the hardest.
No. 26 Quiévy–Saint Python: 3.7 km long, including a 2-kilometer uphill drag, which makes
it one of the toughest parts of the course. 4*
No. 19 Wallers–Haveluy: 2.5 km long; cobbles are good but often muddy. 4*
No. 18 Trouée d’Arenberg: 2.4 km long, used since 1968, dead straight with irregular, large
cobbles, with many potholes. 5* (See COBBLES for more detail)
No. 10 Mons en Pévèle–Mérignies: 3 km long, including two right-angle bends that are
often muddy. Particularly bad in the wet. 5*
No. 6 Cysoing–Wannehain: 2.5 km in two sections either side of the village of Bourghelles,
with the second particularly rough. 4*
No. 5 Camphin-en-Pévèle: 1.8 km; includes a muddy 90-degree bend, with the roughest
cobbles towards the end. 4*
No. 4 Camphin-en-Pévèle–Carrefour de l’Arbre: the key section comes just before the
finish, initially flat then rising slightly toward the café on the worst cobbles. 5*
v 277

race strings out through the Hincapie placed second in 2005

cobbled lanes. and was in the top 10 seven
And then there is the times.
continual bumping: “Like sitting Other races have tried to
on a pneumatic drill,” was the follow Paris–Roubaix’s unique
verdict of the 1990 runner-up format. One of the most
Steve Bauer. The mechanics successful is the Eroica, which
try various tricks to reduce the is held on dirt roads—strade
pain: at one point in the 1990s, bianche—in Tuscany. The Tro
Rockshox MOUNTAIN-BIKE forks Bro Léon is a Breton race that
became popular, but the usual includes unsurfaced lanes in
tweaks are thicker handlebar the far west of France, while
tape and fatter tires, run at a in Britain the East Midlands
slightly lower pressure than Cyclassic takes in a raft of
usual. Winning Paris–Roubaix mucky farm tracks.
is the mark of the true cycling The Paris–Roubaix
great: FAUSTO COPPI and EDDY CYCLOSPORTIVE is held every other
MERCKX both managed it, but June so that amateur cyclists can
Hinault is the last Tour winner get the full cobbled experience:
to triumph in cycling’s hell. the bumps, the velodrome, and
The record winner is ROGER DE WKHVKRZHUV$OOÀQLVKHUVUHFHLYH
VLAEMINCK, with four victories, a cobblestone mounted on a
while FRANCESCO MOSER is the base. A mountain-bike event was
only man to win three times in RUJDQL]HGEULHÁ\LQWKHVDQG
a row (1978–80). No American there are junior and under-23
has won the race, but George races on shorter courses.
v 278

Paterson, Banjo
PATERSON, Banjo (b. Australia, 1864, Bill is a yokel with ideas above
d. 1941) his station.
The poem begins:
Australian poet who produced
the ballad “Mulga Bill’s Bicycle” Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that caught the
in 1896; probably the best-known cycling craze;
cycling poem, it is contemporary He turned away the good old horse that served
with H. G. Wells’s novel about him many days;
early cycling The Wheels of He dressed himself in cycling clothes,
Chance (see BOOKS). The poem resplendent to be seen;
has been in print since 1973 and He hurried off to town and bought a shining new
is among Paterson’s most popular machine;
works. It deals with Mulga Bill’s And as he wheeled it through the door, with air of
purchase of a bike, his pride in lordly pride,
his riding skill, and his downfall The grinning shop assistant said “Excuse me,
when—of course—he crashes. can you ride?”
The poem is celebrated today in
the Mulga Bill Bicycle Trail at The joke is that Bill cannot ride,
Eaglehawk, the Victoria town and after ending up in “Dead
where it is set. Mulga is a species Man’s Creek,” swears to stick to
of shrub that grows in the bush; his horse in future.
the implication being that Mulga (SEE POETRY FOR OTHER CYCLING POEMS)
PATTERSON, Frank See ART
PAVÉ French word for COBBLES.

(SEE ALSO FLANDERS, PARIS–ROUBAIX, CLASSICS)
v 279

Pedersen, Mikael
PEDERSEN, Mikael (b. Denmark, 1855, and also featured a hammock-

d. 1929) type saddle made of cord—the
ÀUVWPRGHOVXVHG\DUGVRI
Danish inventor who produced woven silk—and “tied” between
an iconic early “safety” type the top of the seat tube and the
machine launched in 1897: head tube. About 8,000 were
the frame was built using made between 1900 and 1915;
cantilevered tubes set in 21 not surprisingly they are now
triangles, giving greater collectors’ items.
strength and enabling the Pedersen built up a thriving
frame diameter and gauge to be business in Britain but lost the
cut to the minimum. One early company due to poor business
machine weighed only 13 lb at practices. He was reduced to
a time when over 30 was the selling matches and was buried
norm. The Dursley-Pedersen was in a pauper’s grave. His body
made by Lister and Company has since been repatriated to
at Dursley in Gloucestershire Gloucestershire.
PÉLISSIER, Jean “Henri” One of the stars of the HEROIC ERA,

Jean “Henri” Pélissier was capable
Born: Paris, France, January 22, 1889 of winning on any terrain. His
Died: Dampierre, France, March 1, 1935 disputes with HENRI DESGRANGE
Major wins: Tour de France 1923, highlight the demands race
10 stage wins; Milan–San Remo 1912; organizers imposed at the time. In
Paris–Roubaix 1919, 1921; Giro di !!\PMTOUR DE FRANCE boss
Lombardia 1911, 1913, 1920; Bordeaux– forbade him from getting help from
Paris 1919; Paris-Brussels 1920; Paris– other riders and Pélissier walked
Tours 1922 W]\IVLPMLQL[WIOIQVQV!
Nickname: the Iron Wire (La Ficelle de after he was docked two minutes
Fer) for throwing away a punctured tire.
v 280

Pélissier, Jean “Henri”
1V!8uTQ[[QMZ_WV\PM<W]Z I[¹4M[.WZKI\[LMTI:W]\Mº¸¹\PM
prompting Desgrange to compare Convicts of the Road,” a term
his victory to “a work by Racine, a that became synonymous with the
perfect statue, a faultless painting or outrageous demands made on the
a piece of music you never forget.” cyclists of the time.
Late in his career, Pélissier and his Pélissier told Londres that he and
brother Francis founded an early his brother used DRUGS, opening his
riders’ trade union. XQTTJWÌVL[PW_QVO\PMRW]ZVITQ[\
,]ZQVO\PM!<W]Z8uTQ[[QMZ “cocaine for the eyes, chloroform
X]\WV\_WRMZ[Ma[NWZI[\IOM\PI\ for the gums . . . and do you want to
started in Le Havre in the middle see the pills? We ride on dynamite.
of the night: one issued by the When the mud is washed off us,
Tour organizers, one of his own. we are as white as sheets. We are
He threw the latter away when the drained by diarrhoea. We dance
sun came up, which was against RQO[QVW]ZJMLZWWUQV[\MILWN
\PMZ]TM[#,M[OZIVOM[OW\_QVLWN sleeping. Our calves are leather,
it and the pair had a row in public. and sometimes they break.” Francis
Pélissier abandoned the next day added: “And as for my toenails, I’ve
IN\MZIR]LOMKW]V\MLPQ[RMZ[Ma[I\ lost six out of ten.”
\PM[\IZ\IVLQVIÅVMMÌUXTMWN “One day,” concluded his brother,
early media management made sure ¹\PMa_QTTX]\TMILQVW]ZRMZ[Ma[
\PI\\PMTMILQVORW]ZVITQ[\WN \PM because God didn’t make us heavy
day, Albert Londres, knew about it. enough.”
Londres found Henri, his brother Pélissier had a tragic end: his wife
Francis, and another rider in the 4MWVQMKWUUQ\\ML[]QKQLMQV!
Café de la Gare in Coutances in and two years later his girlfriend
6WZUIVLa#\PMMV[]QVOQV\MZ^QM_ +IUQTTM[PW\PQU_Q\PÅ^MJ]TTM\[
was originally entitled “Les Martyrs from the same pistol during a violent
de la Route” but later was known argument.
v 281

Peugeot
PEUGEOT Celebrated French French producers such as Mafac

cycle company that had the (brakes), Simplex (gears), and
longest unbroken sponsorship Stronglight (chainsets).
in cycling until its demise in While car output continued to
1987. Its motif, the Lion, goes be strong, the bike-making side
back to the company’s days as declined in the 1980s and 1990s,
a steelmaker in the mid-19th with the name eventually sold
century; it was founded in the to licence-holder CycleEurope.
18th century to make watermills. The Peugeot car company still
Peugeot began sponsorship sells bikes, but none of them are
LQZRQWKHLUÀUVWTOUR racing machines.
DE FRANCE in 1905 with Louis Peugeot was the last cycling
Trousselier, and went on to win squad to survive as a purely
La Grande Boucle 10 times. factory team without a main
Peugeot was a family affair extra-sportif sponsor—although
that began manufacturing in it had backing from petrol
1882 with a high-wheeler known companies such as Shell and
as the Grand Bi and was making BP—and thanks to its massive
20,000 bikes a year by 1900; by sponsorship of club teams as
1892 it had expanded into car well, its checkerboard design
making, and this is now the jerseys were ubiquitous in
main activity. In the First World French amateur racing in the
War, the company made plane 1970s and 1980s. In the 1960s
engines and shells as well as its riders included a young EDDY
cars, trucks, and bikes. The cycle MERCKX and TOM SIMPSON, while
company’s peak came in 1955, in the 1970s the team featured
when its factory at Beaulieu the 1975 and 1977 Tour winner
turned out 220,000 machines, Bernard Thévenet.
employing some 3,500 workers. From its amateur “feeder” club
In the 1970s it produced the ACBB in Paris, Peugeot took on
GHÀQLWLYH3HXJHRWWKH3; members of the FOREIGN LEGION
racer, with componentry from such as STEPHEN ROCHE, PHIL
v 282

Poetry
ANDERSON, and ROBERT MILLAR was discontinued due to rising

in the 1980s. Its last great Tour costs, although it continued as
was 1983, when Pascal Simon Z-Peugeot, and the bikes were
looked a likely winner until he later ridden by the Festina team.
broke his shoulderblade in a
(SEE GIANT AND RALEIGH FOR OTHER
crash while wearing the yellow ICONIC CYCLE MAKERS; TEAMS FOR OTHER
jersey. In 1987, the factory team NOTABLE CYCLING SQUADS)
POETRY The only anthology

on the market is The Art of Un petit Tour de France
Bicycling (Breakaway Books,
Henry Miller Alfred Jarry poses
2005, ed. Justin Daniel
buys a French racer astride his dear machine
Belmont). This includes poems sells it and regrets everyman his own bicycle
by major names such as Walt for ever dit Pere Ubu
Whitman, Dylan Thomas
A photo of a woman In the Parc des Princes
(who rhymes penny farthing she rides a bike sashes and bouquets
with Camarthen), Seamus Paris is liberated the winner smiles
her smile is a flag I did it for France
Heaney, Pablo Neruda, and
Yevgeni Yevtushenko. The only Sartre and Simone de B Alone on the Alps
professional cyclist represented seated on a tandem Tommy Simpson is dying
they quarrel when christ it’s hard
is the late MARCO PANTANI.
she demands to steer he takes a little help
Also included is the work of the
British poet Jeff Cloves, who has Le Café de Copains
champions on the wall
kindly allowed me to reproduce
the arthritic patron
WZRRIKLVSRHPVKHUH7KHÀUVW up there too
was written after the death of
TOM SIMPSON, the second 20
years after the death of FAUSTO (FOR THE DEFINITIVE AUSTRALIAN
CYCLING POEM, “MULGA BILL’S BIKE” SEE
COPPI.
BANJO PATERSON; SEE ALSO CYCLING IN
ART AND LITERATURE, AND BOOKS.)
v 283

Poetry
Il Campionissimo
When you were king of the mountains And when that dread disease
Fausto did for you as
the kilometres hissed by for any mortal
like busy moments I thought again of the pain
beneath your tyres that might have been
and the pavé was no more behind the goggles
than grit on your tongue and the tight grin
young Italian girls behind the private smile
threw wayside flowers for the waiting lady
as you ticked past the quiet lady in white
spokes flashing in the sun who waited at the line
and in the Tour de France to give the greatest prize of all
peasants in the Alps
leaned from windows and shouted But it’s long gone now
allez Coppi! Fausto
and forgot their own man the flash pop picture press
the gossip column glare
I remember how has switched to another scene
you never seemed to lose you can relax
and how it’s time to sit up in the saddle
you pushed your goggles ride on the tops
on to the brow freewheel a little
of your thin face you’re out in front
and smiled and they’ll never catch you
as you crossed the line now
and how
the photographers hounded
your lady in white
as she waited
for her lean brown prince to race
to her embrace
v 284

Po l i t i cs
POLITICS Cycling and cycle It was a similar story in Nazi

racing have always been closely Germany, where cycle rallies
linked to political developments were run, bike accessories
in the wider world. For example, bore swastikas, and tires
the newspaper circulation were marketed with swastika
war that led to the Tour de imprints. In fascist Italy, Benito
France’s foundation was born Mussolini was not a massive
of the political controversy cycling fan—he preferred motor
involving Alfred Dreyfus, while racing because of its modernity—
the invention of the bike was but he still made overtures to
important in women’s rights. In the young GINO BARTALI. The
Ireland, the national tour caused 1938 Tour de France winner
political controversy in its early was unwilling to be used for
years (see RÁS). propaganda purposes but still
Both the GIRO D’ITALIA succumbed to pressure from
and TOUR DE FRANCE have the sport’s minister to ride the
had political undertones, the 1937 Tour as well as the Giro;
Giro more so than its French unfortunately he crashed. After
counterpart. In 1911 the race the war, Bartali was close to
celebrated 50 years of Italian Italy’s new prime minister Alcide
XQLÀFDWLRQZKLOHWKHHYHQW de Gasperi, who represented
was seen as an expression of the the pro-Catholic Christian
nation rising from the ashes of Democrats; he campaigned on
war. That race visited disputed their behalf and responded to
territories such as the city of De Gasperi’s call to win the
Trieste and the newly integrated 1948 Tour as Italy came close
Alto Adige, where the freshly to a communist revolution. (See
elected president of the reborn Bartali’s entry for whether or not
republic, Alcide de Gasperi, he actually saved the nation.)
made a point of visiting the race. 7KHÀUVWVUELTA A ESPAÑA
Politicians have always loved was explicitly political. It was
to get involved with cycling. an incarnation of the country’s
v 285

Po l i t i cs
sense of patriotism, according Toledo.”

to an editorial in the promoting The Franco legacy lingers on
paper: as Spain’s Civil War in the fact that even today, the
loomed, such words were a call Vuelta never visits the heart
to arms for the fascists. Before of the Basque Country. During
the start of the 1941 Vuelta, the dictatorship, the race often
the peloton lined up at Madrid’s VWDUWHGDQGÀQLVKHGWKHUHWR
Puerta del Sol, considered the PDNHWKHSRLQWWKDWWKHÀHUFHO\
spiritual center of the Spanish independent nation was part
state, put out their right arms, of the mother country. This
and sang “Cara al Sol,” the tradition was poorly received as
Falange anthem. Later, the race Basque nationalism gained pace.
was sponsored partly by the In 1968 a bomb was exploded on
Spanish Ministry of Education, the race route, while 10 years
and politically aware stage later the separatists scattered
winners often saluted the tin tacks and timber beams on
military from the podium. WKHURDGEHIRUHWKHWZRÀQDO
After FEDERICO BAHAMONTES stages, both of which were thus
won his Tour de France on July canceled.
18, 1959—the anniversary of the The nationalists bombed
military uprising that spawned that year’s Tour de France as
the 40-year dictatorship of well and were in action again
General Franco—he was greeted when the Tour started in San
by el caudillo upon his return as 6HEDVWLDQVHWWLQJÀUHWRWZR
14 military brass bands played cars, one of which contained
in his honor. When the pair met, a month’s worth of clothes
Bahamontes recalled that Franco belonging to the TV commentator
wanted to discuss soccer, but PHIL LIGGETT. Whenever the
the dictator was a Real Madrid Tour visits the Pyrenees,
fan, while the cyclist supported the Basques are prominent,
Barcelona. “I couldn’t really brandishing banners calling for
help him,” recalled the “Eagle of the release of political prisoners;
v 286

Po l i t i cs
when the race enters the Basque was photographed with his wife
country, the signs are in Basque Barbara on bikes in China in the
as well as French to appease the 1970s. After the British Olympic
locals. cycling team’s success in Beijing
There have also been in 2008, Prime Minister Gordon
VSHFLÀFDOO\SROLWLFDOF\FOLQJ Brown invited the team head,
movements. In the early 20th Dave Brailsford, to speak at
century the German Workers the Labour party conference.
Cycling Federation boasted But jumping onto the bike
150,000 members while socialists bandwagon doesn’t always work
across Great Britain formed an out. Brailsford made a point of
entire network of Clarion cycle telling Labour about the virtues
clubs in the 1890s. At one time of a team sticking together, at a
the Clarion clubs numbered time when the government was
over 100, running houses where ULYHQE\LQÀJKWLQJ
the members could socialize On the other side of the
in between holding rallies and spectrum, the current British
distributing Socialist literature prime minister David Cameron
from their bikes. There are still will always remain the politician
24 Clarion cycle clubs in Britain, who rode his bike to work—with
but they are not politically a car following behind him
DIÀOLDWHG carrying his bag and his shoes.
Politicians still like to be seen George W. Bush fell off his bike,
with successful cyclists. Various funnily enough, but perhaps
French presidents, including the ultimate letdown came
Nicolas Sarkozy, have visited the when former French president
Tour de France. Greg LeMond Jacques Chirac invited the Tour
and Lance Armstrong were both GH)UDQFHWRKLVÀHIGRPLQWKH
invited to the White House after Dordogne in 1998 only for one of
their respective Tour de France the biggest drugs scandals in the
victories. George Bush senior race’s history to ruin the party.
v 287

Po l o
POLO Bicycle polo was a

demonstration sport at the
London OLYMPIC GAMES in 1908.
The gold went to IRELAND, which
was the nation where the sport
was founded in 1891 by one
Richard J. Mecredy.
Bicycle polo is exactly what
it sounds like—a version of the a different number of players.)
horseback game on two wheels, Internationals last 30 minutes
with steeds that don’t eat and broken up into four seven-and-a-
can be bought by the common half minute chukkas. If a match
man. Field dimensions vary from runs to extra time, the goals
150 by 100 meters to 100 by may be widened. The rules are
80 meters (for some reason the simple: a sliding scale of extra
)UHQFKSUHIHUDVPDOOHUÀHOG hits or goals for fouls, yellow and
The ball is 12 to 15 inches around, red cards. The UCI recognizes
the mallets three feet long. Six or cycle polo and there is an annual
seven players make up a team, world championship. India,
ZLWKIRXURUÀYHRQWKHÀHOGDW USA, and Canada are among the
once. (Similarly, the French like strongest nations.
POSTERS The rapid expansion their products. In Paris, where

in bicycle production at the end decorative poster art had begun
of the 19th century (see BICYCLE in the mid-19th century with
for background) produced the lithographic printing work of
intense competition between bike Jules Chéret, there was a brief
makers who vied to produce the period when art and cycling
most attractive posters to sell came together. Artists such as
v 288

Posters
HENRI DE TOULOUSE-LAUTREC however, was Toulouse-Lautrec’s

and Pal—the nom de plume of depiction of an early race at
Jean de Paleologue—glamorized London’s Catford Velodrome
cycling with the same talent that to publicize the Simpson chain
had been used to advertise the sold by Spoke’s bike shop. La
exoticism of Paris’s demi-monde Chaîne Simpson includes the
with its revues such as those at early champion Constant Huret
the Moulin Rouge. amid a variety of multiple pacing
Many of the images were ELNHVDQGUDIÀVKRQORRNHUV
risqué for the time: a naked (See ART to read about other
woman with the wings of greats who have used cycling for
Mercury publicized Gladiator inspiration.)
cycles; a bare-breasted Amazon To give some idea of what
(by Pal) the appropriately named these posters are worth, an
Liberator Cycles; cycling lessons original of Pal’s native American
at the Palais-Sport in Paris chief advertising Cleveland
were advertised by a young cycles can be bought for under
lady in suspenders. The British $10,000 while an original of La
ÀUP+XPEHUXVHGDPRUHVWDLG Chaîne Simpson has been valued
gentleman in regulation Cyclists’ at nudging $100,000.
Touring Club gear but also a $ÀFLRQDGRVFRXOGDOVRVHHN
coquettish ad with a young out posters used to advertise
gentleman stealing a kiss from the Peace Race (see EASTERN
his riding partner. EUROPE), in the distinctive heroic
Most distinctive of all, style of Socialist Realist art.
v 289

Po ul i do r , R a y mo n d
POULIDOR, Raymond Poulidor syndrome: France’s

(b. France, 1936) perceived tendency to accept
being a worthy loser rather than
The most popular cyclist FRANCE a clinical winner. His memoirs
has ever produced was still a summed up his career: La Gloire
À[WXUHDWWKH7RXUPRUHWKDQ sans le Maillot Jaune (1977).
40 years after his heyday in the Born of farming stock in the
1960s when he went head-to- Massif Central, Poulidor seemed
head with JACQUES ANQUETIL the country boy alongside the
in one of the greatest RIVALRIES more sophisticated Anquetil and
cycling has seen. “Poupou” never he raced in an agricultural way,
won the Tour and never wore more reliant on brute strength
the yellow jersey, but he did than tactics. He still won the
win hearts for his shy smile, VUELTA A ESPAÑA and
constant misfortune, and the Milan–San Remo but is better
courage he showed in attacking remembered for his incredible
ÀUVW$QTXHWLO³KLVHTXDOLQWKH record in the Tour: 14 starts
mountains and far superior in DQGÀQLVKHVZLWKWRS
the time trials—and later EDDY RYHUDOOSODFLQJVDQGÀQLVKHV
MERCKX, who was simply better in second or third overall. The
in every domain. moment when he captivated
At the peak of his celebrity France came in the 1964 race
it was estimated that he would when he and Anquetil fought
EHÀUVWFKRLFHDVDGLQQHUJXHVW out an elbow-to-elbow battle
for almost half the French on the Puy-de-Dôme, with
population. It was said that Poulidor gaining the upper hand
while French men admired on that occasion but narrowly
Anquetil for his success, their missing out on the yellow
wives all wanted to mother his jersey. His career was a model
great rival. His nickname gave of LONGEVITY, with third-place
rise to the headline Poupoularité, 7RXUÀQLVKHVLQDQGLQ
while politicians refer to 1976 when he was 40 years
v 290

Power
old. Since retirement that year, star of the publicity caravan

Poulidor has returned to the race promoting products as diverse as
every year, and is the undisputed banks and coffee.
POWER The question of how physique, for example, could

many lightbulbs a cyclist can sustain about 430 watts for an
power has been kicked around hour; on an easy training ride
for over a century and gained where it’s possible to talk to your
new resonance in the 1990s as neighbor, the average cyclist
it became possible to make an would be putting out around 200
accurate measurement of the watts.
wattage produced by a bike An investigation by the BBC’s
rider using POWER CRANKS. Focus magazine in October
Generating stations powered 2009 concluded that if the
by bikes were used in England DYHUDJHÚHDVRQDEO\ÀWµF\FOLVW·V
in the early 20th century, while
BSA produced a cycle generator
for the army to power lights and
communication devices in the POWER FACTOID
ÀHOGGXULQJWKH6HFRQG:RUOG
A sprint cyclist making a starting
War.
effort produces, briefly, more
In a sprint, a top cyclist can
torque than a Formula One car.
put out about 2,500 watts for
Team GB’s team sprint Man
about 5 seconds; over a more
One Jamie Staff can put out 600
sustained effort, say 10 seconds,
newton meters in the first half of
it would be about 1,800 watts;
his first pedal revolution.
in a 4-minute track pursuit,
about 500 watts; in a time trial, 4
a cyclist with BRADLEY WIGGINS’s
v 291

Power
v292

Po w e r C ra n k s
sustained power output was be dealt with by just one bike

between 100 and 150 watts of rider. An average LCD television
energy, a family home would (130 watts) would need one
need about 100 cyclists on cyclist; a plasma TV (320
permanent standby to keep all watts), three or four cyclists.
its electrical devices functioning. And merely keeping devices
The Human Power Station came on standby and a fridge going
up with the following: A load of would need two cyclists pedaling
washing to dry in a tumble dryer constantly. And making your
would require 32 to 49 cyclists morning coffee (800 watts), that
pedaling for an hour (4,850 would call for 8 to 10 cyclists,
watts). Lighting a room with depending on how many cups
energy-saving lightbulbs could you need.
POWER CRANKS There are a computer.

several ways of measuring 7KHFUDQNVÀUVWDSSHDUHGLQ
POWER output—sensors in the the mid-1990s and had a large,
chain, sensors on the roller of crude handlebar computer; this
a stationary home trainer— has now been shrunk to the
but the SRM (Schoberer Rad extent that pro cyclists carry the
Messtechnik) German-made devices in races. The cranks are
crankset is the best. It has eight integral to most serious training
strain gauges that measure programs as they offer the best
WKHGHÁHFWLRQLQWKHFKDLQULQJ objective measure of how hard a
as a cyclist pushes down on cyclist is able to work. Heart-rate
the pedals. The information is monitors appeared at the end of
translated into a measure of the the 1980s, and are accurate, but
power output in watts, which pulse rate is subject to factors
can in turn be downloaded into such as heat and fatigue, which
v 293

Pyrenées
make training to a set rate Velodrome whose principal task

GLIÀFXOWRQWKHRWKHUKDQG\RX is to ensure they are always
can either reach a set power perfectly calibrated.
output or you can’t. They use the data to tweak
Information from the cranks training programs and to devise
is one of the keys to the success strategies for track races—for
of the GREAT BRITAIN cycling example, the graphs showing
team (see CHRIS HOY, BRADLEY the riders’ power output for a
WIGGINS). “We can understand team pursuit can be compared
the physics of what is going with their speed to see how the
on, so we can tell where best formation can be changed to be
to spend our time and energy,” PRVWHIÀFLHQW650LQIRUPDWLRQ
the team’s then performance can also be used to model
scientist Scott Gardner explained performance on a treadmill:
in 2008. the precise power outputs on
The team has over 100 of DQ650ÀOHIRUDPRXQWDLQ
the cranks—costing about bike race, say a rehearsal on
£2,000 each—and employs a the Beijing course, could be
technologist in the Manchester replicated in training.
PYRENÉES The inclusion of was on the latter that the key

France’s southern mountain episode occurred: the eventual
range in the TOUR DE FRANCE race winner Octave Lapize (see
route in 1910 was a turning HEROIC ERA) went past a group
point for cycling. The race of organizers and spat out the
organizer HENRI DESGRANGE word “assassins.” Desgrange was
sent the riders over four climbs absent: uncertain whether the
that have acquired legendary ÀUVWPRXQWDLQVWDJHZRXOGEHD
status: the Peyresourde, Aspin, success he decided to stay away.
Tourmalet, and Aubisque. It Nonetheless, he was instantly
v 294

Pyrenées
aware of the headlines that could Tour into the ALPS.

be made by sending Tour cyclists The climbs of the Pyrenées
where mere mortals dared not have a different character
venture, so next year he sent the compared to those in the other
Tourmalet 17.1 km 2,115 m 1,275 m Tunnels and a huge statue, the

(from Saint-Marie- giant of the Tour, on a bleak “up
de-Campan) and over” summit
Aspin 11.9 km 1,489 m 670 m Verdant slopes with wandering

(from Arreau) cows and the biggest slugs in
France
Aubisque 29.1 km 1,709 m 1,365 m Vertiginous section after Col du

(from Argèles-Gazost) Soulor where the road is cut into a
mountainside
Peyresourde 14.3 km 1,569 m 944 m Steady gradient, majestic

(from Bagnères-de- sweeping hairpins through
Luchon)
meadows to a v-shaped pass
Hautacam 15.5 km 1,616 m 1,136 m Tight, steep hairpins and constant

(from Argèles-Gazost) gradient changes en route to a
bleak ski station
Marie-Blanque 19.6 km 1,035 m 700 m Steep and dead straight “wall” in

(from Escot) last 3.5 km on west side; vultures
and bears on the slopes
Port de Pailhères 16.8 km 2,001 m 1,300 m Narrow roads and a scenic summit
(from Usson-les-Bains) where the road twists around a
vast rock outcrop
v 295

Pyrenées
major Massif. They tend to be The slopes of the mountains

shorter than in the Alps and do around the climbs tend to be
not climb so high. The only pass gentler and greener, less spoilt
over 2,000 m in the Pyrenées by ski resorts and industry.
that is regularly climbed in the As in the Alps, numerous
Tour is the Tourmalet, a mere CYCLOSPORTIVE events take in
2,115 m compared to over the great climbs. They include
2,600 m for the Galibier and the Hubert Arbes, run by one
Iseran in the Alps. of BERNARD HINAULT’s old
On the other hand, the teammates, which takes in
Pyrenées offer steeper climbing, the Tourmalet and the Soulor/
and roads that have been less Aubisque; from the Spanish side,
well engineered: evenly graded the Quebrantahuesos sportif
hairpins and wide carriageways includes the Marie-Blanque.
are relatively rare. “Walls” such
Further reading: Tour Climbs, Chris
as the Col de Marie-Blanque and
Sidwells, Collins, 2008
the Col de Bagargui—around
(SEE RAID PYRENEAN FOR AN INFORMAL
13 percent—are typical, as are IF PAINFUL WAY TO TACKLE THE GREAT
narrow, tightly hairpinned CLIMBS IN ONE GO)
climbs such as the Col d’Agnès.
v 296

Q
QUOTES “The Tour de France produces in
me such persistent satisfaction
WKDWP\VDOLYDÁRZVLQ
Tour de France imperceptible but stubborn
“Riding up a mountain in the streams.”—Salvador Dalí (see
Tour if you are bad is like being ART)
sick.”—ROBERT MILLAR
“The Tour is the nearest thing
“Do they not have wings, those to life outside life itself. You’re
men who have today managed born and you set out. For some,
to climb to heights where eagles things go wrong from the start
dare not go?”—Tour founder . . . sometimes the deserving
HENRI DESGRANGE on climbers win. Those with connections
have every advantage . . .
“Getting married is not like the sometimes justice puts the boot
Tour de France. You can’t just in and upsets things.”—Terry
climb off if it goes badly.”—SEAN Davenport in Ralph Hurne’s
KELLY The Yellow Jersey (see BOOKS—
FICTION)
“Ride like you just stole
something.”—LANCE ARMSTRONG
to his teammate Floyd Landis in
the 2004 Tour
v 297

Quotes
Personalities “If you put a cup of milk between

´7KHELNHFRPHVÀUVWµ³6HDQ his shoulders at the foot of
Kelly after his wife Linda said he a mountain he would cross
cared about his car and his bike the summit without spilling
more than about her a drop.”—René Vietto on the
super-stylish campionissimo
“Anything beats working for a ALFREDO BINDA
living and I’ve been delaying the
inevitable as long as possible.” “If I had to make the perfect
—SEAN YATES on why he has cyclist I would give him
never stopped cycling ANQUETIL’s legs, Armstrong’s
brain, the power and authority
“The thing is not where you of HINAULT, Indurain’s heart and
ÀQLVKHGEXWKRZPXFK>PRQH\@ one of my bikes.”—EDDY MERCKX
did you make.”—TOM SIMPSON
“People like watching me on Cycling and the bike

television because they never “God created the bicycle as a
know if I’ll still be in the bunch tool for men to show effort and
when they come back from exaltation on the hard road
having a quick leak.”—The of life.”—Motto of the cycling
gloriously unpredictable Pedro CHAPEL at Madonna del Ghisallo
Delgado of SPAIN
“There are many times when
“Some cyclists race to give people physically I would welcome a
a thrill, some race to win. I car hitting me and cutting it all
belong to the second group.” short there and then, I hurt so
—Five-times Tour winner and much.”—Alf Engers (see TIME
quiet man MIGUEL INDURAIN TRIALLING)
v 298

Quotes
“A perfect expression of the “To ride a bicycle properly is

machine aesthetic.”—designer YHU\OLNHDORYHDIIDLU³FKLHÁ\LW
Stephen Bayley is a matter of faith. Believe you
can do it, and the thing is done;
“You would be surprised at the doubt and for the life of you,
number of people in these parts you cannot.”—H. G. Wells (The
who nearly are half men and half Wheels of Chance, see BOOKS—
bicycles.”—Flann O’Brien (The FICTION)
Third Policeman, see BOOKS—
FICTION) “‘There is a lot of uphill about a
bicycle tour,’ said George, ‘and
“[The velocipede] replaces the wind is against you.’ ‘So
collective brutish unintelligent there is downhill, and the wind
speed with collective speed, behind you,’ said Harris.”
obeying man’s will.”—Richard —Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men
Lesclide, Le Vélocipede Illustré, on the Bummel
1869
v 299

R
RACE ACROSS AMERICA Iconic and was won by Lon Haldeman
long-distance event run from the in 9 days, 20 hours, 2 minutes, at
West Coast of the UNITED STATES an average of 12.57 mph,
to the East, founded in 1982 as DIDUFU\IURPWKHÀUVWFURVVLQJ
the Great American Bike Race. of the US in 1887, when the
That event was run from Santa journalist George Nellis took
Monica to the Empire State just under 80 days on a HIGH-
Building, had just four entrants, WHEELER.
v 300

Radios
The RAAM is not run in the record down to six or seven

stages, but instead the clock runs days although the solo category
continuously as on a RECORD remains the most prestigious.
attempt such as the END TO END, In 1989 teams of RECUMBENT
making it a battle against sleep cycles entered. Entrants must be
deprivation as well as a test of members of the Ultra Marathon
cycling stamina. Sometimes up Cycling Association and must
to half the solo racers pull out have ridden a set number of
due to exhaustion. As in qualifying events.
record attempts, the cyclists Because the course varies
have support teams traveling from year to year—although it is
with them; at night they must always run west to east—RAAM
be accompanied by a vehicle records are measured in average
ZLWKÁDVKLQJOLJKWVIRUVDIHW\ speed, not time. The fastest
reasons. average is by Pete Penseyres in
The race is divided into solo 1986, 15.4 mph for 3,107 miles;
and team categories, with teams the women’s record was set by
of up to eight riders permitted, Seana Hogan (1995), 13.23 mph
each man racing a separate for 2,912 miles.
leg while the others rest. The
(SEE PARIS–BREST–PARIS AND RAID
relay teams average over 500 PYRENEAN FOR THE MOST LEGENDARY
miles per day and have gotten LONG-DISTANCE EVENTS IN EUROPE)
RADIOS Since the late 1990s, jersey connected to an earpiece/

team managers and riders in microphone while the manager
professional races have used has a microphone and receiver
small radios for communication; in the car. If the race is being
the rider carries a transmitter/ televised live, the manager or
receiver in the back pocket of his mechanic will have a small-
v 301

Radios
screen TV in the car so that he as a break’s time gap and the

can observe the race in real time numbers of the riders in a move.
and issue instructions—time gaps To give instructions to his riders,
on a break, when to chase a break the manager would have to wait
or get across to an attack—as for one of them to call him to the
the action happens. The radios back of the bunch—for example
are also used to warn riders of to collect bottles—or he would
REVWDFOHVVXFKDVWUDIÀFLVODQGV have to drive up to the bunch
and dangerous corners, while a DQGÀQGWKHP
sprinter such as MARK CAVENDISH There is some debate about
will be advised on conditions close the use of the radios, as
WRWKHÀQLVKULGHUVZLOOXVHWKH opponents claim it gives the
system to tell the manager if they PDQDJHUVWRRPXFKLQÁXHQFH
need service, for example after a over tactics and the riders are
crash or puncture. mere pawns. In particular, it
The system originated in the is said that attacking racing is
US and was brought to Europe impossible, because teams can
by GREG LEMOND in 1991. The react so quickly to threatening
Motorola team of SEAN YATES, moves. To encourage riders
PHIL ANDERSON, and LANCE to use their initiative, the UCI
ARMSTRONGZDVWKHÀUVWVTXDG banned radios in under-23 races.
to use it from 1994 onwards. At the 2009 TOUR DE FRANCE,
Previously, communication the organizers attempted to run
between riders and team staff two stages without radios being
was minimal. The managers used, but were stymied when
would rely on Radio Tour—the riders did not race, apparently in
internal radio system used protest. The UCI decided at the
by most major races—while end of 2009 that it would phase
the riders would watch for out the devices’ use, but did not
a blackboard carried by a give a timescale and it seems
motorcycle marshal, on which that a battle with the teams
was written information such might well be in prospect.
v 302

Raid Pyrenean
RAID PYRENEAN An informal pass books (brevets) from the

FKDOOHQJHIRUWKHÀWF\FOLVWWKDW organizing club, CC Béarnais,
takes in all the major passes in in the town of Pau. They
the PYRENÉES and has been going supply accommodation info and
since 1952. The 713 km route numbered bike tags, as well as
from Hendaye on the Atlantic to medals for those completing the
Cerbère on the Mediterranean course. The books are stamped at
is pre-set, includes 11,000 m of overnight stops, while there may
climbing and has to be covered be informal checkpoints along
within a time limit of 100 hours. the way. The Raid can be tackled
There is a window when it can independently, although there
be done, between June and are also package companies that
September, when the highest will arrange the trip.
passes are free of snow. The Alpine equivalents,
Cyclists wishing to tackle the Raids Alpine (see ALPS)
the Raid have to acquire are longer, tougher, and less
v 303

Raleigh
popular. Other less well-known connecting the extremes of the

raids include Calais–Brindisi FRXQWU\VWDUWLQJRUÀQLVKLQJLQ
and Paris–Gibraltar while Brest, Strasbourg, Perpignan,
France has nine “diagonals” Dunkirk, Menton, and Hendaye.
RALEIGH One of the world’s hub gears—patented in 1902—

most celebrated bike makers, motorcycles, and motorbike gear
once the biggest in the world. boxes. By the 1920s the company
Its world-famous “heron” frame was making 3,000 cycles per
badge once graced an industry week.
leader, sturdy roadsters ridden ,WÁLUWHGZLWKPDNLQJD
worldwide, and a TOUR DE three-wheel car but by 1938
FRANCE winner. was solely a bike company
The company began in 1886 on turning out half a million bikes
Raleigh Street in Nottingham, a year. Production was over a
England, in a small workshop million in 1951, at the zenith of
that made three safety bicycles the British cycle industry, but
a week; local lawyer Frank business went rapidly downhill
Bowden bought the operation in the 1950s as the car gained in
and founded the Raleigh Cycle popularity. A series of mergers,
Company in 1888. One of including Raleigh’s own takeover
Raleigh’s earliest stars was the by the Tube Investments Group,
great American track cyclist A. A. brought other famous British
ZIMMERMAN. cycle and motorcycle names such
Apart from a brief spell as a as BSA, Triumph, Sunbeam,
public company it remained in and Hercules under the Raleigh
the Bowden family until 1934, banner.
making cycles, Sturmey Archer The 1960s saw attempts at
v 304

Raleigh
collaboration with SIR ALEX brought the company world

MOULTON to produce small- titles in 1978 and 1979 and the
wheel bikes, after Moulton’s Tour de France title with Joop
invention had revitalized the Zoetemelk in 1980, with 77 stage
market. From 1965 Raleigh wins in the Tour between 1976
competed with its own small- and 1983.
wheeler, the RSW16, with a Raleigh had largely abandoned
massively expensive publicity high-end racing bikes at the end
campaign. The war with of the 1950s, producing them in
Moulton ended when Raleigh the 1960s through the Carlton
bought its competitor out. With brand then changing tack to its
two hugely successful models, own lightweight department,
the Chopper, an iconic kids’ ZKLFKQHYHUWUXO\ÁRXULVKHG
bike, and the Twenty, a small- Along with much of British
wheel shopping bike, the 1970s manufacturing, Raleigh
saw the company boom again. suffered in the 1980s when the
5DOHLJKSURÀWHGIURPDPDVVLYH British cycle market expanded
increase in the market in the but mainly on the back of
UNITED STATES and had other imported machines and the
overseas operations including sudden craze for BMX; Raleigh
the Gazelle company in Holland was hit by imports—its image
and large sales of classic old simply wasn’t glamorous,
roadsters across the former and its products seemed
British empire. By 1975 its site backward—while the BMX
in Nottingham covered 75 acres. boom was shortlived. Market
In Europe, Raleigh sponsored share plummeted, component
the most successful professional manufacture gradually ceased,
team of the late 1970s and jobs were slashed, and the
early 1980s, managed by the company was sold in 1987 to
Dutchman Peter Post but barely Derby International, a specially
ever including more than one created parent company.
British cyclist in its lineup. Post ,QLWLDOO\5DOHLJKÁRXULVKHG
v 305

Raleigh
The Raleigh Team Song

=
O ne of the more forgettable Raleigh products was a record made by the TI-Raleigh squad in
the late 1970s. “Wie zijn de vedettes” translates roughly as “Who are the stars?” and was
described by Tim Clifford in Cycle Sport magazine as “as unholy a slab of pre-techno Europop
as you could ever hope to encounter. Imagine a ditty that crosses oompah band with can-can
and throws in a bit of banjo along the way and you will have the drift. Wisely the team’s singing
chores are restricted to the chorus—an unfortunate affair that has them singing ‘O wie o wie o
wie’ rather a lot—and adding inexplicable ‘ha-ha-ha-ha’ laughing descants at random during
the verses.”
The final verse, roughly translated, runs like this:
We want the glory

Ours is the victory
Up the Champs-Elysées
Our first prize awaits
We don’t care
We just want the yellow
And Holland will sing along
Another piece of less-than-tasteful Eurotrash was produced by HOUR RECORD breaker FRANCESCO
MOSER but fortunately this has sunk without trace.
again, as the market grew after end range of mountain-bikes

the arrival of the MOUNTAIN under the M-Trax label. Derby
BIKE, thanks in part to a highly expanded to buy a string of
successful off-road team led by cycle makers, most notably
stars such as the glamorous US mountain-bike company
Caroline Alexander and a high- Diamondback.
v 306

Raleigh
In the early 1990s, Raleigh Cycling names who “rode a

GHYLVHGWKHÀUVWK\EULGELNHWKH Raleigh”
Pioneer, which used mountain-
bike technology adapted for the. .Victorian era: who
A A ZIMMERMAN sprinter of
was
solely on-road use, to get away $PHULFD·VÀUVWF\FOLQJVWDU
from the exclusive image of
racing bikes. The company also of the 1950s: iconic
REG HARRIS sprinter
who was the
experimented with suspension
at the inexpensive end of the ÀUVW%ULWLVKF\FOLVWWRKDYHD
market, something that is QDWLRQDOSURÀOH7KHVORJDQ
ubiquitous today, and produced was “Reg rides a Raleigh.”
an early electric bike, the Select,
in 1997.
Paul Sherwen: domestique
of the late 1970s/early 1980s
In 1999, however, ZKRZDVDPRQJWKHÀUVW
globalization hit the UK members of the FOREIGN
operation. First the company LEGION.
stopped making frames in
Nottingham, retaining Joop Zoetemelk: Dutch star
known as “the Rat” who was
painting and assembly.
the winner of the 1980 Tour
/RVVHVLQFUHDVHGRQHÀQDQFLDO
de France.
restructure followed another,
and a proposed move to a site Hennie Kuiper: quiet
cuddly Dutchman who was
outside Nottingham was
aborted when planning an Olympic and world road
permission was contested. champion.
Assembly of bikes in the UK
ended in 2002, but the company
Jan Raas: bespectacled
'XWFKPDQZKRZDVDSUROLÀF
relaunched a UK-based road winner in the late 1970s,
racing team for 2010. There world champion in 1978.
are hopes that if this squad
ÁRXULVKHVWKHQDPH5DOHLJKPD\ Frenchman who :could
LAURENT FIGNON bespectacled
have
eventually return to the Tour.
v 307

Rás
won the 1989 Tour de France ÀUVW%ULWLVKZRPDQWRPDNHLW

but didn’t (though he did win on the international stage.
Rod
in 1983 and 1984).
Ellingworth: never
Caroline Alexander:
English mountain-bike star of
quite made it as a pro with
Raleigh but went on to be
Scottish parentage who was mentor to MARK CAVENDISH.
RÁS Irish term for cycle (and some of the tougher riders)
race, pronounced Rohsss, but can last until the next day’s
usually referring to one Rás stage start.
in particular. The Rás is an 7KHÀUVW5iVZDVDWZRGD\
around-IRELAND stage race event named the Rás Tailteann,
run in late May, dating back setting the tone for an event in
to 1953, and is unique because which sport and politics rubbed
it offers amateur cyclists their shoulders. The Tailteann Games
only chance to participate in were a legendary Celtic sports
a full-length national tour festival that had particular
alongside professional squads. It VLJQLÀFDQFHIRUWKH,ULVK
should not be confused with the independence movement; the
professional Tour of Ireland, a ÀUVWWURSK\ZDVDZUHDWKRI
shorter event for pros only. laurels picked at the site of the
Attempting to survive the Rás original Tailteann Games. The
is a highlight of any amateur OLQNZDVH[SOLFLWZKHQWKHÀUVW
cyclist’s career. As well as being race started from in front of the
a tough race in itself, with daily *HQHUDO3RVW2IÀFHLQ'XEOLQ
100-mile stages, the “night” the focus of the Easter Uprising.
stages are legendary: the music 7KHÀHOGZHUHDOOPHPEHUVRIWKH
and drinking among the caravan National Cycling Association,
v 308

Rás
a body which did not recognize for long-term success. The race
Irish partition and was thus visited rural parts of Ireland,
banned from international VWDJHVÀQLVKHGLQWKHHDUO\
competition. evening so that locals could
Irish cycling was divided ÀQLVKZRUNDQGWKHQZDWFKWKH
at the time between a body distances were at the limit of
that recognized partition, the what the riders could manage,
CRE (Cumann Rothaiochta DQGWKHÀHOGLQFOXGHGWHDPV
na hEireann, which translates from the Irish counties to
as the Cycling Association of maintain local interest. There
Ireland), and the NCA. The was also an emphasis on Irish
Rás was born mainly to create culture.
an alternative Irish tour to 7KHÀUVWDURXQG,UHODQG5iV
rival events run by the CRE; an in 1954, was billed as “the
article in the 1961 race program greatest cycle race ever,” in
described CRE members as spite of widespread doubts
“traitors,” “scabs,” “a brood of that anyone would be able to
vipers,” and “reprobates.” An complete the 900 miles and a
early Rás organizer, Joe Christle, lack of sponsorship; the budget
was also editor of An Phoblacht, ZDVUDLVHGE\UDIÁHVGDQFHV
the Republican newspaper; stories sold to newspapers by one
LWZDVVD\VWKH5iV·VRIÀFLDO organizer, Kerry Sloane, and a
history, understood that “a core ODUJHXQRIÀFLDOGRQDWLRQIURP
of individuals” within one club the Gaelic Athletic Association.
that contributed heavily to the $ÀHOGRIVWDUWHGWKHUDFH
Rás organization “were active which had stages to Wexford,
within the IRA at that time.” Cork, Tralee, Ennis, Athlone,
In the early years of the Rás, Armagh, and Newry—the
Christle explicitly linked the latter symbolically important,
race to the struggle for Irish being over the border in
nationhood, but there were Northern Ireland.
other characteristics that made The Rás rapidly established
v 309

Rás
itself as the centerpiece of a multiple stage winner between

Ireland’s cycling calendar, the 1960 and 1975, who is still
one event all amateur cyclists working as a volunteer on the
DVSLUHGWRÀQLVK7REHD´0DQ race 30 years later.
of the Ràs” meant braving bad The weather is always
weather, ill fortune, and poor unpredictable and so too the
roads. “Let’s hear it for the Men racing. The term “Rás break”
of the Rás,” booms the race refers to a move that looks
public address half a century on. LQVLJQLÀFDQWEXWHQGVXS
The Rás created its own expanding in numbers and is
cycling culture, populated by decisive. If the night stages
heroes barely known outside are legendary, so too is the
Ireland such as the 1955 winner camaraderie among the caravan,
Gene Mangan and, half a where the men who run the
century later, the “Godfather” of broom wagon consider it an
the event, Philip Cassidy, who affront if a rider climbs in who
ÀJXUHGSURPLQHQWO\IURP is not utterly spent. Incredibly,
to 2001. There were legendary thanks to long-term sponsorship
episodes such as the “Cookstown from FBD insurance and the
incident” of 1956 (see IRELAND) Irish National Dairy Council,
and the Italian affair of 1992, plus a sympathetic organizer
when Irish cyclists ganged up to in Dermot Dignam, the race
intimidate the Italian national retained its unique character
WHDPDQGWKHUHZHUHVFXIÁHV into the 21st century.
on the bike, and there were
legendary families such as the Further reading: The Rás: The Story of
MacQuaids, four of whom won a Ireland’s Unique Stage Race, Tom Daly,
dozen stages between 1974 and Collins Press, 2004
1988, and one of whom, Pat, is
(SEE IRELAND FOR OTHER MAJOR IRISH
the president of the UCI. The
RACES AND STARS; POLITICS FOR OTHER
VSLULWLVW\SLÀHGE\WKHJUHDWHVW CYCLING EVENTS THAT HAD MORE THAN A
Man of the Rás, Shay O’Hanlon, PURELY SPORTING IMPACT)
v 310

Records
RECORDS :KHQKXPDQVÀUVW by an adapted dragster in

put their legs over bikes in the 1995.
mid-19th century, the question
was obvious: how far can I get
The British paced record of
98.21 mph was set by Dave le
under my own steam on this Grys behind a Rover car on an
thing, and how long will it take unopened stretch of the M42
me? That Victorian spirit of self- motorway near Birmingham,
discovery lives on in the sport’s England, in 1985.
various records: place to place,
speed records, and distance
For the around-the-world
record, land circumnavigations
records—the longest distance in have to be at least 18,000
a set time—of which the HOUR miles and include 8,000 miles
RECORD has carried the greatest by sea or air, and pass through
prestige since its inception in two antipodal points. A
1895. 25-year-old Scotsman, Mark
In GREAT BRITAIN, the Road Beaumont, managed to do the
Records Association (founded distance in 195 days in July
1888) administers place to place 2008, averaging around 100
and distance record attempts miles a day through 20
such as the END TO END, and in countries for more than six
British TIME TRIALLING there months.
are “competition records” set in
RIÀFLDOUDFHVRYHUWKHLUVWDQGDUG
The most demanding track
record after the Hour is the
distances. standing start kilometer,
Some famous records: set in La Paz, Bolivia, by
the Frenchman Arnaud
of the 60 mph barrier

CHARLES MURPHY’s breaking
behind
Tournant, at 58.875 seconds.
La Paz is the venue of choice
a train in 1899. because it has the highest
Dutchman Fred Rompelberg

reached 166.9 mph on
velodrome in the world, at
3,408 m above sea level.
Bonneville Salt Flats paced That altitude means that
v 311

R e c um b en t s
with 33 percent less to a coma.

oxygen in the air, air
resistance is as low as it
Today’s fastest men on two
wheels are the tiny number
can be for a cyclist. who compete in extreme
The world endurance record

for spinning on a stationary
MOUNTAIN-BIKE downhill
speed trials, in which the
bike was set in 2009 by riders race on ski slopes.
Mehrzad Shirvani, who rode The current production bike
for 192 hours at Kortrijk in record is held by Markus
Belgium, napping for between Stoeckl of Austria with
45 seconds and 3 minutes 210 kph, while the prototype
each hour. Not surprisingly, bike record is held by
he entered a state he describes Frenchman Eric Barone
as “supraconsciousness,” akin with 222 kph.
RECUMBENTS Bicycles or experimentation with bike

tricycles where the rider sits in a SRVLWLRQWKHÀUVWRQHLVVDLGWR
bucket seat close to the ground, have been the Normal Bicyclette
with the pedals in front of him built in Ghent in the early 1890s.
and a long chain connecting to Racing recumbents known as
the rear wheel. They come in two Velocars were commercially
kinds: long wheelbase, in which available in France in the 1930s
the front wheel is in front of the and were used to win pursuit
pedals, and short, in which the matches and set RECORDS. In
chainset and pedals are at the 1934, Francois Faure used one to
front. Drive is usually to the rear set a new HOUR RECORD.
wheel. The UCI reacted by banning
7KH\ÀUVWDSSHDUHGLQWKH recumbents from organized
late 19th century amid fevered events. Restrictions on cycle
v 312

R e c u mb en t s
length and AERODYNAMIC aids

had been brought in in 1914,
while UCI Article 49 of 1934
effectively limited bike design to
safety-type machines. Further
development was delayed for
40 years, until the inception
of HUMAN POWERED VEHICLE
championships in California.
7KHSULQFLSOHEHQHÀWLV
aerodynamic; by being lower Particularly when a smoothed-
GRZQWKHRYHUDOOSURÀOHRIWKH RXWIDLULQJLVÀWWHGLQVRPH
bike is reduced. Their adherents cases completely enclosing the
also maintain that they are more rider, a recumbent can travel
comfortable and safer because considerably faster than a
having a low center of gravity, road bike, although enclosed
they are more stable. However, machines create a new problem;
recumbents have never caught the rider is not cooled down
on. Opponents would claim this E\DLUÁRZ7KHPRVWSRSXODU
is because they are less safe version is MIKE BURROWS’
WRULGHEHFDXVHWKHORZSURÀOH Windcheetah. To prove its road-
means the rider is less visible going potential, one version was
WRWUDIÀFDQGDOVREHFDXVHOHVV used by long-distance specialist
power can be put out from Andy Wilkinson to set an END TO
a relatively upright sitting END record; the time was almost
position; enthusiasts claim the four hours faster than a normal
DHURG\QDPLFEHQHÀWVRXWZHLJK cycle and speeds close to 80 mph
DQ\LQHIÀFLHQFLHV were reached on descents.
v 313

R e l i abi l i t y Tri a l s
RELIABILITY TRIALS Cycling club events in which the participants have

to complete a set course within a certain time. There may also be a set
minimum time to discourage racing. Unlike CYCLOSPORTIVES, which
operate on the same principle, reliability trials do not usually have
GLUHFWLRQDUURZVDVSDUWRIWKHFKDOOHQJHLVÀQGLQJ\RXURZQZD\
(SEE PARIS–BREST–PARIS, RAID PYRENEAN, AND ÉTAPE DU TOUR FOR OTHER LONG-
DISTANCE CHALLENGES)
REPACK Celebrated downhill appropriate aspects.” Early

MOUNTAIN-BIKING course on racers on the course included
Pine Mountain, near Fairfax in GARY FISHER, the “father of
California’s Marin county, just mountain-biking”; no more than
north of San Francisco, where 200 ever joined him.
the fat-tired sport was born Two miles long and dropping
thanks to a series of informal 1,300 feet, the course earned
its name because the series of
tortuous turns meant that the
primitive hub brakes of the time
would burn out and had to be
repacked with grease after each
run. “In addition to its incredible
steepness it features off-camber
blind corners, deep erosion
ruts and a liberal sprinkling of
events using customized bikes ÀVWVL]HGURFNVµZURWHWKHUDFH
run between 1976 and 1979. The organizer Charlie Kelly in an
events were not organized, but article for Bicycling magazine in
“spontaneously called together 1979. Kelly’s website contains
when the sun and moon assumed all the results from his original
v 314

R i v a l ri es
QRWHERRNVDSDUWIURPWKHÀUVW
race, which was held on October
21, 1976.
Fisher set the course record
of 4 minutes 22 seconds in the
seventh race on November 20,
1976. By 1977 prizes were being
awarded courtesy of local bike
shops, timing was on digital
watches, and an endurance event
was run that was a precursor
of today’s cross-country races.
The events ended in 1979 after a
racer sued a television company
when he broke his wrist; the
course was resurrected in 1983
DQGIRURIÀFLDOO\VDQFWLRQHG
races.
RIVALRIES Cycling’s great ask LeMond about Hinault,

FRQÁLFWVFDQUXQGHHS,Q and in particular, don’t ask
a journalist visited FRANCESCO about the way the Frenchman
MOSER and happened to mention behaved during the 1986 TOUR
his great rival Giuseppe Saronni; DE FRANCE. LeMond is still not
Cecco’s tirade against “il Beppe” happy, even though he won.
lasted almost half an hour. Ask 7KHUHDUHWZRGHÀQLWLYH
BERNARD HINAULT about GREG rivalries in cycling, against
LEMOND and the response is which all others have to be
terse, and whatever you do, don’t judged: GINO BARTALI and
v 315

R i v a l ri es
FAUSTO COPPI in the 1940s Most of the time the pair

and JACQUES ANQUETIL and had a good relationship off
RAYMOND POULIDOR in the 1960s. their bikes, but the rivalry was
Both relationships remain massively important to the press.
permanently etched on the Every time either said anything
national consciousness in Italy about the other man, it was
and France. headline news; as for their fans,
Bartali and Coppi started out they would argue bitterly in bars
as teammates in the 1940 GIRO and still do so today. On the road
D’ITALIA, where the younger it only needed one to have the
Coppi upstaged his older boss to slightest problem—a puncture,
win the event. Their rivalry was an unshipped chain—for the
at its most intense after the war other to attack. They devised
and reached its nadir at the 1948 elaborate strategies against
world championship in Holland, each other: Bartali detailed
where the pair watched each a teammate to watch Coppi’s
other like hawks, eventually legs and warn him the moment
getting fed up with it and the vein behind his knee began
heading to the changing rooms. pulsating, as that was a sign he
It took elaborate negotiation was weakening. Coppi asked his
by the Italian national team teammates to take Bartali out on
manager ALFREDO BINDA merely the town before the 1948 MILAN–
to get them to start the Tour de SAN REMO, in the hope that they
France in 1949 in the national would have a long night out and
team; on the road there were the “old man” would be tired
constant accusations of double- the next day. They sent spies to
dealing from both men and their spread disinformation, Bartali
backers. Time and again, Binda would get a teammate to search
had to bang their heads together; his rival’s hotel room for drugs.
by the 1952 Tour, Bartali ANQUETIL and POULIDOR
KDGÀQDOO\DFFHSWHG&RSSL·V had a different relationship:
superiority. there was no bitterness, at
v 316

R i v a l ri es
least on Poulidor’s side, and Saronni was essentially a

the rivalry clearly served as parody of the Coppi/Bartali
an extra form of motivation FRQÁLFWODUJHO\WKHSURGXFWRI
for “Master Jacques.” In 1967, the Italian press, REG HARRIS
the night before the Critérium and the Dutch sprinter Arie van
National one-day race, he was Vliet were bitter enemies for a
TXDIÀQJZKLVN\DWAM with short while. They were initially
his manager Raphael Geminiani friends, but fell out after Harris
when “Gem” suggested they told his fellow Englishman
drink to Poulidor’s win the next Cyril Bardsley to appeal to the
day—Anquetil was not planning judges after Van Vliet put a
WRULGH³EXWWKHMRNHEDFNÀUHG pedal in his wheel in the 1958
Anquetil told his wife Janine to world championship. To fan
set his alarm clock for 7 AM, and WKHÁDPHV+DUULVDFFXVHG9DQ
duly won the race. Vliet of being soft, saying “he’s
Poulidor and Anquetil’s never been out in a cape and
rivalry did not last as long as sou’wester and ridden in the rain
WKH\HDUFRQÁLFWEHWZHHQ for eight hours.” After that, Van
Bartali and Coppi, but made Vliet would recruit other riders
as big an impression: 30 years to help him against Harris and
later, French politicians were the pair had occasional shoving
still being asked who they matches in races. “An enormous
supported. Anquetil could never bloody war,” Harris termed it.
quite understand why, for all “Every time Arie said ‘Look isn’t
his success, the French public it time this was over?’ I’d say
always preferred the underdog, ‘It’ll never be over as far as I’m
Poulidor. “Of course I would like concerned.’”
to see Poulidor win the Tour in Some of the bitterest episodes
my absence. I have beaten him have involved cyclists on the
so often that his victory would same team. The Coppi/Bartali
merely add to my reputation.” dispute had its origins when the
While Moser’s rivalry with pair raced together at the start
v 317

R i v a l ri es
of Coppi’s career. Hinault and Contador was to be seen hitching

LeMond fell out because they lifts with rival teams and his
both wanted to win the 1986 brother to get to his hotel after
Tour, in which the Frenchman VWDJHÀQLVKHV
had promised to help LeMond In track racing GREAT
but appeared to go back on the BRITAIN and AUSTRALIA were
deal. The 1987 GIRO D’ITALIA saw bitter rivals in the early 21st
DQHSLFFRQÁLFWEHWZHHQSTEPHEN century. In racing component
ROCHE and his nominal leader manufacture, SHIMANO and
Roberto Visentini. CAMPAGNOLO compete intensely
There were echoes of the and had a stranglehold on the
Roche/Visentini battle in sport that has only recently been
the 2009 Tour, when LANCE threatened. But the last word on
ARMSTRONG contested team rivalries should go to Anquetil,
leadership with the Spaniard who had a thought for Poulidor
Alberto Contador, who was even on his deathbed, where he
isolated within the Astana team. VDLGDÀQDOJRRGE\HWRKLPZLWK
Armstrong briefed against the the words: “Sorry, Raymond,
Spaniard, attacked him early in \RX·UHJRLQJWRÀQLVKVHFRQG
WKHUDFHDQGLQWKHÀQDOZHHN again.”
ROAD RACING Began on 7ULRPSKHZLWKÀYHFKHFNSRLQWV

November 7, 1869, with the en route. The race was open to
running of Paris–Rouen, “all velocipedes, all mechanical
organized by the magazine devices powered by the force of
Le Vélocipede Illustré, which a man, by weight, foot and hand
published the rules on action, monocycles, bicycles,
October 20. The course was tricycles, quadricycles or
135 km beginning at the Arc de polycycles. They may only convey
v 318

R o ad R a ci n g
one person, who will drive and velocipedists were greeted with
direct the machine, which he bravos, congratulations and
may not change during the race.” encouragements. Guns were
Walking by the machine was ÀUHGDVWKH\ZHQWWKURXJKWRDGG
permitted, as were repairs en to the jollity.”
route. The riders were banned, Initially, however, it was in
however, from taking dogs with ITALY that racing on the open
them or entering under false road gained popularity most
names. They were permitted to rapidly, with a proliferation
eat and drink, to wear what they of events in the early 1870s,
wanted, but they were banned LQFOXGLQJ0LODQ²7XULQÀUVWUXQ
from giving each other any in 1876 and the oldest major
assistance such as “pulling road race still in existence. In
each other by cords or chains.” Britain, meanwhile, track events
Entry was free, and a time were popular, and so too long-
limit of 24 hours was set. First distance road events such as
prize was 1,000 francs, second the North Road 24-hour TIME
prize a “double suspension” TRIAL won by G. P. Mills in the
velocipede. early 1880s, with a distance of
The start list was published 365 km on a HIGH-WHEELER.
on October 20, with 203 names, The fashion for marathon events
including six women, three went back across the Channel
Belgians, and a German—and to France, where the circulation
six Britons, including the war between a host of French
eventual winner, JAMES MOORE, cycling magazines led to the
who took 10 hours 40 minutes creation of Bordeaux–Paris by
for a course later worked Véloce-Sport magazine in 1891.
out to be 123 kilometers. Le Mills won that event, thanks to a
Vélocipede’s editor Richard cunning attack at the main feed
Lesclide wrote: “the attitude of station in Angoulême, where his
the people in the villages along best pacemaker was waiting; he
the way was excellent. The covered the distance in 26 hours
v 319

R o ad R a ci n g
34 minutes, stopping only to of other CLASSICS and lesser

“satisfy natural needs.” stage races.
/DWHUWKDW\HDUWKHÀUVW The 1930s saw a gradual
Paris–Brest–Paris was run by increase in race speeds as road
a rival publication, Le Petit surfaces improved while team
Journal—and the HEROIC ERA tactics and equipment improved
had begun, with newspapers gradually as well, but HENRI
competing to run longer and DESGRANGE’s conservatism held
harder events; the creation of the back development in areas such
TOUR DE FRANCE in 1903 was the as GEARS.
logical outcome. The years after the Second
Early on there was little World War saw rapid changes.
structure: pacing in the great The introduction in 1948 of the
events was common, be it season-long Desgrange–Colombo
with tricycles, cars, or just prize, awarded for performances
bicyclists carefully selected for across the great races, led to
their speed, meaning that the a rapid internationalization
best pacemakers were in great of road racing, with the great
demand; without them, it was champions coming out of their
impossible to win. There were home countries more readily,
arcane registration procedures to and public support booming.
ensure that cyclists started and $JHQWVEHFDPHSRZHUIXOÀJXUHV
ÀQLVKHGWKHUDFHRQWKHVDPH creaming off percentages from
bike; for example, early Tour the appearance fees they charged
machines were marked in secret for stars in circuit races and
by the organizers so the riders track meetings.
couldn’t change them. But by At the same time, with his
the First World War, the main Bianchi team, FAUSTO COPPI
elements of today’s road racing UHÀQHGWHDPWDFWLFVKLVVTXDG
VHDVRQZHUHLQSODFHWKHÀYH was highly structured and well
one-day MONUMENTS, the GIRO equipped, with the star at the
D’ITALIA and Tour, and a wealth center, serviced by domestiques—
v 320

R o ad R a ci n g
gregari in Italian—who catered speaking nations arrived led by

to his every need, pushing him the FOREIGN LEGION, followed
early on to save his strength and after the fall of the Berlin Wall
making the pace to set up the by waves of former “amateurs”
race-winning attack. Finally, from EASTERN EUROPE. At
Fiorenzo Magni and Raphael the same time, the Tour de
Geminiani were the prime France began to dominate the
movers behind the arrival of calendar thanks to a massive
extra-sportif sponsors to back expansion in television rights
up the constructors in the 1950s and coverage. Sponsors with
(see TEAMS). world interests such as T-Mobile
The 1960s saw the system and Panasonic appeared, and
UHÀQHGZLWKWKHGHPLVHRIWKH the last constructors’ teams,
independent category, which RALEIGH and PEUGEOT, went
had provided a stepping stone under. Prize money and salaries
between the amateur and mushroomed: in 1983 LAURENT
professional ranks; the beginning FIGNON received £20,000 from
of proper drug testing, and the KLVÀUVW7RXUZLQZKLOH\HDUV
last Tours run under the national later LANCE ARMSTRONG made
team system. The next 30 years RYHUPLOOLRQIURPKLVÀUVW
were stable, almost backward: Tour win.*
professional road racing was The sport remains in a state
largely dominated by riders RIÁX[6LQFHDVHULHVRI
from the European heartland, DRUG scandals have created
sponsors were mainly interested permanent instability and
in their own domestic markets, made a true hierarchy hard to
the calendar changed little, and establish as stars are unmasked
a small number of major stars as cheats. The governing body,
raced most of the big events the UCI, has tinkered continually
taking their teams with them.
*Figures from Benjo Maso, Sweat of the
That all began to change in Gods, trans. Michael Horn, Mousehold
WKHVDVÀUVWWKH(QJOLVK Press, 2005
v 321

R o ad R a ci n g
v 322

Roche, Stephen
with the professional side of the over the use of helmet RADIOS.
sport since the inception of the Thanks primarily to the
world rankings. worldwide impact of LANCE
The World Cup was created ARMSTRONG, the sport has
in 1988 and died a lingering become globalized. Although
death, Classics were created the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS have
and died, others lost their value, been devalued by their end-of-
the calendar was restructured season date, and major races in
in 1995, while 2005 saw the FRANCE, Italy, and SPAIN have
foundation of the ProTour, disappeared, a wave of new
splitting pro racing into an elite events has emerged, led by the
of ProTeams with feeder systems Tour of California and the Tour
in each continent to provide a DownUnder.
coherent structure. The UCI’s
three-year feud with ASO led Further reading: A Century of Cycling, the
to speculation that the sport Classic Races and Legendary Champions,
might split to form two rival pro William Fotheringham, Mitchell-Beazley,
calendars. There is still debate 2003
ROCHE, Stephen (b. Ireland, 1959) He managed the feat in 1987,

taking the Giro after a dramatic
Together with SEAN KELLY, the attack en route to the Sappada
cherubic Dubliner took Irish ski station. The victim was his
cycling to a brief position of teammate Roberto Visentini—
world dominance in the 1980s. who was wearing the pink
Roche has a place in cycling jersey—and Roche’s “treachery”
history shared only by EDDY PDGHKLPEULHÁ\DKDWHÀJXUH
MERCKX as a winner of the GIRO among the Italian tifosi.
D’ITALIA, TOUR DE FRANCE, and The Carrera Jeans team
world title in a single year. was split, with one domestique
v 323

Roche, Stephen
allocated to Roche, the Belgian ÀQLVK5RFKHHYHQWXDOO\WRRN

Eddy Schepers, and the rest the yellow jersey from Delgado
working for Visentini. Visentini on the penultimate day to win
accused Roche, Schepers, and by just 40 seconds. That year’s
one of the mechanics, Patrick world title in Villach, Austria,
Valcke, of “holding séances” in looked destined for Kelly, but it
their hotel room and said he had was Roche who attacked a late
bought up all the foreigners in break to win.
the race to work against him. At However, his career went
RQHVWDJHÀQLVK6FKHSHUVKDGWR downhill from there, in a classic
threaten Visentini’s fans to keep case of the CURSE of the rainbow
them away from Roche; as the jersey. He barely raced as world
Irishman rode up the mountains champion following a serious
the livid tifosi spat at him, threw knee injury and operation, pulled
rolled-up newspapers at him, out of the 1989 Tour, and was
and waved slabs of raw meat bizarrely eliminated from the
under his nose. Roche had the 1991 race after his team started
last laugh as he won the race— without him in a team time trial
with some help from ROBERT stage. He achieved one more
MILLAR—and took the Giro and major win, a stage in the 1992
world championship that year. Tour, before retirement in 1993.
The Tour followed, after a He now runs a hotel in the south
race-long battle with Pedro of France. Both his son Nicolas
Delgado that included an episode and his nephew Daniel Martin
at La Plagne in the ALPS where are successful professional
KHEODFNHGRXWEULHÁ\DIWHUWKH cyclists.
v 324

R o ugh S t u f f
ROUGH STUFF Cycling off-road predates the invention of the

using road bikes that are often MOUNTAIN BIKE by many years,
adapted with fatter tires and dating back to the late 19th
cyclo-cross brakes. In Britain century.
rough-stuff routes include green The Rough Stuff Fellowship
lanes, old Roman roads, and publishes ride details and a
roughly surfaced bridleways, newsletter.
while in Scotland the network of (SEE CYCLO-CROSS AND MOUNTAIN-
military roads built by General BIKING FOR OTHER WAYS OF GETTING
AWAY FROM ASPHALT)
Wade is used. Rough Stuff
v 325

S
SADDLES From the late 19th Leather saddles such as
century until the 1970s, most the iconic Brooks B17 look
saddles were made the same distinguished but are heavier
way: from a teardrop-shaped than composite ones and sag
leather strip strung on a metal if they get wet; they also have
frame. Now, however, the to be “broken-in,” a process in
principal volume producer of

leather saddles is the British
ÀUP%URRNVDQGPRVWPRGHOV
are a hybrid of plastic or carbon-
ÀEHUEDVHIRDPRUJHOSDGGLQJ
with a slim covering of either
ÀQHOHDWKHURUV\QWKHWLFÀEHU
The center of the cycle saddle which they are ridden for several
industry is in the Veneto region hundred miles until their shape
of Northern Italy, home to Selle matches that of the rider’s
Royal, Selle Italia, and Selle San behind. While this is going on
Marco. they have to be dressed with
v 326

Saddle Sores
some kind of oil such as neatsfoot, made his own saddle using a
seal oil, or in extreme cases motor plastic sports saddle, some foam,
RLO6RPHDÀFLRQDGRVJRVRIDUDV and his wife’s handbag; mostly,
to soak them in oil. Not everyone F\FOLVWVÀQGDUHDG\PDGHRQH
goes as far as TOM SIMPSON, who which suits and stick with it.
SADDLE SORES A perennial issue, but less common today. Professional

cyclists of the HEROIC ERA suffered almost constantly from saddle boils,
when the skin of the crotch becomes abraded, enabling dirt from the
road to get in and infection to develop. In the 1950s and 1960s, the
TOUR DE FRANCE doctor Pierre Dumas describes seeing riders with
a massive swelling in the perineum nicknamed the “third testicle.”
LOUISON BOBET’s career was cut short after he heroically rode on with
a saddle boil to win the 1955 Tour, and an uncomfortable sore probably
contributed to LAURENT FIGNON’s narrow defeat in the 1989 Tour.
Geoffrey Nicholson, in The Great Bike Race, recalled the 1976 Tour
runner-up Joop Zoetemelk pulling down his shorts to show journalists
a boil “the size of an egg” on his inner thigh to explain why he wasn’t
able to challenge the winner Lucien Van Impe. LANCE ARMSTRONG’s
WHDPPDWH)UDQNLH$QGUHXÀQLVKHGRQH7RXUZLWKDYDVWKROHFXWLQ
his saddle to accommodate a sore.
Some cyclists swear by the use of cream on the insert in their
shorts, others prefer to pedal dry; none now resort to the 1930s
remedy of putting a raw steak down below. All are agreed, however,
that nothing apart from a little cream should come between a cyclist
and his insert, once made of soft chamois leather (which would harden
uncomfortably with washing and had to be treated before use), now
PRUHOLNHO\WREHDQDUWLÀFLDOSDGGHGIDEULF5HSHDWHGF\FOLQJVHHPVWR
harden the skin in the crotch for male cyclists, who should not have to
resort to the remedies recommended by TOM SIMPSON: ice water baths
or cocaine lotions to deaden the nerves.
v 327

Saf e ty B i cy cl es
SAFETY BICYCLES A type of bike of the Rover could be altered for

born of a spate of inventions in cyclists of various heights; the
the 1870s and 1880s as designers gears were also changeable by
attempted to improve on the varying the size of chain rings
HIGH-WHEELER by making the and sprockets. An 1869 machine
bike more stable and introducing made by Frenchmen Meyer and
UHDUZKHHOGULYH7KHGHÀQLWLYH Guilmet had included similar
safety bicycle was produced features but had never been
in 1885 with the launch of marketed due to the Franco-
the Rover designed by JAMES Prussian war.
STARLEY. The only issue with safety-
Starley’s third model for the type bicycles was that the
Rover had the diamond frame, smaller wheels were less
rear chain drive—the bush-roller forgiving than the larger ones
chain as we know it today had used on the high-wheeler,
been invented in 1880—and but that was solved in 1888
direct front-wheel steering that when John Boyd Dunlop, a
QRZGHÀQHPRVWELNHV7KHVL]H vet in Belfast, patented the
v 328

Schuermann
pneumatic tire (see TIRES for the areas: the development of

development of this vital item). gearing, lighter and stronger
Initially the tires were glued components, mass production
and bound to the wheel-rim but to drive down prices and make
later in the decade Michelin the machines ever more popular.
of France patented a wired-on Key developments in WHEELS,
tire. FRAMES (materials and design),
Fundamentally, the modern BRAKES, tires, and GEARS are
bicycle was born. What remained covered in their individual
was perfecting the various sections.
SCHUERMANN, Clemens (b. 1888, became an architect who began

d. 1957), Herbert (b. 1925, d. 1994), and constructing velodromes in 1926.
Ralph (b. 1953) He experimented with velodrome
construction with a temporary
The German family of architects track in his home town of
who between them have built Muenster, which he built and
many of the world’s velodromes: rebuilt each year, continually
122 at the last count, including altering the transitions—the
the Olympic tracks in Beijing, point where the rider exits the
Barcelona, Seoul, Mexico City, banking and enters the straight.
and Rome; the Hamar track He discovered that at this
in Norway; the Meadowbank point, centrifugal forces mean
velodrome in Edinburgh; the a properly designed track can
UCI’s World Cycling Center track guide the rider around the curve
in l’Aigle, Switzerland; and the so that he or she does not have to
Vigorelli velodrome in Milan. turn the handlebars.
Clemens Schuermann was a The Vigorelli was Clemens’s
track cyclist who invented an masterpiece; his son Herbert
early cycling helmet and later continued the tradition, working
v 329

Schwinn
around the globe on 55 tracks in a radically shaped building

and helping the UCI with track resembling a Viking longship,
design, reducing standard and, most recently, the futuristic
length to 250 m. He handed the track used at the Beijing
business down in turn to his OLYMPIC GAMES.
son Ralph, who designed the (SEE ALSO HOUR RECORD, TRACK
velodrome at Hamar, Norway, RACING)
SCHWINN America’s best-known cycle maker, which was founded

in Chicago by two German émigrés, Ignaz Schwinn and Adolph
Arnold, started production in 1895 and was responsible for two classic
designs. Under Ignaz’s son Frank W. Schwinn, the Aerocycle was
based on motorcycle design with 2.125-inch balloon tires—specially
produced by the American Rubber Company at Schwinn’s request—
vast mudguards, a chrome-plated headlight, and push-button bell.
It was later known as the cruiser. The Stingray of 1963, designed by
Al Fritz, was another motorcycle-based design. Fritz was inspired
E\D&DOLIRUQLDQ\RXWKWUHQGIRUÀWWLQJELNHVZLWKPRWRUELNHSDUWV
and produced a machine that featured high-rise handlebars known
as apehangers, a banana-shaped seat, and 20-inch wheels, which
was adapted by RALEIGH and marketed successfully in the UK as the
Chopper.
Schwinn’s Paramount was its most successful road bike brand,
introduced in 1938 under Frank W. Schwinn and made in low
numbers in a small unit that was separate from the main factory,
but after that the company never seemed truly at ease with road bike
manufacturing, possibly because it never sponsored a team that raced
in the European hotbed. The Paramount was updated in the 1950s
with Reynolds tubing, and the multi-geared Varsity and Continental
v 330

Sercu, Patrick
brands sold well in the 1960s. But Schwinn missed out on the surge
in road racing interest in the US in the 1970s: the bikes they offered
were not light or responsive enough compared to what was offered
from Europe. Similarly the company failed to truly capitalize on the
later BMX and MOUNTAIN-BIKE booms—although ironically enough the
Schwinn cruisers were an inspiration for the earliest mountain bikes,
DQG6FKZLQQEULHÁ\SURGXFHGDPRXQWDLQELNHQDPHGWKH.OXQNHU
5. Schwinn outsourced manufacturing to GIANT, which launched its
own brands and overtook it in the late 1980s. The name has been
bought, sold, and relaunched over the last 15 years. In 1993, during
RQHGLIÀFXOWVSHOO5LFKDUG6FKZLQQJUHDWJUDQGVRQRI,JQD]6FKZLQQ
founded Waterford Precision Cycles, an offshoot based in the former
Paramount production plant in Waterford, Wisconsin, which makes
lightweight machines in limited numbers.
SERCU, Patrick (b. Belgium, 1944) Rumbeke so that he could train

on it.
The greatest SIX-DAY rider ever, Patrick was an amateur
Sercu was born into a family and professional world sprint
that epitomized the cycling champion, and set world records
tradition of FLANDERS. His father over one kilometer, but he also
Albert came close to winning KDGVXIÀFLHQWVWDPLQDWRUDFH
CLASSICS such as the Tour of well in the longest stage races.
Flanders and Paris–Tours in His sprint gave him 14 stage
the 1940s and was a world- wins in the GIRO D’ITALIA and
championship silver medalist. the green points jersey in the
To give his son the best possible 1974 TOUR DE FRANCE, where he
start in cycling, he restored the had a fair bit of help from EDDY
velodrome in the little town of MERCKX, with whom he formed a
v 331

Sex
winning team in several sixes. that promoters would almost

His high cheekbones meant he always give Sercu the strongest
looked a little like the Cannibal partners: he would sometimes be
and on the winter velodromes given a local hero—for example,
between 1966 and 1983 he was he won the London six with
as dominant as Merckx was on Tony Gowland in 1972—but
the road, winning 88 six-days often he teamed up with another
out of the 224 he contested. How record winner, the Dutchman
did he do it? To start with, Sercu Peter Post (see RALEIGH for
had the perfect blend of speed information on Post’s career as
and stamina for the Madison a team manager). He continued
relay races that are at the heart winning when Post retired in
of sixes: few could outsprint 1972. He is now director of the
him for points, not many were Ghent Six-Day race.
stronger when it came to making (SEE ALSO TRACK RACING)
lap gains. And his status meant
SEX Medical opinion is divided be damaging for men and that

over whether cycling is good the very act of cycling might turn
for sexual health. Studies that women into nymphomaniacs. No
indicate that pressure in the research exists to support either
genital area from bicycle saddles theory.
can lead to male impotence and There are claims that the
female genital soreness tend to invention of the bicycle in the
be countered by evidence of the 19th century resulted in an
physical and mental well-being expansion of the human gene
that comes from cycling. Early pool because the mating range of
on, there was speculation that adult humans expanded among
cycling after intercourse might all social classes, simply because
v 332

Sex
people could travel further and Kelly’s wife Linda was still a
IDVWHUWRÀQGSDUWQHUV virgin. ALFREDO BINDA, manager
The issue of sex and racing of the Italian team in the 1940s
is a vexed one: testosterone and 1950s, said that in his racing
is rampant in the sport (and days he permitted himself sex
not merely the injected drug) once a year.
while popular wisdom held for In the 1930s, the SOIGNEUR
many years that professionals Biagio Cavanna felt that the
should be celibate. A chick-lit issue was not having sex but
novel based on the Tour, Cat the time cyclists might spend
by Freya North (see BOOKS— going out to pick up girls, so he
FICTION), implies that there is recommended his riders visit
plenty of bedhopping on the a brothel instead. His protégé
race, and LAURENT FIGNON FAUSTO COPPI was found in
recalled inventing an alibi for his hotel room in bed with his
a teammate who wanted a mistress, the White Lady Giulia
UHQGH]YRXVZLWK´DQXQRIÀFLDO Occhini, before a pursuit match
Miss France.” Teams have in 1953: he told the soigneur that
varying policies on wives and he could make love and then win
girlfriends attending races. and was proved right.
“Nobody has the wife with them 3UROLÀFVSULQWZLQQHU0DULR
when they are working,” said one Cipollini made much of his macho
manager in the 1990s. reputation, cycling with a picture
At a lecture in the 1980s, of Pamela Anderson on his
however, the great all-rounder handlebars and commenting that
SEAN KELLY was asked whether “ejaculating costs only as many
he had a personal policy when it calories as a bar of chocolate so
came to the bedroom; he replied it’s not a worry for me. I’ve won
that he would abstain for a week plenty of races after having sex.”
before a one-day CLASSIC and Cipollini once broke away in a
three weeks before a stage race; race with a fellow sprinter, and
one onlooker speculated whether then disappeared off the road
v 333

Shi m a n o
for a rendezvous with two girls, JACQUES ANQUETIL verged on the

and marketed himself as a sex incestuous: he set up a ménage
god: his shoe sponsor distributed à trois with his wife Janine
postcards that showed him being DQGKHUGDXJKWHUIURPKHUÀUVW
fed grapes by a harem of topless marriage, Annie, with whom he
beauties. had a daughter, Sophie, then
The stresses of their became involved with Janine’s
profession mean that cyclists daughter-in law, Dominique,
often have tangled private lives: with whom he had a son. It was,
the 1920s French great HENRI says Sophie in her memoirs, For
PELISSIER was shot dead by his the Love of Jacques, partly due
mistress, while Coppi’s messy to his desperate need to produce
divorce provoked anger among an heir, partly also because he
fans and the Catholic church. was the undisputed ruler of their
The domestic arrangements of Norman household.
SHIMANO Together with LWVLQFRPHÀJXUH6KLPDQR

Italians CAMPAGNOLO, the also has far greater market
Japanese company is one of two reach, covering mountain-biking
world leaders in cycle-component and leisure cycling. Shimano
manufacture, although recently is a public company in Japan
their dominance has been shaken and also manufactures in
by newcomer SRAM. Unlike Czechoslovakia, China, Malaysia,
Campag’, however, Shimano and Singapore; the American
is a diverse enterprise and a arm is privately owned.
ZRUOGOHDGHULQÀVKLQJWDFNOH Established in the 1920s, the
and also makes snowboarding company emerged as a serious
equipment, although bike bits contender in cycling during the
account for about 75 percent of 1970s, when it rode the surge
v 334

Shi ma n o
in the industry in the US to appreciated.

become, so it claimed, the world’s The improvements to
largest DERAILLEUR makers. Dura-Ace meant the company
Next they moved into Europe, was beginning to threaten
where top cyclists who raced on Campagnolo’s hegemony in pro
Shimano gear included Freddy cycling component making, and
0DHUWHQVWKHLUÀUVWDWWHPSW the breakthrough came in 1989,
to take on Campagnolo was the when the American 7-Eleven
Dura-Ace groupset in 1974. team started using a prototype
The key innovation came gear shifter, incorporated into the
in 1984, with the introduction brake lever—STI, or Shimano
of Shimano Index System, in Total Integration. It took
which the gear lever “clicked” Campagnolo several years to catch
into preset positions to provide up, and by then Shimano had
quicker and more accurate gear moved to the top of the market.
shifting; crucially, the levers, Thanks to early innovations
cable, cable housing, derailleur, such as thumbshifting gear
chain, and sprockets were all levers, and SPD clipless off-road
considered to be parts of a unit pedals—double sided, with small,
dedicated to producing the best sturdy plates that did not clog up
possible gear shift. with mud, brought out in 1991—
Another landmark was the Shimano was already dominant
introduction of the Freehub in the burgeoning mountain-bike
system, in which separate market, with the road-oriented
sprockets slid directly onto a hub Campagnolo never producing
that incorporated the freewheel, anything that challenged their
rather than hub and freewheel inventive Deore and XTR
being separate. Critically, that groupsets.
meant that gear ratios could be Shimano did not win a
rapidly changed by switching major Tour until 1988, when
individual sprockets, something Andy Hampsten won the GIRO
pro-team mechanics rapidly D’ITALIADQGWKHLUÀUVWTOUR DE
v 335

Si m pso n , To m
FRANCE win came in 1999 with gears on the range-topping Dura-

LANCE ARMSTRONG, whose seven Ace group, using a battery about
successive Tour wins cemented the size of a mobile phone power
their position in the road market. unit, and biodynamic chain rings,
In 2002, Shimano-equipped bikes reshaped so they were not exactly
won all three Grand Tours. By oval, but almost diamond-shaped
2009, their range included electric with rounded corners.
SIMPSON, Tom, Watching and Reading

(b. England, 1937, d. 1967) Tom Simpson:
=
Dapper, daring, and charismatic,
Major Tom, (Chris Sidwells, Mousehold
6LPSVRQZDVWKHÀUVWF\FOLVW
Press 2000), retells the story from his
from GREAT BRITAIN to make
nephew’s perspective
a major impact on European
professional racing. A coal Cycling Is My Life (Tom Simpson,
Yellow Jersey, 2009) is the re-issue of
miner’s son whose early
Simpson’s ghosted 1966 autobiography
hero was FAUSTO COPPI he
won a bronze medal in the Put Me Back on My Bike (William
Fotheringham, reissued Yellow Jersey,
Melbourne Olympics of 1956
2007) is the best-selling Simpson book
then moved from his home in
Nottinghamshire in 1959 to the Death on the Mountain is an award-
winning BBC documentary from 2007
town of Saint-Brieuc in Brittany
to avoid national service. Something to Aim At is a personal
He rapidly became one of the collection of interviews and archive
material by the film-buff Ray Pascoe, as
stars of the pro circuit thanks
is The World of Tom Simpson
to victories in CLASSICS such as
the Tour of FLANDERS in 1961, Wheels Within Wheels is a more recent
DVD of Simpson-related interviews
Bordeaux–Paris in 1963, MILAN–
SAN REMO in 1964, and the GIRO (SEE ALSO POETRY FOR A
SIMPSON-INSPIRED WORK)
DI LOMBARDIA in 1965, the year
v 336

Si x - da y R a ci n g
KHEHFDPHWKHÀUVW³DQGWR abroad” created by French writer

date the only—Briton to win the Pierre Daninos.
world road-race championship. He was also a dreamer whose
6LPSVRQZDVDOVRWKHÀUVW%ULWRQ ambitions included owning a
to wear the yellow jersey of the train and who was determined
TOUR DE FRANCE, for a single to create the best living he
day in the 1962 race. Those wins could for his wife, Helen, and
earned him the BBC Sports their two children. He died on
Personality of the Year in 1965. July 13, 1967, in the Tour de
Simpson won hearts for his France after collapsing on Mont
“all or nothing” racing style and Ventoux (see ALPS) in baking
his showmanship, be it posing in KHDWZKLOHXQGHUWKHLQÁXHQFHRI
silly hats or performing stunts amphetamines and alcohol. His
for the crowds on his bike. He MEMORIAL still stands near the
was celebrated for posing for top of the mountain, bearing the
photographs wearing a sharp words “Olympic medallist, world
suit and bowler hat and carrying champion and British sporting
an umbrella in the style of Major ambassador.”
Thompson, an “Englishman
SIX-DAY RACING Born of the six days and the fastest of the
19th-century vogue for marathon GR]HQPHQLQWKHÀHOGZDVRQH
events, and once hugely popular %LOO&DQQIURP6KHIÀHOGZKR
in America, these track races covered 1,060 miles, losing seven
now exist on the margins. pounds in the process.
7KHÀUVWVL[GD\F\FOLQJ The concept was exported to
race was held at the Islington America where the crowds took
Agricultural Hall in November ghoulish pleasure in watching
1878: the riders simply rode for WKHULGHUV·VXIIHULQJWKHÀQDO
as long as they could within the sessions, when the riders were
v 337

Si x - day R a ci n g
in a zombielike state, would man teams. The result was the

often sell out. The events were invention of the “Madison”—
exercises in sleep deprivation, named after the arena at
with SOIGNEURS providing Madison Square Garden,
stimulants to keep their charges purpose-built for cycle racing—
awake for as long as possible. in which one rider would circle
The New York Times of the track resting while the
December 10, 1897, described other raced for a short while
the winner of a Madison Square before grabbing his partner’s
Garden Six, Charles W. Miller, hand and “throwing” him up to
as “drawn and haggard, his racing speed. The introduction
H\HVVXQNDQGLQÁDPHGWKH of points for intermediate
FUXHOFKDÀQJRIWKHVDGGOHKDG sprints counting toward the
VXQNGHHSLQWRKLVÁHVKµ0DMRU ÀQDOVWDQGLQJVPDGHWKHUDFHV
TAYLOR, the legendary African more lively and resulted in the
American sprinter, scheduled typical team composition being
one hour’s sleep in eight in his a sprinter and a stayer. That
ÀUVWVL[7KHKHOSHUVZRXOGFRRN UHPDLQVWKHFDVHWRGD\W\SLÀHG
food for the riders in a small by the GREAT BRITAIN world
enclosure in the track center; championship winners in 2008,
their charges would eat from MARK CAVENDISH and BRADLEY
the pot as they rode and throw WIGGINS (see their separate
it back when it was empty. At entries and GREAT BRITAIN and
one point at the end of the race, OLYMPIC GAMES for more on both
a hallucinating Taylor was of them).
convinced he was being chased In the early years of the 20th
by a man with a knife. century, six-day racing was a
By the end of the 1890s, lucrative business in the US and
rules were put in place to limit Europe, with fees of up to
the riders to 12–18 hours a $1,000 a day going to top
day on the track; to get round performers such as the Canadian
this, organizers brought in two- William “Torchy” Peden
v 338

Sl a n g
and Reggie “the Iron-Man” of other events (see TRACK

MacNamara of Australia, famed RACING) that keep the crowds
IRUKDYLQJFXWRIIKLVRZQÀQJHU happy and count for points
with a hatchet when he was toward the overall standings.
bitten by a poisonous snake in The biggest winner in six-day
the bush. racing is the Belgian PATRICK
The events attracted SERCU, who formed a dominant
celebrities such as Bing Crosby, team together with Holland’s
who was rumored to pay the Peter Post through the late
hospital bills of cyclists who 1960s to the early 1970s. Only
crashed, actors like Douglas one British cyclist has been a
Fairbanks, the opera singer consistent six-day winner in
Enrico Caruso, and the actress recent years: the pursuiter Tony
Peggy Joyce. Al Capone might Doyle, who made up a strong
turn up to offer $100 primes. team with Australia’s Danny
Six-day racing in the Clark for 19 of his 23 wins.
US began to die off in the The events now exist on the
Depression of the 1930s; in margins, as the UCI prefers to
Europe sixes continue, mainly see World Cup meets that act
in Germany. They consist of a as buildup toward the WORLD
series of evening sessions over CHAMPIONSHIPS and Olympic
six days, usually lasting into Games, and it’s uncertain how
the wee hours, with an overall long they will survive now that
FODVVLÀFDWLRQEDVHGRQWKH the Madison has lost its status
Madison sessions and a variety as an Olympic event in 2012.
SLANG his bike from side to side in

an exaggerated way. (See
Abdu’: any sprinter who crashes

because they won’t look where
ABDUZHAPAROV to learn the
origin of this term.)
they’re going or who throws
Baked: over-trained.
v 339

Sl a n g
Ben Hur: a crash caused,

unintentionally or otherwise,
vehicles behind a major race
(“use the convoy”).
by a part of one riders bike
jamming the spokes of
Diesel: a racing cyclist who
rides mainly at a steady pace
another rider’s wheel. DQGÀQGVVXGGHQVSULQWVKDUG
Big meat: large gear, large to handle.

chainring.
Feathering: braking technique
Bonk: running out of energy

and fuel during a race or
where rapid, frequent
application of the brakes
ride, which causes a severe avoids skidding.
reductions in one’s ability to
produce power. Also known as
Flick: make a sudden
movement to one side to
knock or hungerknock. discourage opponent in a
Broomwagon: vehicle that

travels last in a race convoy
sprint. Also used as a general
term for deceiving, tricking
to gather up riders who drop an opponent or teammate, or
out. being ripped off by a sponsor
Bunny-hop: jumping the bike KHÁLFNHGPH,JRWÁLFNHG

over an obstacle by lifting the
front wheel and using upward
Fred: a disparaging term
used by racers for a cyclist
force in the pedals to pull up who they regard as being
the rear wheel. Road racers beneath them in status or
do it to avoid potholes and (in ability. A Fred can be a
Belgium) to switch between novice rider with no obvious
pavement and asphalt; skill but costly clothing and
mountain bikers do it over equipment. More commonly
most obstacles. it is someone with profoundly
Cat. 5 tattoo: a grease mark left

on a rider’s leg by a chainring
unfashionable or dated gear,
often a bicycle commuter.
or chain. Also known as a May well have a Cat. 5 tattoo.
rookie mark.
Granny gear: derogatory term
Convoy: the cavalcade of team for a very low gear, often
v 340

Sl a n g
attained by the use of a… combine their efforts in order
Granny Ring: the smallest

chainring of a triple chainset.
to control a race, then share
the prize money.
Hairnet: crash hat made of

leather strips used before
Meet the man with the hammer: blow
up, or get the bonk.
shell helmets became vogue.
Pretzeled: severe damage to a
Hammerhead: a rider who frame or wheel.

maintains a relentlessly high
pace.
Retrogrouch: a rider who eschews
the latest in equipment.
Hand-sling: maneuver in TRACK

RACING where one rider
Ride on mineral water: to race
without using drugs.
“throws” the other into the
action.
Road rash: skin abrasions
caused by a fall (also known
Honk: to ride out of the saddle as gravel rash).

on a climb.
Sandbag: Not giving as much
Juice: dope (juicer: a rider who

dopes).
effort as you are capable of
when you are supposed to be
Lead-out, lead-out man: in a sprint,

two cyclists from the team
pulling on the front for your
team in order to save energy
will organize themselves so and seek individual glory in
the slower man sets the pace WKHÀQDOVWDJHRIWKHUDFH
LQWKHÀQDONLORPHWHUXQWLO
the sprinter can make his
Shelled, spat out, shat out: all terms
used for getting left behind by
effort. In major races, a team the pack, usually due to bonk
will all work to keep the pace or meeting the man with the
high until the last lead-out hammer.
man can launch the sprinter.
Sitting in: getting shelter in the
Lunched: an irreparably broken

component, particularly an
pack or behind the break as a
wheelsucker might.
expensive one.
Snake bite: DÁDWXVXDOO\FDXVHG
Mafia: When riders from E\DQXQGHULQÁDWHGWLUH

several different teams
Squirrel: an erratic bike handler
v 341

Sl a n g
whose twitchy riding can force of the pedals against

cause crashes. gravity or the brakes. Most
Swag or schwag: merchandise

offered as prizes, items given
often seen in track sprinting,
where one rider may stand
to riders by sponsors free of still to force the other to take
charge. Pro and sometimes the lead. Skilled road cyclists
even amateur riders get swag FDQGRWKLVDWWUDIÀFOLJKWV
bags from sponsors at the
start of each season.
Unobtanium: what any obscenely
expensive bike part is made
Swanny: English variant on of.

SOIGNEUR, French, team
helper or carer.
Water-carrier: team rider (French
domestique).
Switch: a sideways move like

DÁLFNEXWPRUHVXVWDLQHG
Weight weenie: cyclist who is
obsessed with getting his bike
preventing opponent from as light as possible without
coming past. sparing his cash.
Tacoed: see pretzeled.

Wheelsucker: a rider who doesn’t
Time bonus: used in stage

racing, when seconds may
contribute to a break or who
“sits in” in the pack all day,
be deducted from the overall RQO\HPHUJLQJIRUWKHÀQDO
time of riders who place in the sprint.
ÀUVWWKUHHLQWKHVWDJHRUDW
intermediate sprints. (FOR A GLOSSARY OF RACING-SPECIFIC
Track stand: holding the bike

motionless by balancing the
TERMS, SEE FRENCH, THE LINGUA FRANCA
OF EUROPEAN RACING)
v 342

Soigneur
SOIGNEUR For a century, these the Briton Arthur Linton) who

men were the éminences grises GLHG+HZDVLPPRUWDOL]HGULÁLQJ
of professional cycling, providing through his drugs bag, by the
massage, magic remedies, and artist TOULOUSE-LAUTREC.
advice to the riders. There were Early soigneurs had multi-
QRTXDOLÀFDWLRQVRWKHUWKDQ sport backgrounds; FAUSTO
who a soigneur had worked COPPI’s mentor Biagio Cavanna
with. They began working life came through soccer, boxing,
DVJUDYHGLJJHUVÀVKPRQJHUV and six-day racing and had
and bus drivers. Knowledge underworld connections. Cavanna
was handed down through the was blind, which helped when
generations. it came to cultivating mystique.
The breed was declared extinct It was Cavanna who gave Coppi
early in the 21st century after the much of his reputation for
most notorious, Willy Voet, being unpredictable and fussy:
published his scandalous massaging in the dark, using
Massacre à la Chaîne in 1999 white not red wine vinegar,
(Breaking the Chain, Yellow having total silence in the hotel.
Jersey, 2000), detailing the It all added to the reputation of
various nefarious practices these the blind man—his hands worked
dastards got up to in order to better when it was quiet—who
enhance the performance of was not popular with the team
professional cyclists, some of management, partly because
whom had no idea what was going of Coppi’s dependence, partly
on. The term “carers” is now used. because of the percentage of
7KHÀUVWZDV´&KRSS\µ Coppi’s winnings that he took.
Warburton, the only Briton to Cavanna is one of the founding
ÀJXUHLQWKHLUUDQNV,WDOPRVW fathers of the profession, because
doesn’t matter what Warburton of the breadth of his brief:
did, his nickname alone means he masseur, talent scout, confessor,
TXDOLÀHVEXWKHZDVDOVREDQQHG moral adviser, trainer, provider
and had a client or two (famously of early DRUGS and drinks made
v 343

Soigneur
Magic Remedies
Xooee v ochkax
Transliteration of Russian for “penis in the eyes”: this is what an ex-Soviet masseur at the
Italian Carrera team used to say when his charges got on the massage table, reflecting their
relative positions. It’s called cultural exchange.
The blind man’s hands

The notion that blind men give better massage goes back to Fausto Coppi’s guru Biagio
Cavanna, who used the mystique to great effect. His charges still swore his touch was
superior 60 years later. To enhance his mystique, “Biasu” himself made a point of knowing
precisely where they had been and what they had been doing, in spite of his being sightless.
The Spanish team ONCE, sponsored by a blind charity, had a sightless masseur on their
staff.
Get thee to a brothel

The Cavanna special: sex per se is not harmful, but going out in the evening and looking for
partners detracts from cyclists’ rest periods and exposes them to stuff like colds, at best
(something team officials have noted in more modern times). His answer (not theirs): pay for it.
Gus Naessens’s porridge

Naessens was the miracle worker who looked after TOM SIMPSON. One of his specials was
boiling up cattle feed into porridge and putting it into the cyclists’ feed bottles. The theory
was it would sit in the stomach and prevent the muscles from using energy better directed to
the legs. These days, he’d be selling crystals as a mental health aid.
v 344

Soigneur
Condom up the bum

Willy Voet’s proudest moment was when he was initiated into this old Belgian method of
getting clean urine into a dope-control bottle: clean urine in the condom, which is concealed
up the anus, small rubber tube to the penis, bit of hair on the tube so it is camouflaged (a
“refinement” of which our Willy was particularly proud). It’s fine as long as the urine provider
hasn’t been on the gear on the quiet, as happened on one famous occasion.
Tail of newt and eye of frog

GINO BARTALI didn’t have a legendary healer, but he had plenty of his own wacky peasant
ideas: vinegar compresses, tobacco from cigarette butts applied locally, grape juice rubs. He
was a firm believer in the power of magnetic fields and aligned his hotel room bed north–
south. Other potions of the time included extracts of bee and toad venom, ether, pure cola,
egg yolks in port, and cigarettes.
It’s all for me, honest

JACQUES ANQUETIL’s soigneur Julien Schramm and Voet both came up with the same answer
when caught with large amounts of dodgy substances. It was not for the cyclists, they said,
but for their “own consumption.” Schramm changed his mind when asked to inject himself
with the amphetamines he was carrying, while Voet realised he was going to carry the can on
his own and squealed to the police.
Not positive but pregnant

No one knows whether this really happened: it’s the old tale in which the rider swaps urine
with that of his wife with unforeseen results. But urine substitution is an old one, with
soigneurs pissing in pots while the dope-testers backs are turned, tubes hidden in funny
places, and even catheters being used to flush out the bladder with clean wee. Ouch.
v 345

Soigneur
of orange juice, fruit pulp, and one rider in his charge simply
grain. He was known variously had to have; Voet switched it for
as maestro—which also means glucose solution, and the cyclist
teacher—the “Miracle Worker” VWLOOÁHZ
and the “Muscle Wizard.” There were straight soigneurs,
The TOUR DE FRANCE doctor but Voet’s book changed the way
Pierre Dumas described the all were seen. He described the
soigneurs as witchdoctors, whose little deals, the drug-carrying,
“value was in their valise”—in the elaborate ruses handed down
other words, in the remedies they through generations to get around
carried. Sometimes their maxims urine tests, the devotion to duty
were simply perverse, such as the that was not reciprocated by their
long-standing belief that cyclists charges. When Voet was arrested,
shouldn’t drink much in hot his main charge, Richard
weather and that they should eat Virenque, was more worried about
VDOWÀVKZKHQWUDLQLQJWRKDUGHQ how he would get his drugs.
them up. They would buy patent The rise of the sports doctor
medicines, scratch the labels off, and the entry of women into the
and sell them at 100 times the profession in the late 1980s was
price. what sounded the death knell
Their clients were often for the old-fashioned soigneurs,
credulous characters who would rather than the name change.
pay through the nose for magic Women soigneurs such as LANCE
potions such as Cavanna’s la ARMSTRONG’s Irish leg rubber
bomba—a mix of cola and mild Emma O’Reilly didn’t do the
amphetamine—and the go- mystique thing, although they
faster mixes known in France might wrap the day’s race food
as la topette. The effect was in in Penthouse pages to cheer
large part psychological, because up their charges, as O’Reilly’s
placebos worked as well: Voet consoeur Shelley Verses once
describes one rival soigneur who did; sports drinks took over from
had a “time trial special,” which magic remedies.
v 346

Spain
SPAIN A relative latecomer

to international cycling, partly
down to poverty, partly also due
to the political turmoil of the
1920s and 1930s. The national
Tour in the cycling heartland
of the Basque Country didn’t
begin until 1924, and the
VUELTA A ESPAÑA itself didn’t
get properly established until
the 1950s. Early stars included
the “Torrelavega Flea,” Vicente
Trueba, who weighed a mere 112
pounds and had a disabled left
hand, while Julian Berrendero double Vuelta winner in spite of
was King of the Mountains in having spent several stints in
the 1935 TOUR DE FRANCE, and concentration camps during the
Spanish Cycle Racing at a Glance

=
Biggest race: Vuelta
Legendary racing hills: Angliru, Lagos de Covadonga
Biggest star: Miguel Indurain
First Tour stage win: Francisco Ezquera, 1936
Tour overall wins to 2010: 11 (Indurain 5, Alberto Contador 3, Pedro Delgado, Luis Ocana,
Federico Bahamontes 1 each)
Spain has given cycling: Basque fervor; Indurain’s torpor; countless diminutive climbers;
one of the longest-running pro TEAMS in Reynolds-Banesto-Caisse d’Epargne; Operación Puerto
v 347

Spain
Civil War. teams and races—in 1988 the

It was not until the emergence Federation had to put a cap on
in the postwar years of Miguel the number of teams to calm
3REOHW³WKHÀUVW6SDQLDUGWRZLQ things down—while the period
Milan–San Remo—Bernardo 1991–96 saw an economic boom
Ruiz (third in the 1952 Tour) in cycling. That was partly due
and above all of FEDERICO to an unprecedented period
BAHAMONTES that Spanish of dominance in the Tour for
cycling truly emerged. The MIGUEL INDURAIN but the ONCE
“Eagle of Toledo” was a child of team led by the Swiss Alex Zülle
the civil war who recalled riding and France’s Laurent Jalabert
his bike and racing purely in were also a force to be reckoned
order to get food in the hungry with, as were Clas, for whom the
1940s. Swiss Tony Rominger took the
%DKDPRQWHVZDVWKHÀUVW Vuelta in 1992, 1993, and 1994.
Spanish Tour de France winner Spain began to cool down
and was followed by two after the Vuelta’s move to a
equally mercurial climbers, the September date in 1995 and
“Watchmaker of Avila” Julio Indurain’s retirement at the
Jimenez, and EDDY MERCKX’s start of 1997. Now, the sport
great rivals Jose-Manuel Fuente in Spain is an object lesson in
and Luis Ocaña. The latter came the ravages DOPING can cause.
close to defeating the “Cannibal” There have been numerous high-
in the 1972 Tour but crashed out SURÀOHSRVLWLYHVDQGDPDVVLYH
of the race on a rain-hit descent blood-doping scandal, revealed
in the Pyrenées. He returned in the Operación Puerto inquiry,
the next year to take the Tour in made matters worse. Sponsors
Merckx’s absence. KDYHÁHGDQGWKHUHLVQRZRQO\
Pedro Delgado was the one Spanish-backed team in
next star; his victories in the the ProTour, the Basque squad
1985 Vuelta and 1988 Tour de Euskaltel.
France led to an expansion in The Basque Country remains
v348

Sponsors
the heartland. Its fans have Sebastian CLASSIC and the week-
put up much of the money by long Vuelta a Pais Vasco, which
VXEVFULSWLRQWRÀQDQFHWKH dwarfs the Vuelta in terms of
Euskaltel team—which is popular support. Boasting Orbea
Basque backed and only hires and BH bike makers and Exte-
Basque cyclists. The Atlantic Ondo clothing, it is also a center
coast is the home of the San of the bike industry.
SPONSORS That was strange. As was

Your check’s in the mail: a litany the incident when the
of bizarre backers of cycling. ÀUPRZQHU·VGDXJKWHUJRW
kidnapped in New York and
Saville Stainless: D6KHIÀHOGÀUP the team ran out of money.

who made toilets. Don’t make
jokes to their ex-leader Mark
Sauna Diana: a bar close to the
Belgian–Dutch border where
Walsham about pulling the you could go and discuss
chain. “business” with the lady of
Chris Barber: honky tonk tonk,

wah wah wah. The jazz group
your choice. Possibly the least
politically correct team bus
headed by the iconic trumpet decoration ever.
player backed a British team
EULHÁ\EDFNLQWKHV
Astana: a consortium of Kazakh
businesses including steel
Banana: sounded weirder than

it was. A consortium of fruit
and railways with a casual
attitude to paying wages. Led
importers that backed a very by LANCE ARMSTRONG in 2009
winning team headed by, but still known informally as
inter alia, current GB coach Team Borat.
Shane Sutton.
Zero Boys: a group of
Brooklyn: chewing gum. unemployed pros in the late
v 349

St ag e R a ces
1980s who sold their jerseys curious one. Curiouser still

on a freelance race-by-race was when the manager put
basis. It didn’t catch on. together a team with money
Silence: anti-snoring remedy

that sponsored a leading
that wasn’t there from three
major companies and it went
Belgium team during the bust after three weeks.
late noughts, including Cadel
Evans (see AUSTRALIA) in its
Lotteries: what is it about
national lotteries and two
line-up. The team was also wheels? They have backed
backed by a pregnancy test, cycling in Belgium (Lotto),
Predictor. Spain (ONCE), and France
Linda McCartney: a company

producing vegetarian food
(Francaise des Jeux/FDJ.
com). It can’t be coincidence,
under the name of the ex- just pure chance no doubt.
Beatle’s late wife was a
STAGE RACES As well as the Big event that takes in the climbs
Three of GIRO D’ITALIA, TOUR DE WKDWZLOOÀJXUHLQWKH-XO\
FRANCE, and VUELTA A ESPAÑA, race.
there are a host of other smaller
multi-day events run on similar
Paris–Nice: the “race to the sun”
is the main season-opener in
lines. The longest-standing ones France, symbolically taking
include: WKHÀHOGIURPWKHZLQWU\
Tour of Switzerland: run in June, north to the sunny Riviera.

longest after the big three,
and famously well-endowed
Tirreno–Adriatico: race of the two
seas through central Italy
with prize money. that is the main preparation
Dauphiné Libéré: also in June event for MILAN–SAN REMO.

and a key Tour warm-up
Tour of Catalonia: long and tough
v 350

Starley, James and John Kemp
but run in June, which means somewhere sunny.

it clashes with Switzerland
and Dauphiné.
Tour of California: main pro
race in America, famously
Tour of Basque Country: Spain’s

biggest event after the Vuelta,
sponsored by Amgen, which
makes EPO.
famously tough as it is run on
the hilly north coast.
Tour of Britain: growing in
popularity on the back of the
Tour de l’Avenir: mini Tour de

France run for under-25s.
OLYMPIC team’s success and
now seems to have resolved
early safety problems.
Newcomers include:
Tour of Qatar: it’s early season,
Tour Down Under: based in

Adelaide and now a way for
it’s sunny, and there is no
shortage of prize money. EDDY
pro teams to start the season MERCKX is race director.
STARLEY, James (b. England, 1830, d. various radical TRICYCLES. The

1881) and John Kemp (b. England, 1854, Ariel HIGH-WHEELER he produced
d. 1901) with William Hillman in 1870
LVYLHZHGDVDGHÀQLQJPRPHQW
Respectively the “father of the The machine was relatively light
cycle industry” and his nephew, and had wheels with spokes that
the bike maker behind the Rover could be adjusted; it was Britain’s
safety machine. ÀUVWPHWDOELNHSURGXFHGLQDQ\
James Starley started out quantity. His most important
working on sewing machines and invention, however, was the
was one of 19th-century cycling’s differential gear, used on his
most inventive minds, responsible tricycles, which enabled cyclists
for tangential spoking, as used in to sit side by side and pedal
most spoked wheels today, and without the imbalance in force
v 351

St el v i o
turning the machine in a circle: it company making tricycles that

became standard on the motorcar. were branded Rover from 1883.
James Starley’s tricycles—most Their “safety” bicycle appeared
notably the Coventry rotary and in 1885; the third variant had a
Royal Salvo—established a form diamond frame, rear-wheel chain
for the three-wheeler of today drive, and two wheels virtually
and foreshadowed the modern the same size, establishing
bicycle, with chain drive and front the template for the modern
wheel connected directly to the bike. After Starley’s death, the
handlebars. Rover company began making
John Kemp Starley worked motorbikes and cars, and it would
with his uncle making Ariel eventually become a key name in
cycles before founding his own British car manufacture.
STELVIO The greatest mountain through the snowdrifts on the

pass in the Eastern Alps and second-highest pass in the
probably the most legendary Alps, he was cheered on by his
climb tackled by the GIRO mistress, the White Lady Giulia
D’ITALIA. The Giro only visits Occhini; after the stage they had
every few years though, giving an assignation in his hotel. One
the Stelvio similar cachet to of the greatest moves of BERNARD
Mont Ventoux in France (see HINAULT’s career came on the
ALPS). The race went up the mountain in 1980, when he won
6WHOYLRIRUWKHÀUVWWLPHLQ KLVÀUVW*LURWKHUH
1953 when FAUSTO COPPI used Over 15 miles long and rising
the pass to make an audacious to 2,758 m, the Stelvio has a
attack on the race leader Hugo unique history. It was built in
Koblet and won the last Giro 1825 to connect the Austro-
of his career. As he climbed Hungarian empire with its
v 352

Strada, Alfonsina
Italian province of Lombardy, television show Top Gear.

DQGZDVÀHUFHO\IRXJKWRYHU CYCLOSPORTIVES that take in
during the First World War. the Stelvio include StelvioBike in
Its hairpins are the “greatest August and the Dreiländergiro;
driving road in the world” there is also a one-off mass ride
according to the gear-head up the pass, the Cima Coppi,
STRADA, Alfonsina outside the time limit, with the

(b. Italy, 1891, d. 1959) end of a broomstick where part
of her bars should have been.
The only woman to compete She was eliminated but invited
in any of the three major to continue by the organizers
men’s Tours, Strada was because the public had gotten
born Alfonsina Morin. She wind that a woman was in the
won numerous races and was race and she had novelty value.
invited to pre-Revolutionary Strada started each morning
Russia to meet Czar Nicholas with the race and was timed
II before riding the men’s Tour in in the evening but did not
of Lombardy in 1917 and 1918. ÀJXUHRQWKHRIÀFLDOOLVWLQJV6KH
She entered the 1924 Giro as ÀQLVKHGKRXUVEHKLQGWKH
“Strada, Alfonsin”—deliberately winner, Giuseppe Enrici, after
deleting the aIURPKHUÀUVW the 3,613 km and went home
name to keep the organizers in with 50,000 lire.
the dark regarding her gender— (SEE WOMEN FOR MORE ON WOMEN’S
and remained in the race for RACING; BERYL BURTON, NICOLE COOKE,
AND JEANNIE LONGO FOR GREAT WOMEN
IRXUGD\V2QGD\ÀYHVKHEURNH
RACERS)
KHUKDQGOHEDUVDQGÀQLVKHG
v 353

T
TANDEMS Bicycles built for of the “stoker” at the back, with
two date back to the early the chain rings for the timing
days of cycling innovation, and chain having an identical number
travel quicker than “singles” for of teeth to keep the pedaling in
obvious reasons: pedaling power sync. There are variants that can
is doubled, the actual weight of allow the riders to select different
a racing tandem can be less than chain ring sizes, or one to
twice that of a road bike, friction freewheel while the other pedals.
is the same apart from some There is some uncertainty
loss in the complex drive train, over the advantages of having
while wind resistance does not the secondary chain rings
increase drastically. In Britain, in phase (where both riders’
the Tandem Club (founded 1971) pedals are at the same part of
offers its members advice, racing the pedal stroke at the same
calendars, and regular meets. time)—the consensus appears
Most tandems have a second to be that with the cranks in
“timing” chain connecting the phase, the riders can coordinate
front rider’s chainset with that their efforts better; out of phase
v 354

T ay l o r , M a rsh a l l W a l t er
enables a better performance to for hub brakes, which avoid

be got out of a pairing of widely heating the rims and risking a
differing leg strengths. tire blow-out on long descents;
Tandem wheels and brakes mountain-bike-style disc brakes
have to be more substantial are also used.
than on a single, with the rear A tandem at full tilt on a
wheel—which has more strain velodrome is a spectacular sight,
put on it than the front—often but a rare one. The last tandem
having a wider hub to reduce the sprint world championships
dish (distance between the rim were run in Palermo, Italy, in
DQGWKHÁDQJHRIWKHKXEZKHUH 1994, after which the event was
the spokes are located). That deleted from the program. The
in turn means the spokes are champions were Fabrice Colas
slightly longer and more gently and Frederic Magne of France.
angled, and less likely to snap. Tandems are still used, however,
The hubs may well be adapted for PARALYMPIC CYCLING.
TAYLOR, Marshall Walter Further reading: Major Taylor:The Fastest

Bicycle Rider in the World, Andrew
Born: Indianapolis, Indiana, November 8, Ritchie, Van der Plas/Cycle Publishing,
1878 2009
Died: Chicago, Illinois, June 20, 1932
Major wins: World sprint champion
1899; 8 world records including paced “The earliest, most extraordinary,
flying start mile 1 minute 32 seconds pioneering black athlete in the
(Philadelphia, November 15, 1898), and history of American sports,” runs
standing start paced mile 1 minute 33.4 part of the introduction to Andrew
seconds (Paris, 1908) Ritchie’s biography of the lightning-
Nickname: Major fast sprinter from the turn of the
v 355

T ay l o r , M ar sh a l l W a l t er
last century. Taylor overcame racial move to Worcester, Massachussetts,

XZMR]LQKM\WZQ[M\W\PM\WXWN PQ[ where racism was less of an issue,
profession, yet died in poverty and and where he worked in Munger’s
was buried in an unmarked grave. JQSMNIK\WZa4I\MQV !<IaTWZ
*WZVQV\WZ]ZITXW^MZ\aR][\ UIVIOML\WJZMIS¸]VWNÅKQITTa¸
outside Indianapolis, Taylor was \PM_WZTLÅN\PWN IUQTMZMKWZL
enlisted as a companion to the son and turned professional to race
of the white family who employed at the legendary Madison Square
his father as a coachman, learning Garden track (see SIX-DAY RACING).
early on that color need not be a He became a star of the American
barrier. He earned his nickname professional track circuit, arousing
when a teenager because, to earn KWV[\IV\K]ZQW[Q\a¸IVL[WUM
money, he performed stunts on IVQUW[Q\a¸I[IJTIKSI\PTM\M
a bike while wearing a soldier’s earning big money at a time when,
uniform outside the cycle shop as Ritchie writes, “his brothers were
where he worked. By the age of expected to doff their hats and
PM_I[_QVVQVOTWKITZIKM[IVL step aside for any white man in the
was adopted by a trainer, “Birdie” street.”
Munger. Taylor began receiving threats
As cycling expanded in the US, against his life as he raced, and at
however, color became an issue: one meeting was pulled off his bike
white amateurs, particularly from and strangled into unconsciousness.
the South, were against blacks On other occasions he received
ZIKQVO_Q\P\PMU1V !JTIKS[ threatening letters and had nails
were excluded from the League of scattered in front of him. Racial
)UMZQKIV?PMMTUMVZMÆMK\QVO\PM politics continued to dog Taylor’s
XW_MZWN [MOZMOI\QWV#\PMa_MZM career. He was a massive draw for
still permitted to race but their promoters and sponsors, but as
status was ambiguous and open to the only black professional at the
individual interpretation. Fearing time he faced resentment from, for
that Taylor’s success would lead to example, hoteliers who refused him
trouble, Munger persuaded him to IKKWUUWLI\QWVI[_MTTI[R]LOM[
v 356

T ay l o r , M a rsh a l l W a l t er
at races, and other competitors. to Europe in which he defeated

“The uncompromising deviousness the leading European sprinter,
of his white rivals deprived him Edmond Jacquelin of France, and
for two consecutive years of the won over crowds and media across
possibility of becoming champion \PMKWV\QVMV\\PMÅZ[\)NZQKIV
of America,” wrote Ritchie. Even American athlete to do so. Between
[WJa\PMMVLWN ! PM_I[ !IVL!PM\ZI^MTMLIVL
beating world records on a regular raced continuously in Europe, the
JI[Q[¸PMPMTL[M^MVQVKT]LQVO US, and Australia. But at home, he
the paced mile, which denoted the still faced constant hostility, even
¹NI[\M[\UIVQV\PM_WZTLº1V !! in cities such as San Francisco,
he took the world paced mile close where the color line was drawn in
\WUXP_Q\P\PMPMTXWN I[\MIU restaurants and hotels.
powered pacing engine, and later <IaTWZ[XMV\!IVL!
that year he took the world one-mile out of racing due to physical and
championship, becoming only the UMV\ITM`PI][\QWVIVLÅVITTaZM\QZML
second African American world QV!)N\MZ_IZLPQ[NWZ\]VM[
KPIUXQWV*]\I\ÅZ[\PM_I[]VIJTM declined, the wealth he had earned
to buy a house because of his color, WV\PM^MTWLZWUM[LQ[[QXI\ML¸
and when he did so, in Worcester, despite the publication of his
Massachusetts, without revealing his MEMOIRSQV!!¸IVLPMLQMLQV
identity, he was not made welcome. +PQKIOWQV!<PMJWLa_I[
1V!PQ[KIZMMZZMIKPMLQ\[ unclaimed, and he was buried in a
zenith with a three-month trip pauper’s grave.
v 357

Teams
TEAMS Cycling has always prompted the Tour organizer

been among the most commercial HENRI DESGRANGE to bring
of sports: when JAMES MOORE in national teams starting in
ZRQWKHÀUVWURDGUDFHLQ 1930, to make the racing more
he was supported by a bike open and more exciting. In an
maker while major races were attempt to counter the power
all run by newspapers in order to of the manufacturers, the Tour
increase sales. organizers issued standard bikes
The earliest serious sponsors to the riders.
were the cycle companies La 7KDWEHJDQDFRQÁLFWEHWZHHQ
Française—who supported the national and trade team
MAURICE GARINWKHÀUVW7RXU concepts that lasted until the
winner—and PEUGEOT, who were 1960s, by which time the bike
the longest-standing sponsors industry was struggling and an
in the sport. The cycle maker Italian named Fiorenzo Magni
Alcyon backed the most powerful KDGEURXJKWLQWKHÀUVWSURSHU
team in the HEROIC ERA, “extra-sportif” sponsor, the face-
FODLPLQJWKHÀUVWÀYHSODFHVLQ cream makers Nivea. “I rode for
the 1909 Tour and taking overall a team named ‘Ganna,’ and at
victory four years running. This the end of 1953 they told me they
led to a problem: the biggest were pulling out,” he recalled. “I
manufacturers wanted victory so said ‘Why should I ride for a bike
much that they would buy every maker? Who has said it has to be
star they could. The budgets to like that?’”
run a team became so large that Magni’s team was GS Nivea-
only a few teams had enough Fuchs, with the bike-maker’s
money to be competitive, which name on the jersey as per the
made the racing dull. rules. Other early sponsors
The domination of teams included chewing-gum makers
such as Alcyon—or the “sky- Brooklyn, the Quinquina aperitif
blues” as they were known— company—who marketed their
and La Sportive in the 1920s St. Raphael drink through
v 358

Teams
JACQUES ANQUETIL and his better riders had contracts only

appropriately named teammate for eight or nine months of the
Raphael Geminiani—and Italian year; teams were sometimes
fridge makers Ignis. Initially simply cobbled together for
extra-sportifs were banned in major races on an ad-hoc basis.
France, but eventually they In the 1960s there were plenty
persuaded the Tour organizers to of cases of hopeful amateurs
include trade teams in the race; turning “professional” for a
QDWLRQDOWHDPVODVWÀJXUHGLQ jersey and a bike, often losing
1968. money in the process. There was
Initially, sponsorship was a also an intermediate category:
ÁH[LEOHFRQFHSWULGHUVPLJKW “independents,” who could
race for different sponsors in ride certain pro races and top
different countries. The better amateur events. That served as
teams were highly organized, a stepping stone and a fallback
though, with the Bianchi squad if things went wrong, until the
of FAUSTO COPPI leading the category was abolished in the
way in the 1940s and 1950s. By 1960s.
then the principles were long- Although most pros gradually
established: a team would have became full-time, salaries
one or more leaders, and the rest remained relatively small for all
would organize themselves in apart from the most senior riders
his support, assisting in chasing until the 1990s. By then, the
down threatening rivals, making hierarchy had begun to change,
the pace before the time came for with teams like TI-Raleigh
the leader to attack, and helping showing that strong groups of
the number-one get back to the talented riders could be more
bunch if he had mechanical potent than squads with just
problems. one star. The arrival in the sport
Cycling took a long time of new blood with the FOREIGN
to become fully professional, LEGION changed the structure in
however. In the 1950s even the another way as GREG LEMOND,
v 359

Great Teams
=
A subjective selection of the world’s greatest teams, based on longevity, race results, management, and
stylishness of their gear. For some reason, the greatest teams seem to have the best outfits—or is it
that the outfits become iconic by association with the greats?
Bianchi: Began sponsoring in 1899 and became one of the first complete “racing machines” built around
FAUSTO COPPI, a legacy that then included the later greats of Italian cycling, from Felice Gimondi to Moreno
Argentin, all in iconic eggshell blue jerseys.
Faema/Faemino: EDDY MERCKX was just the greatest name to wear the red jersey, in a tradition that ran back
through the ’60s with RIK VAN LOOY, Charly Gaul, and FEDERICO BAHAMONTES.
Gitane/Renault/Castorama: Under Cyrille Guimard, a talent-spotting, Tour-winning machine that took
the 1976 race with Lucien Van Impe and followed up with BERNARD HINAULT, GREG LEMOND, and LAURENT
FIGNON. The Renault stripes remain one of the great jersey designs, while Castorama’s “carpenters
overalls” were imaginative if not pretty.
TI-Raleigh/Panasonic: Under Peter Post’s dictatorial management one of the “winningest” teams of
the 1970s and 1980s built around a Dutch core that included Jan Raas, Gerrie Knetemann, and Joop
Zoetemelk, and later featured PHIL ANDERSON and ROBERT MILLAR.
Telekom/T-Mobile/Columbia/HTC: Like the penknife with many blades and loads of handles, the squad
led by MARK CAVENDISH in 2010 bore little resemblance to the German team that won the 1996 Tour with
a drug-fueled Bjarne Riis. But Telekom/T-Mobile changed German cycling for ever—for good and bad—
thanks to Riis, Jan Ullrich, and company, and their pink strip remains instantly recognizable.
Peugeot/Z/Gan/Credit Agricole: The granddaddy of teams, dating back to the HEROIC ERA, and producing
probably the most distinctive jersey design, the checkerboard worn by TOM SIMPSON, EDDY MERCKX,
Bernard Thévenet, ROBERT MILLAR, STEPHEN ROCHE, and many others, as well as almost every amateur
in France. The checkerboard went in 1988, but under Roger Legeay the personnel and team structure
remained largely unchanged and the historic link was retained until the end of 2008 with leaders
including GREG LEMOND and CHRIS BOARDMAN.
Reynolds/Banesto/Baleares/Caisse d’Epargne: Longstanding Spanish team under the aegis of Jose-
Miguel Echavarri that changed sponsors every few years and brought cycling Pedro Delgado and MIGUEL
INDURAIN, winning six Tours between 1988 and 1995.
Mapei: Eyewatering multicolored shorts, mouthwatering results in the 1990s. The first truly international
superteam included stars like Johan Museeuw and Tony Rominger and launched the careers of riders like
2009 world champion Cadel Evans. The clean sweep of the first three in 1996 Paris–Roubaix was the
v
defining moment.
360

Teams
PHIL ANDERSON, and STEPHEN Bjarne Riis’s CSC—and there

ROCHE in particular took salaries ZDVLQVXIÀFLHQWUHJXODWLRQ
to a new level, dragging up the Smaller teams went bust at
base level. a rate of almost one a year,
The advent of a world ranking because there were no strict
system in the mid-1980s (see checks to see if they had any
HEIN VERBRUGGEN to read about ÀQDQFLDOVWDELOLW\7KHDGYHQW
the man who brought this in) of another Verbruggen baby,
and qualifying for major races the ProTour in 2005, resulted
decided through team standings LQWLJKWHUÀQDQFLDOVFUXWLQ\
led to a massive hike in the value while the early years of the
of middle-ranking cyclists who 21st century saw teams become
didn’t necessarily win much increasingly concerned about
but had earned points by riding the impact of DRUGS. Several
consistently. That at least raised major sponsors—most notably
salaries and there was an all- T-Mobile in Germany—pulled
around increase in budgets—tens out because of negative publicity
of thousands of dollars in the after drug scandals while some
1970s, many millions for teams of those who stayed in the sport
such as Sky three decades later— brought in their own internal
as the TOUR DE FRANCE captured antidoping programs. Standards
an increasingly large worldwide were pushed higher, however, by
audience through the 1990s. the arrival of new backers such
At the same time, teams as Columbia Sportswear and
remained poorly organized in Team Sky, run by outsiders who
many cases—although there worked on business principles
were notable exceptions such as rather than on tradition.
v 361

T e am T i me Tri a l
TEAM TIME TRIAL Exactly A higher speed results, but

what it says, and varies from because weaker members do
“two-up” races run in Britain for the same amount of work as
two-man teams, to the stages the stronger men, they tire
of the TOUR DE FRANCE that more quickly. In the “one-line”
are contested by full squads of formation, the riders stay at the
nine. There was a team time- front of the string for as long
trial world championship over as they feel is appropriate; the
100 km from 1962 until 1993. A weaker elements do shorter
non-medal race for professional turns.
teams will return to the WORLD In team time trials in the Tour
CHAMPIONSHIPS from 2012. The de France, teams have to have a
UK championship ran from 1970 PLQLPXPQXPEHURIÀQLVKHUV
to 1999 and was reinstituted in the rules of team time trials
2004. in stage races vary, sometimes
Choice of formation is key in with the actual time of each
team time-trialling: some teams squad counting toward his or her
adopt a “two-line” formation, with overall time, while sometimes a
the riders rotating continuously, system of bonuses is put in place
taking short turns at the front. to ensure that losses are capped.
TELEVISION “Newspapers presenter, but he is broadly right.

created the Tour de France, radio The modern-day Tour is a
made it popular, television made televisual product, and that has
LWPDJQLÀFHQWµVDLGWKHTOUR an impact right through the
DE FRANCE organizer Christian sport. First, the way the sport is
Prudhomme as he launched the depicted is completely different.
2010 race. Prudhomme, it should The historian Benjo Maso made
be noted, is a former television the point that the victories of
v 362

Television
EDDY MERCKX made less impact 50 percent of the available

on public consciousness than audience. The great increase in
those of FAUSTO COPPI because worldwide audience came in the
television pictures could not VDVQHZQDWLRQVÀJXUHGLQ
hide how weak Merckx’s rivals the action: 50 million in 1980, a
were; much of the time Coppi billion six years later. The Tour
was equally dominant, but the is now covered by 65 stations
written press could big up his transmitting to 110 countries.
opponents. The television rights grew
The search for televisual accordingly, going from 12 million
novelty means that the Tour francs in 1990 to 85 million
organizers seek out new, francs eight years later. By
dramatic backdrops—in 2010 the then, television was the biggest
vast North Sea dykes of Holland contributor to the event’s income.
were the novelty—and they try Television money has enabled
to construct a route that may the sport to survive because it
provide a last-ditch denouement. trickles down in various ways,
The dream scenario was that of but it has also created the
1989, where the race was decided massive imbalance within the
LQWKHÀQDOPHWHUVRIWKHÀQDO sport, where the Tour dominates
stage (see LAURENT FIGNON, the entire year and lesser events
GREG LEMOND). Television struggle to get screen time
ÀQDQFHVWKHUDFHVSRQVRUV because of production costs. The
enter cycling in order to get in outcome has been that ASO,
the Tour and “show the jersey,” who run the Tour, have become
and ever-greater resources are the dominant force because they
devoted to getting the pictures can use the Tour’s revenues to
and showing them. subsidize smaller events, and
The Tour has massive airtime, LWVSUHVWLJHWRÀQGVSRQVRUVDQG
growing from 38 hours in 1986 venues (see ASO entry for how far
to 112 hours in 1996. Live their tentacles stretch).
stage coverage picks up about This is all relatively new.
v 363

Thieves
The Tour was not shown live on year, while it was 1960 when
79XQWLOVWDJHÀQLVKHVLQ images began to be shown using
Paris were not even shown on motorcycle cameras. Now it is
the same day until the following televised in 186 countries.
THIEVES 7KHPRVWSUROLÀFELNHWKLHILVEHOLHYHGWREH,JRU.HQND
\HDUROGUHWLUHGSROLFHRIÀFHULQ&DQDGDZKRLQ-XO\ZDV
found to have 2,285 bikes stored in warehouses and garages across
Toronto after a sting operation in which police planted bikes in
various locations in the city and watched to see who stole them. Police
raided a shop run by Kenk and found so many bikes inside that they
FRXOGQRWEHPRYHGRXWRIWKHXSSHUÁRRU+HZDVVHQWHQFHGWRWZR
and a half years in jail—about three days per bike. In 2010, his story
was made into an acclaimed graphic novel by Richard Poplak and
Nick Marinkovich.
THREE PEAKS The longest and over the three mountains, and at
hardest CYCLO-CROSS race in the WKHHQGRIWKHÀUVWF\FOLVW
world has been run annually to complete the course was a
over Whernside, Ingleborough, 14-year-old schoolboy, Kevin
and Pen-y-Ghent in the English Watson, who took almost seven
Peak District since 1961. hours.
Whereas most cyclo-cross races The cyclo-cross was founded
are on short park circuits, the two years later and now draws
Peaks consists of a single large VXFKDODUJHÀHOGWKDWLQSODFHV
loop with over 5,000 feet of riders have to line up to get
climbing. The cyclo-cross was over stiles. Since its inception,
inspired by the classic fell run course changes have extended
v 364

T i m e t ri a l l i n g
the distance to almost 40 miles, complete circuit. Mountain bikes

of which about 34 can be ridden. were permitted for a few years
Part of the course is on private in the 1990s, but the rule now is
land, meaning that the race that only cyclo-cross bikes can be
offers the only chance to ride the used.
TIME TRIALLING Yet another after a legendary episode on the

English eccentricity in European North Road—the main road from
eyes, this branch of the sport is London to Edinburgh, now the
the most popular racing discipline A1—in which a horse collided
in Great Britain, yet it exists in with a cycle race. The British
almost total isolation. It was not governing body, the National
until 1994 that a regular time Cyclists’ Union, forbade racing
trial world championship was on the roads and refused to
LQDXJXUDWHG³WKHÀUVWZLQQHU recognize RECORDS set on the
was CHRIS BOARDMAN—and time roads.
trialling in Europe is limited to a The NCU’s hope was that
few one-off events held in autumn racers would compete on tracks,
and individual stages in stage but that was impractical as
races. But in Britain, thousands not every town had one. Time
of cyclists test themselves against trialling was the way competitive
the watch most weeks from cyclists got around the ban:
February to October, and an UXQQLQJWLPHGHYHQWVRYHUÀ[HG
informal local time trial is where distances in which the racers
most British bike racers compete rode “alone and unpaced,”
IRUWKHÀUVWWLPH separated by intervals of one
The growth of time trialling or two minutes. Because the
can be traced back to cycling’s competitors rode solo, with no
formative years, when racing numbers (although they had to
was banned on British roads have bells), who was to know if
v 365

they were racing? There were over hilly courses of any distance
no prizes, and the racers had to from 10 to 60 miles. Hilly events
wear black. If they wore white on nonstandard circuits have
socks, for example, they would be become more popular since the
GLVTXDOLÀHGDQGZHUHDVODWHDV ÀUVWZRUOGFKDPSLRQVKLSVZHUH
1945. Courses were referred to held in 1994, as they replicate the
by CODES so that no one outside sort of course used at the World’s.
cycling clubs knew where the They are also easier to organize
VWDUWDQGÀQLVKZRXOGEH DVWUDIÀFKDVEHFRPHKHDYLHURQ
There had been time trials Britain’s main roads. The end
before—the NCU had run a of season HILL CLIMBS are as
championship in 1878—but the atmospheric and popular as ever.
ÀUVWWLPHWULDORYHURQHRIWRGD\·V The joy of time trialling for
set distances was run over 50 the average cyclist is that even
miles on October 5, 1895, by the if you do not win, you always
North Road Cycling Club. In come away from a race with a
1930 the sport was given further result: your personal time. This
impetus with the creation of the can be compared with your times
BRITISH BEST ALL ROUNDER by on other courses and those of
Cycling magazine. your rivals—and national stars
The most popular distances as well—and progression can be
today are 10, 25, 50, and 100 noted. Being low-key—usually
miles, and for most club cyclists just a few people with a watch
the key targets are those that in a parking lot—they are easily
equal a 25 mph average—24 organized, which is why most
minutes for 10 miles, “under British cycling clubs run mid-
the hour” for 25, and so on. A week evening time trials on local
handful of 12-hour contests are courses. The best-known time
also run as they enable cyclists triallist to go on to bigger things
to qualify for the BBAR, and was CHRIS BOARDMAN, a national
there are also events over 24 champion at 25 miles, who used
hours and 15 miles, as well as skills honed in British time
v 366

trialling to win the yellow jersey

three times in the Tour de France Some Great
prologue time trial. However, he British Time Trials
felt that a lack of bunched racing =
in his early years meant he did
“25” championship: The most
not have perfect bike handling
competitive and the most prestigious
skills: he quit three Tours due to national title, but it is currently being
crashes. Another time triallist to challenged by the national “10.”
make it on the world stage was Changes course every year.
BERYL BURTON, who used her
National hill-climb championship:
ability to ride solo to win several
See HILL CLIMBS for more details
world titles, but lacked a sprint.
SEAN YATES went from British Anfield “100”: First run in 1889 and
time trialling to become one of still organized on quiet Shropshire
roads by the club that boasted early
the most respected pros on the
Bordeaux–Paris winner G. P. Mills among
European circuit and returned
its members.
to “testing” after retirement.
Boardman and more recently SCCU “100”: Run since 1908, by a
grouping of clubs; the team winners
BRADLEY WIGGINS used time
receive an Edwardian shield measuring
trials as part of their preparation
more than three feet by two and
for the Tour de France and embossed in silver with a time-trialling
Olympics. Time trialling has scene.
produced its own list of purely
Nelson Wheelers Circuit of the
British greats such Ray “The
Dales: A hilly springtime 50-miler over
%RRWµ%RRW\ZKRZDVWKHÀUVW a course that includes towns such as
man to break four hours for 100 Kirkby Lonsdale, Sedburgh, Hawes, and
miles in 1956, and Alf Engers, a Ingleton and climbs such as Garsdale.
ÁDPER\DQWEDNHUIURPWKH(DVW
North Road Hardriders: Classic early
End who took the 25-mile record
season event in Hertfordshire including
from 55 minutes 11 seconds in steep hills and descents (sometimes icy).
1959 to 49 minutes 24 seconds in
1978.
v 367

Tires
TIRES Pioneered by John Boyd began making tires at their

Dunlop, who wanted to improve factory in France.
his son’s tricycle. He used a In about 1887 the concentric
“sausage” on the wheel rim, bead principle or “clincher” that
ZKLFKZDVÀUVWDZDWHUÀOOHG held the tire on to the rim was
hosepipe, then a tube of rubber patented by A. C. Welch. Dunlop
wrapped in canvas. Dunlop then bought the patent in 1892. This
put on a rubber tread and a one- was to be the basis of their
way valve that only let air in, fortune, being the only practical
not out, and patented the design way to make a clincher tire that
in 1888. Initially there was could be easily detached from
scepticism, but in May 1889 his the rim to enable punctures to be
tires were tested in competition repaired.
in Belfast by W. Hume, who won In 1892, Michelin ran a race
four events out of four. from Paris to their base in
Also in the 1880s, another Clermont-Ferrand, open only
household name, Hutchinson, to riders using pneumatic tires;
they arranged for 25 kg of nails
to be scattered on the road, to
demonstrate how good their
products were. Ironically the
ÀUVWÀQLVKHU$XJXVWH6WpSKDQH
was using Dunlops; he was
GLVTXDOLÀHG
Tires divide into conventional
high-pressures, in essence a
UHÀQHPHQWRIWKHV0LFKHOLQ
design, and tubulars or “sew-
ups,” in which the inner tube is
held inside a cylindrical casing
made by sewing both sides of the
carcass together. Tubulars were
v 368

Tires
WKHÀUVWKLJKSHUIRUPDQFH
“clincher” tires with a narrower,
OLJKWHUFDVLQJDQGDÁH[LEOHEHDG
so the tire could be folded, and
since then clincher performance
has improved virtually year on
year, to the extent that now the
difference between high-grade
clincher and medium-weight
tubular is a matter of tiny
degree: the best tubulars offer
about a 50 g saving, which is
VLJQLÀFDQWLQKLJKSHUIRUPDQFH
terms, but their cost and the
risk of puncturing makes them
second choice for most road
the racer’s choice for a century racers.
after the Wolber company offered 7XEXODUVUHPDLQWKHÀUVW
DSUL]HIRUWKHÀUVW7RXUPDQ choice for velodrome racing,
WRÀQLVKRQLWVÚHPRYDEOHµ however, because punctures
tire; the Tourman with a spare are less likely, and for safety
or two strung round his neck reasons: they should not come
epitomized the HEROIC ERA. The off the rim in the event of a
only downside was the fact that puncture. Sticking them on
they had to be glued securely remains an art, however: the
onto the rim, meaning that the new rim has to be abraded to
casing had to be unstitched if the give the glue purchase, and then
inner tube needed repair. Once it has to be given several coats.
restitched after repair, a “tub” Top tubular makers include
was never quite the same again. Vittoria of Italy, and Clément
In the late 1970s and early of France, while generations of
1980s, Michelin began producing CYCLO-CROSS riders swore by
v 369

Tires
custom-made studded fat “tubs” thorny problem, including

IURP3DULVLDQÀUP'XJDVW thin tape underneath high-
$ÀFLRQDGRVHPXODWHWRSUDFHUV pressure covers, foam injected
such as EDDY MERCKX and keep tires, semi-solid tires made up
tubulars for years in dark places of multiple rubber balls and a
WRVHDVRQWKHPOLNHÀQHZLQH pump (the Skinner Automatic)
and pro-team service courses located inside the wheel that
sometimes have a locked tubular made a single pedal stroke with
room in which—the Motorola every revolution of the wheel.
mechanics used to claim in the The modern generation of tires
early 1990s—the head wrench- PDNHVULGLQJJHQHUDOO\ÁDWIUHH
man can go and savor the rubber Tire-savers were popular for
and glue fumes. many years: lightly sprung strips
Tire covers have been made of wire with a plastic strip on
of various materials including WKHPWKDWZRXOGEHÀ[HGWRWKH
hemp and nylon, while silk- brake bolts so they brushed the
woven tubular tires were once surface of the tire, to whip off
the ultimate choice for track DQ\WKRUQVRUÁLQWVEHIRUHWKH\
racing, with heavier cottons used were pushed through the cover.
for training and road racing. (They had one nasty side-effect,
7KHEXOOHWSURRIÀEHUNHYODULVD which was to spray water all
recent development but is now over the rider in the wet.) Few
common to most high-end tires cyclists, however have gone as
to give an extra puncture-proof far as the British Tour de France
edge. star ROBERT MILLAR, who in
Punctures were once the winter would put a tubular tire
cyclist’s bane. Generations inside a high-pressure cover in
have sought remedies for this place of the inner-tube.
v 370

Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de
TOULOUSE-LAUTREC, Henri de Michael and Arthur Linton

(b. France, 1864, d. 1901) against all-comers to publicize
the product. Toulouse-Lautrec
The French impressionist was traveled with the team from
an illustrator of early cycling Paris to London to attend the
in Paris, a racing fan who went matches.
regularly to the Buffalo and This is actually Toulouse-
Seine velodromes through his Lautrec’s second attempt. The
friendship with the track’s ÀUVWVKRZLQJ0LFKDHOWUDLQLQJ³
technical director Tristan complete with his trademark
Bernard. The results, wrote toothpick in his mouth—was
Bernard, did not interest the rejected because the chain
artist, but the atmosphere company was not happy with
and the people did. Toulouse- the artist’s depiction of the
Lautrec’s poster for the Simpson triangular links. Intriguingly,
chain company, La Chaîne the picture also shows the
Simpson, is an iconic example soigneur Choppy Warburton
of the genre (see POSTERS for looking for something—a
others; ART for what draws pick-me-up presumably—in a
artists to cycling). Gladstone bag (see SOIGNEURS
The version seen most often for more on these witchdoctors
depicts the French champion and their magic remedies).
Constant Huret, watched by the The artist also drew his friend,
UDIÀVK%HUQDUGDQGWKH)UHQFK the singer Aristide Bruant, on
importer who gave himself the his bike and produced a notable
English name Spoke. It shows lithograph of the American
one of what became known as sprinter A. A. ZIMMERMAN
the Chain Matches from 1896, (Zimmerman et Sa Machine)
when the Simpson company to go with a magazine article
pitted top cyclists of the time written by Bernard.
such as the Welsh stars Jimmy
v 371

Tour de France
TOUR DE FRANCE After the in Desgrange’s newspaper

ÀQLVKRIWKHÀUVW7RXUGH)UDQFH L’Auto. “You have revolutionised
in 1903, the winner MAURICE the sport of cycling,” he wrote,
GARIN gave the organizer HENRI “and the Tour de France will
DESGRANGE a handwritten remain a key date in the history
account of the race to be printed of road racing.” His words still
v 372

Tour de France
ring true. Approaching its 110th in the world, it goes out to its
birthday, the Tour is cycling’s SXEOLFUDWKHUWKDQEHLQJFRQÀQHG
ÁDJVKLSUDFHWKHRQO\HYHQWLQ to a stadium. People travel to
the racing calendar that has watch the race, but virtually
VLJQLÀFDQFHLQHYHU\FRXQWU\ every village in France has been
and the biggest annual sports visited at some point. As the late
event in the world. Geoffrey Nicholson wrote, it is
The Tour’s enduring the only form of international
fascination lies in the fact FRQÁLFWWKDWWDNHVSODFHRQWKH
that its core principles have doorstep other than war itself.
not changed. It began life It is also now an integral part of
as an outlandish, mammoth the French summer, “the fete of
publicity stunt, and still is. It all our countryside” as the writer
still circumnavigates France on Louis Aragon put it.
public roads and remains free The man who dreamed up the
for the public to watch. Unlike Tour was Géo Lefèvre, rugby
every other great sports event and cycling writer at L’Auto, but
Tour Records
=
Most overall wins: Lance Armstrong (US) 1999–2005, 7
Most green jersey wins: Erik Zabel (Ger) 1996–2001, 6
Most King of Mountains wins: Richard Virenque (Fra), 6
Most stage wins: Eddy Merckx (Bel), 35
Most stage wins in one Tour: 8: Merckx 1970, 1974; Charles Pelissier (Fr) 1930; Freddy Maertens (Bel) 1976
Youngest winner: Henri Cornet (Fr) 1904, 20
Oldest winner: Firmin Lambot (Bel) 1922, 35
Most Tours ridden and finished: Joop Zoetemelk (Hol) 16—1970–3; 1975–86
Smallest winning margin: Greg LeMond (US), 1989, 8 seconds
Largest postwar winning margin: Fausto Coppi (Ita), 1952, 28 minutes 17 seconds
v 373

Tour de France
the editor Desgrange coined the were 78 entries.

name. At a meeting to discuss 'HVJUDQJHZDVQRWFRQÀGHQW
ways to boost circulation, which of the race’s success and stayed
ZDVÁDJJLQJ/HIqYUHVXJJHVWHG DZD\IURPWKHÀUVW7RXUZKHQ
“a race that lasts several days, it began on July 1, 1903, at the
longer than anything else. Like Réveil-Matin Café in the Paris
the SIX-DAYS on the track but on VXEXUERI0RQWJpURQWKHÀUVW
the road.” Desgrange answered road stage of the centenary Tour
“If I understand you right, petit of 2003 began from the Réveil-
Géo, you’re proposing a Tour Matin, still in situ but now a
de France?” The term was not Wild West themed restaurant).
a new one: the Compagnons du It was Lefèvre who followed
Tour de France were apprentice WKHUDFHIURPVWDUWWRÀQLVK
craftsmen who took three years traveling by train and bike,
to go around the country. France and providing a page of reports
had been circumnavigated every day. His son described
several times by bike and the his role like this: “lost all alone
French daily Le Matin had run a in the night, he would stand on
Tour de France car race in 1899. the edge of the road, a storm
The race was announced in the lantern in his hand, searching
paper on January 19, 1903; the the shadows for riders who
plan was for an event that would surged out of the dark from time
take 35 days, but after protests to time, yelled their name and
from the professional cyclists disappeared into the distance.
ZKRZRXOGPDNHXSWKHÀHOG He alone was the ‘organisation’
this was amended to a six-stage of the Tour de France.”
event taking 19 days. Initially The early Tours were marred
there was little interest from E\FKHDWLQJLQWKHÀUVWUDFHZRQ
professional cyclists: Desgrange by Maurice Garin several riders
upped the prize money, halved were thrown out, and in the
WKHHQWU\IHHDQGDOORFDWHGÀYH second, Garin and the next three
francs expenses per day. There ULGHUVRYHUDOOZHUHGLVTXDOLÀHG
v 374

Tour de France
Tour Landmarks
=
1903—first Tour won by Maurice Garin
1910—race passes through Pyrenées for first time
1911—the race goes over Col du Galibier in the Alps
1919—first yellow jersey, worn by Eugène Christophe
1920—Philippe Thys is first man to win the Tour three times
1930—publicity caravan appears
1933—first King of the Mountains prize awarded to Vicente Trueba (Spain)
1937—derailleur GEARS permitted
1947—first stage finish outside France (Brussels)
1949—Fausto Coppi is first man to win Tour and Giro in same year
1950—elimination for finishing outside stage time limit brought in
1952—first mountain top stage finish: l’Alpe d’Huez
1953—green jersey for points prize introduced, won by Fritz Schaer (Switz)
1954—first Tour start outside France, Amsterdam
1964—JACQUES ANQUETIL is first man to win the Tour five times
1967—first time-trial prologue
1968—regular drug tests introduced, last Tour contested by national teams
1971—first air transfer between stages
1974—first cross-Channel transfer for stage in Plymouth
1975—Tour finishes on Champs-Elysées for first time
1983—Tour goes “open,” including Colombian amateurs
1984—women’s Tour de France begins, won by Marianne Martin (US); it ends in 1989
1995—MIGUEL INDURAIN is first man to win Tour five times in a row
1998—Festina doping scandal
2005—Lance Armstrong takes seventh win in a row
v 375

Tour de France
(for more details, see GARIN). The feature as Desgrange tried

ZLQQHUZDVWKHPDQSODFHGÀIWK to prevent the riders forming
Henri Cornet, who at 20 remains alliances on the road. But it
the Tour’s youngest winner. It gradually moved to a format
was estimated, however, that similar to that of today’s race:
125 kg of tacks were strewn on daily stages with the occasional
the route the following year, rest day. Desgrange took the
and the same thing happened race outside France’s borders
in 1906, when only 14 riders in 1905, when it visited Alsace-
ÀQLVKHG Lorraine. He held time trials,
The Tours of the HEROIC both individual and for teams.
ERA were slogs that called for 7KHUHKDYHEHHQPRGLÀFDWLRQV
superhuman levels of willpower but only relatively minor ones.
and endurance, along appalling The biggest innovation came
roads that made massive in 1910, when the race was
demands on poorly built bikes. In taken into the PYRENÉES. The
WKHÀUVW7RXUVRPHSDUWLFLSDQWV move was proposed to Desgrange
took up to 35 hours to complete by his assistant, Alphonse
the stages. There were countless Steinès, who reconnoitred the
episodes in which cyclists broke Col du Tourmalet in January,
frames or wheels and had to when it was blocked by snow.
carry out roadside repairs; most He walked over the pass and
celebrated is the episode in 1913 telegrammed his boss to say
when Eugène Christophe broke the road was perfectly usable,
his forks and had to repair them although he had barely seen it.
in a blacksmith’s. 7KH7RXU·VÀUVWPDMRUPRXQWDLQ
(DUO\RQWKH7RXUÁLUWHG stage, from Luchon to Bayonne,
with various formats. Initially included the four legendary
there was a rest day after each passes of the Peyresourde, Aspin,
stage, and it was decided on Tourmalet, and Aubisque. As he
points from 1906 to 1911. Later, pushed his bike up the Aubisque,
team time trials became a main the eventual race winner Octave
v 376

Tour de France
Lapize looked at Lefèvre and spectators to be able to emulate

company—Desgrange was their heroes in this way. The
absent—and spat out the word inception of the ÉTAPE DU TOUR
“assassins.” The ALPS were in 1993 enabled ordinary mortals
included in the route a year to ride one leg of the race under
later. On the Col du Galibier, the same conditions as the
that year’s winner Gustave Tourmen, assuming they were
Garrigou shoved his bike ÀWHQRXJKDQGOHGWRDKXJH
through massive snowdrifts on a increase in semi-competitive
road that was little more than a endurance events.
mud track. The Tour is more than a
For many years, the Tour’s mere sports event. Fans of GINO
appeal lay in the fact that the BARTALI claim that his 1948
public could relate to the effort win saved Italy from revolution.
involved in bike racing, as Desgrange believed that the
pretty much everyone could ride VDFULÀFHHPERGLHGE\WKH7RXU
a bike. They could admire the riders could serve as a moral
Tourmen’s ability to achieve example, and Jean-Marie
feats beyond mere mortals, be Leblanc, who ran the race from
it winning a sprint at 50 kph, 1989 to 2004, believed the event
climbing a mountain, or whizzing had a social mission: bringing
downhill at 100 kph: “industry good cheer to forsaken parts of
mixed with heroism” as Aragon France. It was under Leblanc
put it. that the race began traveling to
Today, that has changed a the center of the country rather
little. Few people ride bikes than keeping to the periphery.
to work any more, but cycling Leblanc also followed the
enthusiasts can ride the race’s example of his predecessor
great mountains in any number Jacques Goddet in his attempts
of leisure events, and many ride to keep the race “of its time”
up and down before the race by including modernistic
comes. It’s rare in any sport for engineering works such as the
v 377

Tour de France
The 10 Greatest Postwar Tours

=
1989—Greg LeMond overcomes a 50 second deficit on the final time trial stage to win by 8 seconds
from Laurent Fignon after the pair swap the lead five times.
1964—a tense battle between Jacques Anquetil and RAYMOND POULIDOR reaches a climax on the Puy-
de-Dôme hilltop where Anquetil hangs on, just.
1969—EDDY MERCKX is never threatened in his first Tour but turns the race into a personal battle,
winning stage after stage. The “Cannibal” is born.
1986—three weeks of intrigue and drama as LeMond and Bernard Hinault do battle. They are in the
same team, but is “the Badger” out to win for himself?
1949—Fausto Coppi overcomes a 32-minute deficit to win the race by 20 minutes in a style that is
compared to the perfection of Dante’s Divine Comedy.
1979—the defining Tour of the Hinault years, in which the Badger loses time early on to Joop Zoetemelk
and hunts the Dutchman down with consummate ruthlessness.
1998—MARCO PANTANI snipes away at the German Jan Ullrich then wins the race on a rainswept day in
the Alps to clinch a great comeback in a race torn apart by scandal.
1971—Merckx and the Spaniard Luis Ocana take each other apart until Ocana over-reaches himself in
the Pyrenées and crashes on the Col de Menté.
1987—Stephen Roche and Pedro Delgado attack and defend in the final week, with the outcome in
doubt until Roche takes the lead on the penultimate day.
2003—Lance Armstrong is in poor form in the centenary Tour but digs deep in the Pyrenées to
overcome Jan Ullrich for the toughest of his seven wins.
Channel Tunnel, the Pont de events such as the anniversary

Normandie, and Norman Foster’s of the Normandy landings,
colossal viaduct at Millau. and, more controversially, the
Leblanc also recognized political European Union in 1992, when
v 378

Tour de France
the Tour missed the Pyrenées F\FOLVWVEHFDPHÀWWHU6WDQGDUGV

in order to visit every EU are now so high that the race
country that had a land border has become “chess on wheels”: a
with France—Spain, Belgium, subtle tactical game where for
Luxembourg, Germany, and much of the time not a great deal
Italy—and included stages looks to be happening. FAUSTO
ÀQLVKLQJLQERWK(8FDSLWDOV COPPIZDVWKHÀUVW7RXUZLQQHU
Strasbourg and Brussels. to truly structure his team so
The early Tours had another that they raced solely in his
effect: they gave the French a LQWHUHVWVDQGWKHÀUVWWRSODQKLV
sense of the geography of their race around certain key stages,
own country, according to one which is the strategy of every
study (Boeuf and Leonard, 2003): Tour favorite today.
“By the cartography of France Nowadays, the race usually
that it helped make known, follows an implacable physical
the Tour acted as a teacher in logic: all the riders weaken
showing a map printed with the gradually, but the strongest
contours of the country—which deteriorate more slowly. Usually
was rare until the Great War— WKHEHVWPDQLQWKHÀHOGDWKDOI
and very quickly popularised the distance will win. The greatest
notion of France as more or less Tours are those where this does
hexagonal.” And the Tour has not apply. The best examples
LQVSLUHGVRPHÀQHZULWLQJPRVW include 1989’s three-way battle
notably the essays of Antoine between LAURENT FIGNON, GREG
Blondin in the 1950s and 1960s LEMOND, and Pedro Delgado that
and the structuralist Roland culminated in the closest ever
Barthes. ÀQLVKSTEPHEN ROCHE’s narrow
The Tour became more win over Delgado in 1987; or
tactical after the Second World BERNARD HINAULT and Joop
War. Road surfaces and bike =RHWHPHON·VWHQVHÀJKWLQ
manufacture improved, teams Since 1998, the Tour has
became more sophisticated, and EHHQDIÁLFWHGE\DOPRVWDQQXDO
v 379

Tour de France
DOPING scandals but cheating war, the Tour changed from an

has always played a part in the event intended to increase the
race. Garin was banned for two circulation of the organizing
years for taking a train in 1904 newspaper to one that paid its
and there have been episodes own way through sponsorship
when favorites have been pushed and television rights. The big
up mountains, bikes have been changes came in the 1980s
sabotaged, waterbottles spiked. after French broadcasting was
But the drugs issue has proved deregulated, leading to a massive
more intractable. In 2005 there increase in coverage of the Tour
were allegations against the as the nationalized stations
seven-times winner LANCE fought for market share.
ARMSTRONGLQWKHÀUVW The viewing audience
man to Paris, Floyd Landis, increased from 50 million in 1980
ZDVGLVTXDOLÀHGDQGLQ to a billion by 1986. The Tour
the likely winner, Denmark’s generated 12 million francs of
Michael Rasmussen, was thrown rights in 1990, 85 million in 1998,
out of the race. over a third of the budget. The
While other cycle races race’s income shot up: according
struggle to get space on the to French author Pierre
URDGVDQGÀJKWIRUWHOHYLVLRQ Ballester, the Tour now has an
time, the Tour’s biggest problem annual budget of around 100
has been growth, on a massive million euros, of which 45 million
scale since the mid-1980s. The comes from television rights
Tour has always been as much (about half of these in France),
a commercial as a sports event. 47 million in sponsorship, about
It never had an era of “pure” 4 million from stage towns, and
amateurism, although at one about 1.5 million in marketing
point cyclists with no commercial spin-offs.
backer (touristes-routiers) were To bring in a new worldwide
DOORZHGLQWKHÀHOG audience, the race went from
Gradually, too, after the being largely French teams and
v 380

Tour de France
French riders with a smattering With 4,000 people and some

of foreigners, to being largely 1,500 vehicles, the Tour caravan
international with enough is now so massive that it causes
Frenchmen to ensure the home YDVWWUDIÀFMDPVLQVWDJHWRZQV
crowds kept interested. There and it can take hours to get down
were more teams and bigger, IURPPRXQWDLQWRSÀQLVKHVLQ
multinational sponsors. The Tour the Alps and Pyrenées. So many
went from being watched mainly people travel with the race that
by local crowds, to being an event hotel rooms are solidly booked for
fans travel to, perhaps building PLOHVDURXQGPDQ\ÀQLVKHV
an entire vacation around the huge convoy of race vehicles
watching the race and being has caused a series of deaths
bussed in by a travel company. among spectators, and the
Such growth is not without event is vulnerable to political
danger, and the Tour is now protests of any kind. But in 1904
threatened by its own massive Desgrange lamented that his
scale, what the French term le Tour had been a victim of massive
gigantisme. Doping is part of that, public interest: the race’s success
as the vast amounts of money has been founded on excess and
on offer mean it’s worth a cyclist that will always be the case.
paying for sophisticated practices,
if he feels he can live with the Recommended further reading: The Great
risk to his reputation. There is Bike Race, Geoffrey Nicholson, Magnum,
now so much media coverage of 1977; The Yellow Jersey Companion to
the race that any scandal creates the Tour de France, Les Woodland, Yellow
its own momentum, but the size Jersey, 2003; Le Tour, A History of the Tour
of the race has brought other de France, Geoffrey Wheatcroft, Simon
problems as well. and Schuster UK, 2007
v 381

T r ac k R a ci n g
TRACK RACING mania, velodromes sprang up

Initially, cyclists competed on in many provincial towns, and
the same asphalt and grass races such as PARIS–ROUBAIX
running tracks used for athletics, were organized to promote
or on the oval circuits used for them. It was in France that
horse racing, but the quest for WKHÀUVWXVHRIWKHEDQNLQJWR
speed and spectacle led to an gain speed was recorded, in a
early generation of banked cycle six-man sprint that decided the
tracks built in the late 19th French one-kilometer title in
century: in the US, most early 1894. Henri Farman, recorded
professional races were contested La Bicyclette, “left the string and
on tracks, typically wooden, went obliquely across the track
between 200 and 500 yards, with to the outside, as if inviting his
banked turns at either end. It rivals to go to the front. He had
is estimated that by 1895 there gained a little speed and seeing
were 100 velodromes across the that the others were almost at a
United States, with a “Grand halt, he used the momentum to
Circuit” drawing together the attack suddenly and using the
country’s best cyclists between slope of the track he arrived at
May and November. A. A. the middle of the bend with 20 m
ZIMMERMAN and Major TAYLOR lead.”
were the two biggest stars of the In Europe there were events
early years. such as the Cuca Coca Cup, a
Paris boasted the Buffalo 24-hour race behind pacemakers
velodrome, built in 1893 on held at London’s Herne Hill and
the site of Buffalo Bill’s Wild the Bol d’Or, held at the Buffalo.
West show near Porte Maillot In the United States, the early
and promoted by the owner of SIX-DAY races earned a fearsome
the Folies Bergère; it was here reputation and were to be a
that the tradition of ringing the mainstay of the calendar until
EHOORQWKHÀQDOODSRIDUDFH the 1930s. Massive prizes were
began. In a brief stint of track earned by the biggest stars such
v 382

T r ac k R a ci n g
as ALF GOULLET, Frank Kramer, Paced riding was initially

and Reggie MacNamara. In the norm in record attempts
spite of efforts of promoters and long-distance track races:
like John M. Chapman, who set riders would shelter themselves
up a franchised circuit in the EHKLQGPXOWLF\FOHVZLWKÀYHRU
northeast and ran six-day races six riders, nicknamed “pedaling
in New York, track cycling died a artillery.” There might be an
slow death in the United States additional team riding alongside
between World War I and II as the solo rider to shelter him from
the emphasis shifted to baseball sidewinds. Demi-fond, as it was
DQGIRRWEDOO7KHÀQDOHYHQWZDV known, became popular in the
held at Madison Square Gardens 1890s, particularly in Germany,
in 1939. where purpose-built tracks were
v 383

T r ac k R a ci n g
FRQVWUXFWHGDQGWKHÀUVWZRUOG Bob Spears, and later Belgium’s

title was won by the Welshman Jeff Scherens and Louis “Toto”
Jimmy Michael in Cologne in Gerardin. In Europe, even after
1895. World War II, vast crowds would
These were spectacular and ÁRFNWRYHQXHVVXFKDVWKH
dangerous events, and they Vigorelli velodrome in Milan,
were succeeded by motorpaced the Vel d’Hiv in Paris, and the
races just after the turn of Palais des Sports in Brussels.
the century, which were even The French journalist Pierre
riskier. The death toll early on Chany described the spectacle
was high; if anything broke at in Milan, with scalpers selling
speeds between 50 and 60 mph, WLFNHWVIRUÀYHWLPHVWKHLUYDOXH
the rider stood little chance, crowds six deep on the pavement
as in the 1918 accident at the VWRSSLQJWUDIÀFDQGDFURZG
VELODROME D’HIVER (Vel d’Hiv) of 20,000 inside rising as one
that killed the French champion to applaud their heroes and
Louis Darragon, who broke a jeer at the “villains.” An open-
pedal while at full speed, hit the sprint competition at the Vel
balustrade around the track with d’Hiv could readily attract 400
his head, and died instantly. starters.
Today’s roadsize motorbike The key to track racing’s
events are a spectacular survival after its death in the
throwback to this very dodgy United States was the presence
past. of stars of road racing such
As stadium sports gained as Fausto Coppi alongside
popularity, track suffered in the established track racers such
early years of the 20th century; as the sprinters Antonio
the golden era in Europe was Maspes, Arie Van Vliet, and
between World War I and II, Reg Harris. The Vel d’Hiv
with the arrival of sprinters such drew crowds that might have
as Britain’s Bill Bailey, France’s included the millionaire Henri de
Lucien Michard, and Australia’s Rothschild and the writer Ernest
v 384

T r ac k R a ci n g
Hemingway, who wrote of the and “pretend” to take a tow by

“smoky light of the afternoon, grabbing a rival’s saddle.
the high banked wooden track, In Europe track racing
the whirring sound the tires gradually declined with the
made on the wood as the riders advent of television: the road
passed, the effort and tactics as stars lost their mystique, so
the riders climbed and plunged, there was no reason for the
each one a part of his machine.” crowds to come and watch them
Road racing was a gritty, on the track. Sponsors realized
grimy occupation, but evening they would get more exposure
track meetings were the glamour from having their men race
side of cycling. Road champions on the road. Most of the great
would ride into town on the velodromes, like the Vel d’Hiv,
overnight train, then stage are gone or they are dying, like
a dramatic entrance to the the Vigorelli. The sixes cling
velodrome in sunglasses—to on, mainly as late-evening
hide the bags under their eyes— entertainment for German
wearing tailored suits, with drinkers, but are threatened by
Brylcreemed hair. Afterward, the removal of the Madison from
they might dine on oysters, the Olympic program.
steak, and champagne. ,IWKHUHLVDÁLFNHURIKRSHLW
In one winter, Coppi rode 21 has come from Britain’s creation
such meets, either invitation of a new style of track racing:
pursuit matches or international the Revolution meetings, which
omniums. What mattered was have taken advantage of GREAT
performance and pleasing BRITAIN’s success at successive
the crowd: TOM SIMPSON, for OLYMPIC GAMES, and have also
example, would ride, wall-of- been run in Australia. America
death style, up the vertical may well be next. The format
advertising boards at the top is accessible and lively, entry
of the track, or take one hand prices are low, and it boasts
RIIWKHEDUVLQDÀQLVKVSULQW celebrities as well as Olympic
v 385

T r ac k R ac i ng— D i sci p l i n es
champions to draw in the leading teams that included

crowds; a championship format youth riders to create a narrative
of the Revolution meetings was over the winter.
adopted in 2009, with big names
TRACK RACING—DISCIPLINES wins. First round is a time

The Olympic track disciplines trial to determine seeding
are as follows: IRUWKHPHGDOULGHRIIVÀUVW
Sprint: two riders compete in

a series of knockout races
v. second, third v. fourth.
Women race over 3 km, men
over three laps. Seeding is over 4 km.
determined by a time trial
over 200 m; fastest meeting
Team pursuit: for men, run
on the same basis as the
slowest and so on. The early individual, over 4 km. Riders
knockout rounds are sudden- do half-lap or one-lap turns at
death; the later rounds are the front.
best of three. Riders who
exit early have a chance to
Team sprint: for men, two teams
of three riders timed over three
re-enter the contest via the laps. Qualifying through a
repéchages, a second chance, time trial round to determine
which offer losers a chance to seeding for the ride-offs.
ÀJKWWKHLUZD\EDFNLQ
Points race: a bunched race over
Individual pursuit: two riders

start from opposite sides of
160 laps (40 km) for men,
100 laps (25 km) for women,
the track and are timed over decided on points awarded
their distance. The objective every ten laps—5, 3, 2, 1—
is to “pursue” the opponent with a 20-point bonus for any
and overtake them; if that ULGHUZKRFDQODSWKHÀHOG,I
does not happen, the fastest ULGHUVWLHRQSRLQWVWKHLUÀQDO
v 386

T r ac k R ac i n g — D i sci p l i n es
positions when they take the (see KEIRIN for details of the
FKHFNHUHGÁDJGHWHUPLQHV intricate ceremonial the sport
their place. involves in Japan, and the
Madison: a relay bunch race

for men held over 200 laps
massive betting scene).
(50 km) for teams of two The same disciplines are

riders, one of whom is racing included in the world
while the other circles at championship program, plus the
the top of the track waiting following:
to be put in the race. This
is done by a hand-sling, in
Women’s team pursuit: over three
kilometers for three riders.
which the faster rider grabs
the other’s outstretched
Women’s team sprint: over two
laps, for two riders.
hand and “throws” him into
the race. There are two
Time trials: over one kilometer
for men, 500 m for women.
REMHFWLYHVWRODSWKHÀHOG These events were dropped
and to earn points in sprints from the Olympic program
HYHU\ODSV,IWHDPVÀQLVK after 2004.
on the same lap, points total
determines their placings.
Scratch: a bunch race over
15 kilometers for men, 10
Keirin: Japanese discipline

for men and women in which
kilometers for women. First
over the line wins.
six riders follow a pacing
motorbike which accelerates
Omnium (men and women): a test
of all-round skills held over a
to 50 kph for men, 40 kph single day: 250 m time trial,
for women before pulling scratch, pursuit, points race,
off the track with two and a kilometer time trial, devil (see
half laps to go, after which it below).
is a sprint for the line. Run
through a series of qualifying Other track events include:
rounds in which the lineups Devil Take the Hindmost, a
are determined by a draw crowd-pleasing event in which
v 387

Tricycle
the last rider over the line each a points race followed by a Devil
time is eliminated until three are with rankings decided over the
OHIWWRFRQWHVWWKHÀQDOVSULQW two events; Course des Primes,
Win and Out, the opposite, a race with prizes awarded every
KHOGRYHUÀYHODSVLQZKLFKWKH lap; Motor-paced, in which the
ZLQQHULVWKHÀUVWULGHURYHUWKH riders race in the slipstream of
line on lap one; he or she has to motorbikes, usually low-powered
pull out, then the second is the machines known as DERNYS,
ÀUVWRYHUWKHOLQHRQODSWZRDQG although on outdoor tracks full-
so on; Danish pursuit, which is size bikes may be used.
TRICYCLE The pioneering was sold to Queen Victoria and

days of bicycle design between renamed the Royal Salvo.
1870 and 1900 gave rise to a There were rear-drive tricycles
huge variety of multi-wheeled with dual steering wheels at the
machines—primarily tricycles front, quads in which the drivers
and quadricycles—with different sat side by side, and the Hen and
VHDWLQJFRQÀJXUDWLRQVDQGZKHHO Chickens, a HIGH-WHEEL bike in
arrangements. By 1884, over 120 the middle of four small wheels,
different models were being made the idea being to make the
in 20 factories in just one English machine as stable as possible for
manufacturing center, Coventry. cargo carrying.
JAMES STARLEY’s Coventry The classic upright tricycle
Lever Tricycle of 1876, with a as we know it today, with one
large central wheel, and smaller steering wheel at the front and
RQHVDWHLWKHUHQGZDVWKHÀUVW two driving wheels at the back,
lightweight tricycle to enter began to appear in the mid-
mass production. Starley also 1880s, at the same time as the
designed the Salvo quad, which SAFETY BICYCLE. Early examples
v 388

Tricycle
were the Humber Cripper—

named after a professional
racer, Robert Cripps—and the
curiously named Psycho from
Starley.
The stability of the tricycle
makes it suitable for carrying
heavy loads over short distances:
the design is used for rickshaws
in Asia and in some cities in Stratford-Upon-Avon. In the
the UK, Europe, and the US. UK, the Tricycle Association
Delta tricycles have a recumbent was founded in 1929 to cater for
design, while Tadpole trikes are trike enthusiasts, and the Road
RECUMBENTS with two steered Records Association recognizes
wheels at the front and one tricycle place-to-place records.
driving wheel at the rear. There are a small number of
The largest British tricycle tricycle criteriums, and a tricycle
maker today is Pashley, world championship, on a time-
founded in 1926 and based in trial format.
v 389

U
UCI see UNION CYCLISTE
INTERNATIONALE Competitions Run
by the UCI:
=
World championships
UCI ProTour
UNION CYCLISTE
UCI Continental Tours
INTERNATIONALE Also known Women’s world road cup
in English as International CYCLO-CROSS world cup
Cycling Union. MOUNTAIN-BIKING world cup
Cycling’s worldwide governing BMX world cup
body, founded in 1900, split INDOOR CYCLING championships, for artistic
into two arms in 1965, one cycling and cycle ball
governing pro racing (FICP)

and one for amateur federations
(FIAC), with the UCI as an cyclists from outside the
umbrella body. In 1992 all European heartland can come to
three were merged; in 1996 the train.
distinction between amateur and The UCI is no stranger to
professional racers was ended. controversy: questions were asked
The UCI inhabits a purpose- about a major contribution to its
built center in the Swiss town antidoping program from seven-
of Aigle, near Lausanne, that time TOUR DE FRANCE winner
LQFOXGHVRIÀFHVDOLEUDU\D LANCE ARMSTRONG. The ProTour
200-meter velodrome, and the circuit was controversial (see
world cycling center, where HEIN VERBRUGGEN), so too various
v 390

United States of America
restructurings of the professional or regions each year. It also

ROAD RACING calendar, and runs antidoping, in tandem
recent decisions to drop some of with national antidoping bodies,
the most traditional events from and provides race referees
the OLYMPIC GAMES track racing (commissairesZKROHY\ÀQHV
program. in Swiss francs. The current
The UCI owns the rights to president is Pat MacQuaid
the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, of Ireland, who was reelected
which are sold to various towns unopposed in 2009.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA bicycle, cycle racing was as

Whereas Europe has always popular in the United States
been seen as the heartland of as in Europe, if not more so.
cycle racing and China is the There were 600 professionals
nation that goes to work on competing in track races at the
its collective bike, cycling in end of the 19th century, and as
the United States has known A. A. ZIMMERMAN, America’s
ÁXFWXDWLQJIRUWXQHV+DYLQJ ÀUVWF\FOLQJVWDUH[SODLQHG
once been as popular as baseball “the racing in those days
is today, it hit the doldrums as extended over a greater part of
the automobile took over but has the country. Nearly every state
enjoyed a strong renaissance and county fair had bicycle
over the last quarter of a racing as an attraction. We
century: the Tour de France has rode principally on dirt tracks
entered public consciousness and and we made a regular circuit,
LANCE ARMSTRONG has become a going from one town to another
national celebrity. and riding practically every
In the HEROIC ERA following day.” Crowds of up to 20,000
the invention of the safety attended track races to watch
v 391

stars such as Major TAYLOR, and

SIX-DAY RACING was a lucrative,
glamorous little industry in its
own right.
As the sixes died out during
the Depression, there was no
homegrown tradition of road
cycling to replace them. Unlike
in Europe, where cycling
became the mode of transport
of the working class and road
racing expressed that cultural
tie, in the United States the
automobile was king. That
only began to change in the
1970s, as the middle class titles, while men’s amateur
discovered cycling’s health and teams gradually improved on the
HQYLURQPHQWDOEHQHÀWV7KH URDGDQGWKHÀUVWSURIHVVLRQDO
early part of the decade saw a pioneer, JONATHAN BOYER,
40-fold increase in demand for traveled to France to ride for the
lightweight bikes. Even so, in ACBB club in Paris (see FOREIGN
FILMS such as American Flyers LEGION for how ACBB played
(1985) and Breaking Away (1979) host to numerous English-
cycle racing is depicted as a speakers), then rode the 1981
strange activity performed by Tour de France for BERNARD
marginalized young men. HINAULT’s Renault team.
The revival in the United A key factor was the rise of
States was spearheaded in a major stage race: the Red
women’s track racing through Zinger Classic, later the Coors
the 1970s, with Sheila Young, Classic, held in Colorado during
Sue Novara, and Connie the 1970s and 1980s. Organized
Paraskevin winning sprint world by charismatic marketing
v 392

professional Michael Aisner, European teams, and even got

the race was responsible for the best Soviet racers to turn up
turning Boulder, Colorado, into for the 1981 event, less than a
the center of American cycling. year after the US had boycotted
The town hosted the world road the Moscow Olympics (see
championship in 1986, and now EASTERN EUROPE for more on the
more US pros live in and around Russians).
Boulder than anywhere else. The Russians, led by
The Coors Classic broke Olympic champion Sergei
new ground by launching a Soukhoroutchenkov, met fearless
women’s stage race alongside opposition in a new American
the men’s event. It was watched star: junior world champion
by President Gerald Ford and is GREG LEMOND, then only 20
credited with sparking comedian years old. LeMond fought off
Robin Williams’s obsession with the Soviets, drawing a crowd
bike racing. Aisner eventually RIWRWKHUDFHÀQDOHLQ
took his event to California Boulder. He followed Boyer to
and Hawaii, brought in top 5HQDXOWDQGWKHSDLUÀQLVKHG
American Cycle Racing at a Glance

=
Biggest race: Tour of California
Legendary racing hill: Manayunk Wall
Biggest star: Lance Armstrong
First Tour stage win: Greg LeMond, Lac de Vassivière, 1985
Tour overall wins to 2010: 10
America has given cycling: the Giro helmet, the mountain bike, triathlon handlebars,
the Livestrong bracelet, Oakley sunglasses
v 393

2nd and 10th in the world

road championship in 1982. AMERICAN
The 1984 Olympic Games in FACTOID
Los Angeles gave cycling more
momentum, with America taking Coors Classic organizer Michael
nine medals. The RACE ACROSS Aisner also masterminded
AMERICAKHOSHGUDLVHWKHSURÀOH Brigitte Bardot’s campaign
of cycling as well. So too did the against the slaughter of fur seals
ÀUVW86VWDJHZLQLQWKH7RXU in the Arctic.
LeMond’s time trial victory
4
at Lac de Vassivière in 1985.
Later that year, LeMond raced
the Coors Classic with Hinault.
When the pair posed in Stetsons Andy Hampsten took a stage
with their legendary manager, in the Giro, and the team won
Cyrille Guimard, for l’Equipe, more stages at the Tour in 1986.
America’s return to the cycling Under Jim Ochowicz, the squad
mainstream seemed complete. would go on to a successful run
On the road, the next step backed by the Motorola phone
was a US pro team racing the company from 1991 to 1996.
European circuit, and that After that, US Postal Service and
appeared in 1985 when 7-Eleven Discovery Channel moved in as
convenience stores backed a European pro team sponsors.
squad managed by Mike Neel, The Coors Classic ceased in
who had raced in Italy, and JIM 1988, but a new US Tour ran
OCHOWICZ, who had raced for from 1991 to 1996 sponsored by
the US in the 1972 and 1976 DuPont, and this was followed in
Olympics. They broke taboos 2006 by the Tour of California,
by employing a blonde female which has drawn professionals
SOIGNEUR named Shelley Verses, of ever-higher quality. The US
but more substantially, their can also boast its own CLASSIC:
bucktoothed climber named the Philadelphia International
v 394

Stars of US Racing
=
Frank Kramer: Along with Major Taylor and A. A. Zimmerman, a hero of the halcyon era of
US track racing. Kramer was persuaded to turn pro in 1900 by Taylor, and his career outlasted
that of the Major: he won the US sprint title 18 times, with his last title coming in 1921, when
he was 41 years old. He raced mainly in the United States, but had two successful seasons in
Europe, 1905 and 1906, and also took the world sprint title in the only year he entered, 1912,
when it was held in Newark. He retired in 1922.
Andy Hampsten: Bucktoothed, slender climbing specialist from Ohio who turned pro for
7-Eleven in 1985, won a stage in the Giro d’Italia, and was signed by Bernard Hinault’s La Vie
Claire team for 1986, when he won the first of two back-to-back wins in the Tour of Switzerland.
In 1988, back with 7-Eleven, Hampsten won the Giro d’Italia, a victory forged in a snowstorm on
the Gavia Pass. His final major win was the l’Alpe d’Huez stage in the 1992 Tour de France, the
year he finished fourth overall in the Tour, a repeat of his placing of 1986.
Sheila Young: One of a bunch of US cyclists who doubled up successfully with speed skating,
Young achieved a rare double in 1973 when she took the world sprint title on the velodrome
and the rink. She went on to win the sprint title twice more, and won gold, silver, and bronze
medals in skating at the winter OIympics in Innsbruck in 1976, becoming the first US athlete
to win three medals at a winter Games. In that year she married JIM OCHOWICZ, who would
go on to manage the 7-Eleven and Motorola pro road teams. She retired, then returned to
competition in 1981 to take another track sprint world title. Young’s big rival was another speed
skater turned sprinter, Sue Novara, who won a total of seven world championship medals. Other
speed skaters who were also successful cyclists are Beth Heiden, winner of the world road title
in 1980, and her brother Eric, regarded as the greatest speedskater ever but also capable of
finishing the Giro d’Italia for 7-Eleven in 1985.
Championship dates back to same week. Until 1985, the best

DQGLVWKHÀQDOOHJRIWKH American in Philadelphia was
Triple Crown that includes crowned US champion. The
the Lancaster Classic and the race includes its own legendary
Reading Classic, all held in the cobbled climb, the Manayunk
v 395

Landmarks in US Cycle Racing

=
1866—Pierre Lallement files the first US patent application for a pedal cycle
1878—Albert August Pope begins producing Columbia high-wheelers
1880—League of American Wheelmen founded in Newport, Rhode Island
1891—First six-day races held in Madison Square Gardens
1893—A. A. Zimmerman takes gold medal at first world championship
1899—Major Taylor becomes world sprint champion
1912—Frank Kramer wins world sprint title at Madison Square Garden
1950—Final six-day race in New York
1973—Sheila Young wins gold medal in women’s world sprint championship
1975—First Red Zinger Classic stage race held in Colorado; from 1980 it is known as the
Coors Classic
1975—Sue Novara follows Young to women’s sprint gold
1980—Beth Heiden wins women’s world road championship
1981—Eric Boyer becomes the first American to finish the Tour de France
1983—Greg LeMond becomes first American to win world pro road championship
1984—Marianne Martin wins first women’s Tour de France
1985—7-Eleven begins racing in Europe; Andy Hampsten and Ron Keifel win stages at the
Giro d’Italia; Greg LeMond, riding for La Vie Claire, is first US stage winner in the Tour
de France
1986—7-Eleven is the first US team to compete in Tour de France; Alex Stieda wears the
yellow jersey; LeMond wins the Tour, becoming first American to wear yellow; World
road and track championships held in Colorado Springs
1988—Last Coors Classic held; Hampsten wins Giro d’Italia
1989—LeMond wins his comeback Tour after near-fatal injury and adds the world road
championship
v 396

1991—First Tour DuPont held; it continues until 1996

1993—Lance Armstrong wins world road title in Oslo, Norway
1994—LeMond retires
1996—Armstrong wins Fleche Wallonne; is diagnosed with testicular cancer in September
1999—Armstrong wins his comeback Tour
2003—Armstrong joins Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, and Bernard
Hinault as a five-time winner of the Tour de France
2005—Armstrong retires for the first time after winning seventh Tour
2006—First professional Tour of California held, won by Floyd Landis who is disqualified
later that season from winning Tour de France after testing positive for testosterone
2009—Armstrong makes his second comeback to racing
2011—Armstrong rides his final race as a pro. Maybe.
2011—US city of Richmond, Virginia, among the favorites to host 2015 world road
championship
“Wall,” two streets where the cycling world discovered two

gradient reaches one in six. purely American disciplines:
In 1986 the Canadian Alex BMX and MOUNTAIN BIKING.
Stieda, riding for the US team Both introduced whole new
(OHYHQEULHÁ\ZRUHWKH\HOORZ generations of cyclists to the
jersey in the Tour de France, and sport, while the mountain
LeMond began an extraordinary bike brought in its wake a
run of US successes in the great raft of technical innovations
race. Since then, LeMond and and spawned a crop of
Armstrong have between them manufacturers who now enjoy
won the Tour 10 times. strong reputations on the road.
Between the LeMond Trek started out as a small
and Armstrong eras, the frame builder in Wisconsin
v 397

in the late 1970s, Specialized problems: in 2010 Columbia

ZHUHSURGXFHUVRIWKHÀUVWPDVV Sportswear, Garmin, and
produced mountain bikes, while Radioshack were all backing
Cannondale began as a cycle- teams in the UCI ProTour,
bag maker and began making while BMC, run by Ochowicz,
its characteristic oversized is a fourth major US team. In
aluminum frames in 1983. Armstrong’s protégé, Taylor
Armstrong’s run of successes Phinney, now a pro with BMC,
drew major sponsors into a sport America may just have a new
that had been hit by doping LeMond in the making.
v 398

V
VAN LOOY, Rik emerge from FLANDERS.
Unlike Merckx, Van Looy was
Born: Grobbendonk, Belgium, December never a good enough time triallist
20, 1933 WZKTQUJMZ\W_QVIUIRWZ<W]ZJ]\
Major wins: World road race champion he managed to take every Classic
1960–1; Milan–San Remo 1958; Tour at least once, apart from the Amstel
of Flanders 1959, 1962; Paris–Roubaix Gold Race, which was founded as
1961–2, 1965; Liège–Bastogne–Liège his career came to an end. He was
1961; Giro di Lombardia 1959; Ghent– ILWUQVIV\NWZKMJM\_MMV!
Wevelgem 1956–7, 1962; Paris-Brussels IVL! #PMZIVPQ[\MIU\PM
1956, 1958; Paris–Tours, 1959, 1967; “Red Guard” with an iron hand
Flèche Wallonne, 1968; points winner Tour (see TEAMS for other iconic squads).
de France 1963; 7 Tour stage wins; 12 He selected devoted riders with
Giro stage wins; 18 Vuelta stage wins [XMKQÅK[SQTT[¸[XZQV\QVO_WZSQVOWV
Nicknames: the Emperor of Herentals, Rik _QVLaLIa[[\IUQVIKTQUJQVO¸IVL
II, the Wheelbreaker decided what gears they used, when
they would go to bed, and how
7VMWN \PMOZMI\ÅO]ZM[WN XW[\_IZ much they were paid. One domestique
KaKTQVO_Q\PJM\_MMVIVL had to carry a wrench in case “the
wins and a record in the one-day -UXMZWZº_IV\ML\WILR][\PQ[
CLASSICS surpassed only by EDDY saddle or handlebars in a race.
MERCKX, and one of many stars to
v 399

Vé l i b
VÉLIB Groundbreaking scheme

INTRIGUING set up in Paris where a vast
VÉLIB FACTOIDS ÁHHWRIUDWKHUKHDY\ELNHVDUH
rented to anyone for a nominal
The bikes are washed using
pure rainwater so no polluting fee. Lyon was the pioneer, while
detergent is necessary. schemes had been established in
Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and
The bikes are 99 percent recyclable
including the tires. The service 2VOREXW3DULVZDVWKHÀUVWWR
teams use vehicles powered by be established on a truly massive
biofuel and electric bikes. scale in a national capital city
with no history of bike use.
The estimated distance each
machine travels each year is Other cities have followed suit
18,250 km. They were used including London.
MILLIONTIMESINTHElRST Paris has some 20,000 bikes
months. distributed between 1,500
There is a glut of bikes that automated rental stations,
have been dropped off at approximately one station
the bottom of France’s two every 300 m. The bikes are
hilly districts, Belleville and gray, made in Hungary by the
Montmartre, with few left at the Lapierre company, which also
top, for obvious reasons.
supplies high-end bikes to the
Videos have been posted on the La Française des Jeux pro team.
Internet showing the bikes being They weigh 22.5 kg (a top racing
ridden on BMX tracks, down
bike is around 8 kg), have three-
the steps of Montmartre, and in
speed gears, lighting by LEDs
Metro stations: Vélib Extreme.
that are always on and are
Not all the bikes are roughed
powered by dynamo, a basket,
up. One repairman found a bike
and a locking system.
that had been customized with
fur-covered tires. Use is by subscription,
allowing an unlimited number
4
of trips up to 30 minutes; longer
rental periods cost from one euro,
v 400

V él i b
on a sliding scale that increases machine involves a Kafkaesque

with the length of rental to 151 bureaucratic nightmare of
euros for 20 hours. The idea is to special codes, endless button
encourage people to use the bikes pressing and loud swearing,”
for short, frequent trips rather was the verdict of one British
than hanging on to them. ZULWHU$QJHOLTXH&KU\VDÀVLQ
The system has proved the Guardian. Computer
massively popular but has not crashes are not uncommon,
been without its pitfalls. Three while the bikes have to be
SHRSOHZHUHNLOOHGLQWUDIÀF shipped around the city to
DFFLGHQWVLQWKHÀUVW\HDUDQG FRPSHQVDWHIRUWKHXQHYHQÁRZ
estimates vary as to the number of journeys.
of bikes that were stolen and However, in a city that
recovered in various states of previously barely had a bike
distress or taken to EASTERN on its streets, cycling is now
EUROPE and AFRICA to be sold on. ubiquitous. Vélib has also
It seems to be several thousand introduced a whole new social
at least. The company that element to the capital as people
runs the scheme, JC Decaux, help each other use the bikes—
complained initially that it was another chance for the French
simply too tough and expensive to initiate romances—while
WRPDNHDQ\SURÀW convention demands that if a
Getting the subscription is not bike has mechanical trouble,
totally straightforward: “Like all its saddle be pointed in the
good things French, getting out a air to alert other users and
one-day Vélib ticket at a roadside maintenance teams.
v 401

Vé l o ci o
VÉLOCIO Pen name of the not strictly accurate (see GEARS);

JOURNALIST Paul de Viviès, the he was, however, a tireless
man who invented the term campaigner on behalf of multiple
“cyclotourisme” and edited the gearing and at the center of a
magazine Le Cyclisme in which group in Saint-Etienne that
he described his tours in glowing developed the gears. He is best
detail. Is credited with inventing known for:
the derailleur, although this is
The seven commandments of cycling:
1 Make your stops few and brief, so that you never let up.
2 Take small and frequent refreshments: eat before you get
hungry, drink before you get thirsty.
3 Never ride until you are abnormally tired, when you lose your
appetite and cannot sleep.
4 Put on more clothes before you feel cold, and take them off before
you feel hot; don’t be afraid to expose your skin to sun, air, and
rain.
5 Eliminate wine, meat, and tobacco from your diet, at least during
a ride.
6 Never push too hard; remain within your limits above all early in
a ride when you are tempted to expend too much energy because
you feel full of strength.
7 Never ride because your pride tells you to.
VELOCIPEDE Term loosely used to describe early bicycles prior to the

arrival of the penny farthing in the 1870s; see BICYCLE, BONESHAKER,
and DRAISIENNE for more details.
v 402

Vélodrome D’Hiver
VÉLODROME D’HIVER (Vél d’Hiv) even a chamberpot.

The name of Paris’s most By then the track had a
celebrated indoor track has come gruesome past. During World
to stand for French complicity in War II it was used for rallies by
the deportation of Jews to Nazi France’s largest fascist party
death camps during the Second DQGZDVÀUVWXVHGDVDSULVRQ
World War. The track is known in summer 1941. The Rafle du
mainly now for the Rafle du Vél Vél d’Hiv occurred the following
d’Hiv (the Vél d’Hiv roundup) in year, when police and gendarmes
which thousands of Jews were rounded up 13,000 Jews and
detained in the track before imprisoned an estimated 7,500
deportation. A memorial now LQWKHWUDFNIRUÀYHGD\VLQ
stands near the site of the track appalling conditions due to the
at Quai de Grenelle, close to the heat—the glass in the massive
Eiffel Tower. roof had been painted blue to
The Vél d’Hiv was built by deter bombing and the windows
HENRI DESGRANGE after an were kept closed. There were
earlier track owned by his paper RQO\ÀYHODYDWRULHVDQGRQH
L’Auto was demolished during water tap, and a little food and
construction of the Eiffel Tower. water brought in by Quakers and
It hosted various sports but was the Red Cross. There were many
best known for cycling, with suicides, and any escapees were
Ernest Hemingway among those shot. From there prisoners were
who watched racing there. It taken to camps outside Paris and
could hold 14,000 people and thence to Nazi death camps.
its super-steep bankings were There is still debate about the
known as “the cliffs.” It was the complicity of the man in charge
scene of a memorable near-riot in of the track, Jacques Goddet,
1947 when the crowd protested who went on to run the Tour
a judging decision by throwing for 40 years after the war. It is
anything they could lay hands known that he handed over the
on: food, cushions, crutches, and keys to the Germans although
v 403

Verbruggen, Hein
his supporters claim that he had a sick man. It was inaugurated

no choice. in 1994; a year later the French
The track was demolished in president Jacques Chirac opened
DIWHUDÀUHDQGWKHVLWH the debate about France’s past
LVQRZRFFXSLHGE\ÁDWV7KH by acknowledging that French
memorial stands on a curved gendarmerie had collaborated
base, representing the track, with the occupying forces. It is
and depicts deportees including the site of an annual holocaust
children, a pregnant woman, and memorial ceremony.
VERBRUGGEN, Hein (b. Netherlands, the FICP, and in 1991 he became

1941) UCI president.
Under Verbruggen professional
A combative, articulate world rankings were brought
Dutchman who ran the UNION in along the lines of the ATP
CYCLISTE INTERNATIONAL from ranking in tennis—these were
1991 to 2005, introducing actually invented by the French
a number of innovations to cycling magazine Vélo—a year-
cycling—some successful, some long World Cup was inaugurated
less so—before moving on to and attempts were made
EHFRPHDSURPLQHQWÀJXUHLQWKH to export cycling beyond its
Olympic movement. European heartland, with major
Verbruggen began his cycling events in Canada and the UK.
career in marketing, working The UCI was moved to its present
for the Mars chocolate bar base in Aigle, Switzerland, and
company when they sponsored a world cycling center set up,
a professional team in the early including a velodrome designed
1970s. By 1990 he had risen up by the SCHUERMANN family.
the hierarchy of cycling to head Moves were made to bring in
the professional arm of the sport, nations such as AFRICA.
v 404

Verbruggen, Hein
The cycling calendar was 1990s and in an attempt to

radically altered, with the limit the use of EPO, the UCI
VUELTA A ESPAÑA moving from under Verbruggen brought
April to September and the in blood testing in 1997,
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP from initially to monitor professional
August to September. The Vuelta cyclists’ health. The tests were
has never seemed to work so counterproductive, actually
late in the year and the World encouraging the use of EPO
Cup concept did not take off as within a certain limit, but they
the TOUR DE FRANCE came to paved the way for more radical
dominate the cycling season in EORRGSURÀOLQJDVZHOODVWHVWVIRU
the 1990s. Once Perrier pulled blood transfusions.
out, the event never found a When Verbruggen moved
sponsor and was eventually RQLQKLVÀQDOLQLWLDWLYH
dropped. was to devise the ProTour
In 1996 Verbruggen achieved structure, which guaranteed
his masterstroke, gaining entry to major races for teams
professionals access to the who paid a registration fee to
OLYMPIC GAMES. To enable that, the PT—run by the UCI. It
the sport had to be brought had a stuttering start. The two
under one banner. The amateur organizers who run the bulk
and professional categories of professional events, Italy’s
were abolished and replaced RCS and France’s AMAURY
by Elite and Under-23. Under SPORT ORGANISATION, wished
Verbruggen both MOUNTAIN- to retain the right to choose
BIKING and BMX were brought who rode their events and were
into the Olympics, but there worried that the UCI’s agenda
was controversy when the long- was to strip them of lucrative
established kilometer time trial broadcasting rights.
was dropped. The outcome was a four-year
The DRUGS problem became standoff with the governing
LQFUHDVLQJO\KLJKSURÀOHLQWKH body during which the Tour was
v 405

Vue l t a a E sp a ñ a
sometimes run outside UCI rules a “rebel” movement within the

and antidoping regulations, with sport. Peace broke out in 2008,
bitter exchanges of words that but the ProTour epitomized
took the Tour organizers to the Verbruggen’s legacy: radical and
brink of breaking away to set up controversial.
VUELTA A ESPAÑA The third de France, but it has not been

of cycling’s great Tours along improved by a switch from April
with the GIRO D’ITALIA and to September masterminded by
TOUR DE FRANCE, the Vuelta is HEIN VERBRUGGEN.
also the youngest, founded in $VKRZSLHFHÀQLVKRQWKH
1935, initially with the support Paseo de la Castellana avenue in
of General Franco’s military the capital Madrid is traditional,
dictatorship (see POLITICS). Not but the heartland of the Basque
surprisingly in a country hit Country is never visited, for
by a dire civil war, the Spanish political reasons (see POLITICS
Tour took two decades to become again). Sometimes the Vuelta
established; the second edition seeks out Tour climbs in the
in 1936, held shortly before the Pyrenées but more often it heads
FRQÁLFWEHJDQZDVFORVHWREHLQJ for its own legendary ascents:
canceled. the Puertos de Serranillos and
The Vuelta was not a regular de Navalmoral in the Sierra de
À[WXUHRQWKHFDOHQGDUXQWLOWKH Gredos west of Madrid, or the
mid-1950s and suffered for many climb to Lagos de Covadonga in
years from a calendar date (mid- the lonely Cantabrian mountains
April to early May) that put off on the Atlantic coast, home
Italians preparing for the Giro, to some of the last wolves in
which began a few days after the Europe. The Sierra Nevada is
9XHOWDÀQLVKDQGZDVWRRHDUO\ DQRWKHUÀ[WXUH
for stars building to the Tour Founded in 1935 by the
v 406

Vue l ta a E sp a ñ a
newspaper Informaciones, the

Vuelta was shamelessly political, Coat of Many Colors
vaunting its “patriotism” at a
time when that meant support
=
for the right wing headed by
*HQHUDO)UDQFRLWZDVÀUPO\
U nlike the Tour and Giro, the Vuelta
was not founded by a paper with
distinctively colored pages; because of
OLQNHGZLWKWKHUHJLPH$WÀUVW
this, and because of the infrequency
foreign stars had to be brought with which the race was run in the early
in for cash: FAUSTO COPPI was years, its leader’s jersey has changed
well past his best when he color time and again.
accepted 11,000 pesetas a day to Light orange 1935, 1936
ride the 1959 race while JACQUES White 1941
ANQUETIL at least gave value for
Orange 1942, 1977
money in 1963 by winning.
Red 1945
The Vuelta hosted occasional
visits from the likes of EDDY White with a
MERCKX, who missed the 1973
red stripe 1946–1948, 1950
Tour de France so he could win Yellow 1955–2000

it while Hinault took a legendary Gold 2001–present
victory in 1983, whipping the
home stars but having to push so
hard he damaged a tendon close unpredictable Pedro Delgado.
to his knee and could not race for “Everyone has forgotten what
a year. The Vuelta truly began it was like back then,” wrote
to feel like an integral part of the LAURENT FIGNON, who rode the
international cycling calendar race in 1983. “Spain had only
only after Franco’s death led just emerged from the Franco
to Spain’s reintegration with era. It was like the third world;
the wider world, helped by the anyone who went over there
arrival in the 1980s of Spain’s at the start of the 1980s would
biggest star since FEDERICO know what I mean. For cyclists
BAHAMONTES, the charismatic, like us, the accommodation
v 407

Vue l t a a E sp a ñ a
and the way we were looked there was no hot water, morning
after were not easy to deal or evening.”
with. Sometimes it was barely 'HOJDGR·VÀUVW9XHOWDZLQ
acceptable. Professional cyclists in 1985 was hugely popular at
of today cannot imagine what it home, even though to a non-
was like in the 1980s in a hotel Spaniard it was clearly a setup,
at the backside of beyond in with ROBERT MILLAR the victim.
Asturias or the Pyrenées. The The arrival of “Perico” coincided
food was rubbish and sometimes with an economic boom in
v 408

Vue l ta a E sp a ñ a
Spain, and the beginning of live the Vuelta appeared fragile yet
television coverage of the Vuelta. again. There were rumors that
The number of Spanish teams the format might be tweaked
blossomed and with MIGUEL and that it might revert to its
INDURAIN dominant in the Tour old, popular spring date. It is
de France from 1991–1995 now seen as a consolation race
6SDQLVKF\FOLQJERRPHGEULHÁ\ for those who have slipped up
even though Indurain never rode in the Tour de France, while
the Vuelta in his best years. some stars simply turn up to
Instead, the dominant forces get a fortnight’s preparation
in the 1990s were Swiss: Tony for the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Rominger, who rode for a team and then go home to rest. The
sponsored by the Asturian dairy Tour organizers AMAURY SPORT
cooperative Clas, won from 1992– ORGANISATION bought a 49
1994, while Alex Zülle, backed by percent stake in the organizing
the Spanish lottery ONCE, took company Unipublic, but of the
the 1996 and 1997 races. big three, the Vuelta looked to
As the 21st century dawned, have the least certain future.
v 409

W
WAR An army cycling unit WRJHWKHUÀJKWLQJEDWWDOLRQV
manual issued at the end of mounted on HIGH-WHEELERS, but
the 19th century recommended it was the advent of the SAFETY
WKDWZKHQÀJKWLQJFDYDOU\LWV BICYCLE in the late 1880s that
members should turn their led to the formation of bicycle
bikes upside down and spin the detachments.
wheels to spook the horses. It is The 26th Middlesex (Cyclist)
not recorded whether or not this 9ROXQWHHU5LÁH&RUSVIRUPHGLQ
strategy was ever used in anger, ZDVWKHÀUVWZLWKF\FOLVWV
EXWLWUHÁHFWVWKHUHDOLW\RIWKH divided up according to their
day: the bicycle was more than mounts: safeties, high-wheelers,
a means for people to get about: TRICYCLISTS. The Middlesex
its impact on personal mobility numbered nearly 400. In 1906,
meant it was seen by the cycling maneuvres involved 50
government as a key instrument cyclist companies. There were
in war. experiments with defensive
Simply put, if you could get tactics against cavalry such
your foot soldiers into action as putting the cyclists inside
quickly, that could change the a “fence” of cycles and trials
outcome of a battle. Moreover, with various tricycle-borne
unlike conventional cavalry machine guns. Armed cyclists
mounts, the bicycle did not feature in “The Land Ironclads,”
need feeding and could be easily a short story written by H. G.
transported overseas. There Wells just before the First
were early proposals to put :RUOG:DU,QWKDWFRQÁLFWWKH
v 410

War
British army included 14 cycle to Verdun, and Francois Faber,

battalions, totalling 7,000 men, killed in 1915 while carrying
with folding bicycles made by a comrade back to his lines
the Birmingham Small Arms through no-man’s-land (see
company (BSA) most commonly HEROIC ERA for more on these
used. champions).
The British were not the More fortunate was Paul
only ones using two-wheeled 'HPDQÀUVWZLQQHURIWKH7RXU
soldiers. Cycle maker Bianchi of FLANDERS, who was a spy
produced a folding bike in 1915 working for the Belgian secret
for the “bersaglieri,” the Italian service, smuggling documents
light infantry, in 1915, which into Holland on his bike. He
had fat tires and suspension for was decorated for bravery by
off-road use; it is claimed to be the English and French as well
the precursor of the MOUNTAIN as his homeland; shortly before
BIKE. The future double TOUR the war closed he was arrested
DE FRANCE winner Ottavio by the Germans and sentenced
Bottecchia was part of a cycling to death, with the armistice
squadron on the Austro-Italian happening just in time to save
front while the Tour de France him.
founder HENRI DESGRANGE There are other tales, such
oversaw the training of 50,000 as that of the 1938 Tour winner
French cycling soldiers during GINO BARTALI: along the lines of
WKHFRQÁLFW Paul Deman, the “Pious One”
World War I cut short the pretended to go out training
careers of several greats: the each day in occupied Italy but
1907 and 1908 Tour winner in fact he was a courier working
Lucien Petit-Breton was killed for a resistance network riding
near the front at Troyes in between Florence and Assisi: he
1917, while other Tour winners advised on train movements, but
to lose their lives were Octave most important, hidden in his
Lapize, shot down in 1917 close frame were forged documents
v 411

War
that were used to make fake Singapore through supposedly

passports enabling Jewish impassable jungle. The cycle
refugees to escape. The network was the vehicle of choice for
is said to have saved some 800 guerrilla groups—booby-trapped
lives. by Italians in Rome and by the
Bartali’s great rival FAUSTO Vietcong—while in the Vietnam
COPPI spent much of his war in war thousands of bicycles and
a prison camp in North Africa; porters were used to ferry
their teammate in the 1949 Tour supplies for the Vietcong. One
de France Alfredo Martini, on senator remarked, only partly
the other hand, used his bike in jest, that it would be better
to ferry Molotov cocktails for to bomb their bikes than their
the Italian partisans, a risky bridges.
business on the rocky roads of Switzerland maintained
the time. On a more sinister bike-borne troops into the 21st
note, the VÉLODROME D’HIVER in century while the Swedes kept
Paris earned a grim reputation them going into the 1980s. Both
after it was used as a transit used heavyweight machines;
camp when the Nazis and WKHÀQDO6ZLVVELNHWKH02
French collaborators rounded 93, had seven-speed gears and
up thousands of French Jews for carry-racks front and rear. The
transportation in 1942. Swedish bike was sold under
Numerous troops of cyclists the Kronanbike label after
DOVRÀJXUHGLQFRPEDWLQWKH 6ZHGLVKDUP\ELNHVNHSWÀQGLQJ
Second World War; at the their way onto the secondhand
Normany landings, for example, market.
paratroops were dropped with The end of the First World
folding bikes, again made by War was marked, in spring 1919,
BSA. The Germans used cyclist by the running of the Circuit des
battalions in their invasion of Champs de Bataille, a seven-
Norway, and 20,000 cycles were day stage race starting and
vital in the Japanese attack on ÀQLVKLQJLQ6WUDVERXUJDORQJ
v 412

War
the Western Front. The roads The Tour de France organizer

were barely recognizable, the Jacques Goddet was always
riders ill-trained, and outside the proud of the fact that he had
major cities there was no food to refused to put on his race under
be found. A truck followed the occupation in spite of coming
race carrying potatoes, meat, under pressure; the Giro, for its
and butter. PARIS–ROUBAIX was part, was replaced by a series
also run that spring, through the of one-day races with an overall
devastated cities and ravaged title, the Giro di Guerra. The
countryside of Northern France. Tour of Flanders was the only
“It’s hell,” wrote HENRI major event to be run in an
DESGRANGE. “Shell-holes one occupied country, and did so
after the other, with no gaps, with German police help; this
outlines of trenches, barbed wire led to controversy after the
cut into 1,000 pieces; unexploded FRQÁLFW,Q)UDQFHUDFHVZHUH
shells on the roadside, here and run virtually up to Liberation
there, graves. Crosses bearing in both the occupied and non-
a jaunty tricolor are the only occupied zones, as Jean Bobet
light relief.” That year’s race was relates in his detailed Le Vélo
christened “Hell of the North” a l’Heure Allemande (Cycling
by another writer, and the name in German Time, La Table
has stuck. Ronde, 2007). In Great Britain,
Bike racing across Europe WKHQHDUDEVHQFHRIWUDIÀFRQ
never quite stopped during wartime roads enabled Percy
World War II, although the Stallard to bring in road racing,
major Tours were not organized. European style.
v 413

Watson, Graham
WATSON, Graham (b. England, 1956)
7KHÀUVW$QJORSKRQHSKRWRJUDSKHUWREUHDNLQWRWKHWLJKWO\NQLW
group of snappers who shoot European cycle racing and who
consequently has done much to popularize the sport in English-
speaking nations over the last 30 years. Like TV commentator PHIL
LIGGETT, Watson started as a bike racer; he spent time working in a
London photo studio and began his photography career shooting for
Cycling magazine. He moved to Winning in the 1980s where he made
his name thanks to his work with breakthrough stars such as SEAN
KELLY and GREG LEMOND, and thanks to one sequence of pictures in
particular showing Jesper Skibby being run down by the organizers’
car in the Tour of FLANDERS.
+HKDVEHHQDÀ[WXUHDWOHDGLQJ86PDJD]LQHVeloNews for many
years and has been close to LANCE ARMSTRONG since the Texan turned
pro in 1992. As well as selling pictures and annual calendars and
working for many of the top teams, Watson has produced over 20
books, including inside accounts of his life in bike racing. These offer a
different perspective to that of most writers, because motorbike-borne
photographers have unique access to the decisive moments of the
greatest races.
WEIGHT An obsession for under your saddle. Riis lost a

professional cyclists. The story few kilos and won the 1996 Tour,
goes that when the Italian albeit, he later confessed, with
trainer Luigi Cecchini began the help of EPO as well. There
working with the Dane Bjarne are also tales of riders training
Riis, he handed him two with weights under their saddle,
kilogram bags of sugar and said: although none now go as far
imagine riding with that lot as Jean Robic, the 1947 Tour
v 414

Wheels
winner, a featherweight who “blowing up”—sustainable

would collect a bidon containing power—and his weight is the
10 kg of lead at the top of a NH\ÀJXUH)HUUDULHVWLPDWHG
mountain to help him keep up on WKDWWKHÀJXUHD7RXUZLQQHU
the descent. needs to produce is 6.7 watts per
The importance of weight kilo (quoted in Dan Coyle, Tour
loss when climbing is clearly de Force). In 2009, weight loss
illustrated, although the precise was one of the keys to BRADLEY
effects vary from rider to rider, WIGGINS’s transformation into
because of factors such as a TOUR DE FRANCE contender:
the steepness of the hill, the the Briton went from 77 kg at
rider’s power output, and the his track racing weight to 73 kg.
percentage of a rider’s weight Critically, he lost weight while
that is lost. One estimate minimizing his loss of power.
(MICHELE FERRARI’s) is that a His trainer estimated that even
kilo adds 1.25 percent to a rider’s at his Tour weight, he would
time up a hill. That means, in still be able to ride a 4,000 m
essence, that for each kilo a rider pursuit at 4 minutes 15 seconds
is heavier, he is having to work pace, only slightly slower than
1.25 percent harder. he was doing in training in the
The ratio between the power run-up to the Beijing OLYMPIC
a cyclist can produce without GAMES.
WHEELS Relative to its where the rider is standing

weight, the bicycle wheel is on the pedals to climb a hill),
one of the strongest man-made and twisting (torsional—the
constructions, having to take circular motion from the chain
loads in various planes: up and and sprockets that drives the
down (radial—the rider’s weight, bike forward). An experiment
bumps in the road, braking), side with a conventional wheel built
to side (lateral—particularly by Condor Cycles estimated its
v 415

Wheels
working load-to-weight ratio at

about 400-1.
Early BONESHAKERS featured
wheels of “West Indian hardwood,
amaranth, makrussa, hickory or
lemon tree”; wood continued to
be used for rims, particularly for
track racing, up to the Second
World War. They were made
either by turning a single strip
into a hoop and biscuit-jointing
the ends, or by lamination. difference whether the rim was
The development of the HIGH- single walled—one layer of
WHEELER led to a focus on wheel metal—or double walled, with
design and a gradual evolution two, for greater strength. Over
from the cart-type wood spoked 130 years later, specialist rim-
wheels used by early cycles makers such as France’s Mavic,
such as the DRAISIENNE. The makers of the legendary SSC
key development came in 1870 black-anodized tubular rim
when JAMES STARLEY patented (Special Service des Courses)
the Ariel high-wheel cycle. This still supply this kind of rim.
had wheels on which the spokes But at the racing end of
were tensioned so that the riders’ the market, there have been
weight was suspended; four other developments in recent
years later, Starley introduced \HDUV7KHÀUVWGLVFZKHHO
tangential spoking, in which the design appeared in 1892. The
spokes ran at opposing angles, idea was that it would be more
crossing over each other. AERODYNAMIC than spoked
Steel rims were initially wheels, but there were already
ubiquitous, with wood used for questions about how it would
racing, but aluminium gradually perform in side winds. It was not
took over, with the main market until FRANCESCO MOSER smashed
v 416

Wheels
the HOUR RECORD in 1982 that ÁDWWHQHGVSRNHV

disc wheels came back into the From 1994 when CAMPAGNOLO
picture. The breakthrough was brought out the Shamal, the
LQWKHLGHDWKDWRQWKHÁDWDW top end of the racing and then
least aerodynamics mattered the CYCLOSPORTIVE market
more than weight. Moser’s use was gradually taken over by
of the wheels was challenged deep-rimmed wheels, which
but his lawyers won the case by had a V section rather than the
arguing that the wheels actually traditional shallow U. These are
had one single spoke. put together in the manfacturer’s
&DUERQÀEHUGLVFVDUHQRZ factory, rather than lovingly
ubiquitous wherever pure speed crafted from individual
matters: time trials on road and spokes, rims, and hubs in a
track and track endurance races. wheelbuilder’s shop. “Factory-
Rear discs are always used, EXLOWµZKHHOVFDUERQÀEHUIRU
with the choice of a front disc racing, aluminium for training,
depending on wind conditions, are now the gear of choice, and in
as wind from the side can affect a time trial, one will be used at
the bike’s stability. Variants on the front end rather than a disc.
the disc include one-piece carbon Virtually every cycle component
wheels with three or four vast maker has gotten in on the act.
v 417

Wiggins, Bradley
WIGGINS, Bradley on the SIX-DAY RACING scene in

\PM! [#Ja!! *ZILTMaPIL
Born: Ghent, Belgium, April 28, 1980 surpassed his father by taking the
Major wins: Olympic pursuit champion R]VQWZ_WZTLX]Z[]Q\\Q\TMIVLQV
2004, 2008; Olympic team pursuit I\\PMIOMWN PM_WVIV
champion 2008; world pursuit champion Olympic bronze medal in the team
2003, 2007, 2008; world team pursuit pursuit. The world pursuit title
champion 2007, 2008; world Madison NWTTW_MLQVIVLQVPM
champion (with Mark Cavendish) 2008; took three medals in the Athens
world junior pursuit champion 1998 Olympics: gold in the individual
Nicknames: the Twig, Wiggo pursuit, silver in the team event,
Further reading: In Pursuit of Glory, and bronze in the Madison. No
Bradley Wiggins, Orion, 2010 Briton had achieved anything to
UI\KP\PQ[[QVKM\PM![J]\
A mainstay of the GREAT BRITAIN Wiggins received little recognition
Olympic TRACK RACING team who I\PWUM#PQ[[MV[MWN LMÆI\QWV_I[
_WV\_WOWTLUMLIT[QV*MQRQVOIVL such that he turned to drink for
then equaled the British record set several months, getting through his
by ROBERT MILLAR_PMVPMÅVQ[PML entire collection of Belgian beer and
NW]Z\PQV\PM!TOUR DE FRANCE. spending much time in the pub.
?QOOQV[Q[IOIVOTQVO4WVLWVMZ¸ He made his Tour de France
IT\PW]OPJWZVQV/PMV\¸_Q\P LMJ]\QVIVLZWLM[\ZWVOTa
a penchant for the Mod culture QV\PMZIKMKWUQVOKTW[M\W
WN \PM![\PMU][QKWN X]VS winning a time-trial stage, but had
rockers the Jam, and a collection of PQ[[QOP\[Å`MLWVLMNMVLQVOPQ[
electric guitars. He is also one of the 7TaUXQK\Q\TMQV*MQRQVO0M\WWS
ÅVM[\QUXMZ[WVI\WZ[QVXZWNM[[QWVIT three gold medals (individual and
cycling: his imitation of fellow \MIUX]Z[]Q\[5ILQ[WVQV\PM
!<W]Z[\IZMARK CAVENDISH is world championships and followed
particularly hilarious. up with two golds in the pursuits
Wiggins’s estranged Australian in China despite suffering from a
father Garry was a top professional severe virus shortly before departure.
v 418

Women
The following year, having got triumphs.

the Games out of his system, he By the end of the season he was
astonished most of European \PMWJRMK\WN WVMWN KaKTQVO¼[JQOOM[\
cycling by riding an almost perfect transfer battles between Team
Tour, struggling only on the ;SaIVLPQ[!JIKSMZ/IZUQV
penultimate day’s mountaintop M^MV\]ITTaUW^QVO\W\PMÆMLOTQVO
ÅVQ[PI\5WV\>MV\W]ÌVLÅVQ[PQVO British squad.
R][\[MKWVL[JMPQVL\PQZLXTIKML 1V PMX]JTQ[PMLPQ[
LANCE ARMSTRONG, who tipped MEMOIRS, In Pursuit of Glory. The
him as a possible future winner. It title was thought up by Brad and his
was an improvement that hinged on wife, Cath, and the book delves deep
two things: weight loss and his need into his relations with his father and
\WÅVLVM_OWIT[IN\MZPQ[7TaUXQK his problems post-Athens.
WOMEN At the start of the dress—in essence baggy long

cycling era, the new pastime trousers—rather than a skirt.
played a key role in getting “For women, the bicycle
women out of the kitchen, away became a vehicle of liberation
from chaperones, and out of from domesticity and isolation,”
constraining multiple petticoats wrote the historian Jim McGurn
and corsets into “rational” dress. in On Your Bicycle (John
Surprizing as it may seem now, Murray, 1980). There were
the CYCLISTS’ TOURING CLUB disputes over the pros and cons
was involved in at least one case of rational dress and long skirts,
in the 1890s where a female and public resistance in remote
member was refused entry to the parts to the former; it remained
women’s bar in a hotel because an issue until the 1920s.
she was wearing “rational” Women began racing soon
v 419

W omen
Six Great Women’s Champions

=
Hélène Dutrieu (b. Belguim, 1877, d. 1961) First women’s HOUR RECORD holder, setting a distance
of 39.190 km in 1895. Dutrieu was one of a group of professionals who used the Simpson lever chain
immortalized by HENRI DE TOULOUSE-LAUTREC. She won world track titles in 1897 and 1898, and in
November 1898 she won a 12-day race in London. She was awarded the Cross of Saint André by King
Leopold of Belgium and went on from racing to stunt cycling (for example, looping the loop), motor sport,
and then aviation. In 1910 she became the fourth woman in the world to be licensed as an airplane
pilot, causing a minor scandal when it was revealed that she did not wear a corset in the cockpit. She
was the first woman pilot to stay airborne for more than an hour. She later took French nationality and
was awarded the Légion d’Honneur.
Eileen Sheridan (b. 1942) was British cycling’s second woman star after Marguerite Wilson, a
double winner of the British Best All Rounder (1949 and 1950). Sheridan set records at most of the set
time-trial distances before turning professional for the Hercules bike company to break place-to-place
records. Her best was Land’s End to John O’Groats (1954) in 2 days 11 hours 7 minutes. She featured
in a documentary made by Dunlop entitled Spinning Wheels: Cycle Sport 50s Style, which also included
REG HARRIS, and did publicity for Player’s cigarettes.
Maria Canins (b. 1949) Italian who combined cross-country skiing and road racing at the highest
level, becoming JEANNIE LONGO’s greatest rival in the late 1980s. Canins was a great climber but a weak
time triallist, so her best wins were in races where she could use her climbing skills. She twice won the
women’s Grande Boucle, won four medals in world road titles (two bronze, two silver), and took stage
races such as the Giro d’Italia and Tour of Norway. She went on to take two mountain-bike world titles
as a veteran and 15 Italian cross-country skiing championships in various categories.
Connie Carpenter-Phinney (b. 1957) American who came to cycling from speed skating, in
which she won a national title in 1976. That year she won the US road and pursuit titles, repeating the
double in 1977 and 1979. In 1984 she became the first women’s Olympic road race champion in Los
Angeles, narrowly outsprinting her teammate Rebecca Twigg. Carpenter was also a national collegiate
standard rower. She is married to Davis Phinney, a stage winner in the Tour de France in 1987, and their
son Taylor is tipped to be the next big name in US cycling.
v 420

Women
Yvonne McGregor (b. England, 1961) was one of the first wave of British track cyclists to succeed
after the beginning of lottery funding in 1997. Like CHRIS BOARDMAN, McGregor was a time triallist, hour
record breaker, and pursuiter who was trained by Peter Keen from the early 1990s. The Yorkshirewoman
took a surprise win in the points race in the 1994 Commonwealth Games, then was part of the British
track riders’ breakthrough in Sydney, taking bronze in the individual pursuit. She added the world title
that year and was made an MBE in 2002.
Leontien Van Moorsel (b. Netherlands, 1970) Triple Olympic champion in Sydney in 2000, where
she won the road race, the time trial, and the 3 km pursuit. She defended her road title in Athens
in 2004 in spite of a crash on the penultimate lap, after which she retired as one of Holland’s most
successful Olympians. Van Moorsel traded on a glamorous image, wearing bright lipstick and long
painted fingernails, but took time out of the sport between 1994 and 1998 to recover from anorexia and
depression. On her return she won the world time trial title and took silver in the road race on home soil.
DIWHUWKHÀUVWPHQ·VUDFHLQ In GREAT BRITAIN, the Rosslyn

1869 but the cycling authorities Ladies’ Cycling Club was
have consistently failed to keep founded in 1922. Marguerite
up with their progress. There :LOVRQZDV%ULWLVKF\FOLQJ·VÀUVW
were early records set by the woman star, a record-breaker
American Jan Lindsey and who rode as a professional in the
Germany’s Marguerite Gast, 1930s, breaking every women’s
while the best early women’s record on the books including
track racer was Hélène Dutrieu the END TO END and 1,000 miles.
of France (see opposite), who set It was not until the 1950s that
an hour record of 39.190 km; the women’s racing took off again;
infamous “Choppy” Warburton the Women’s Cycle Racing
(see also SOIGNEUR) had female Association was founded in 1956
protégés such as “Lisette”— and began running a national
Amélie le Gall—who won an road race championship. Eileen
early world championship in 6KHULGDQZRQWKHÀUVWZRPHQ·V
1896. BBAR and 100 title in 1950. (The
v 421

W omen
ÀUVWZRPHQ·VQDWLRQDOTIME women’s World Cup includes

TRIAL championship was the 25 scaled down CLASSICS such as
held in 1944). Flèche Wallonne and the Tour of
While the UCI began holding FLANDERS. The money available
a women’s road race world title in women’s road racing is
LQWKHÀUVWKHOGLQ5HLPV minimal compared to what is on
France, won by Elsy Jacobs of offer for men; the disparity is far
Luxembourg) under pressure greater than, say, in tennis.
from Eileen Gray, one of the MOUNTAIN-BIKING has played
ÀUVWZRPHQWRUDFHLQ%ULWLVK a key role, because women
national colors in 1946, they did competed on equal terms from
so against a certain amount of the sport’s beginnings in the
opposition, and women’s racing 1970s and the sport did not
truly began to gather pace only have road racing’s tradition of
in the 1970s and 1980s. That discrimination. That meant that
was thanks partly to an upsurge when mountain-biking took off in
in interest in the US after the the early 1990s women such as
foundation of the Coors Classic, Britain’s Caroline Alexander and
and by the end of the 1980s most the Americans Juli Furtado and
of the best women’s races were in Missy Giove were able to make a
North America. far better living than if they had
The women’s TOUR DE FRANCE been racing on the road.
started in 1984 and was run On the other hand, questions
concurrently with the men’s about women’s cycling were still
race but that came to an end in being raised in the early 1990s,
1989 and a similar event known when there was debate about
as La Grande Boucle Féminine the length and toughness of
is run by a different company, women’s road racing—the UCI felt
but lasts less than a week. The distances should be restrained,
toughest races on the women’s while some races such as the Ore–
calendar are the Tour de l’Aude Ida Classic in the US deliberately
and GIRO D’ITALIA, while the went outside the rules.
v 422

W o r l d Cha mp i o n sh i p s
Women’s racing in the that women were discriminated

OLYMPIC GAMES began only in against in track racing, with only
1984 and in the Commonwealth three events to the men’s seven.
Games as late as 1990. At the This will be put right in 2012,
time of the Beijing Olympics but is many years overdue.
the British sprinter Victoria (SEE ALSO BERYL BURTON, NICOLE COOKE,
Pendleton rightly complained JEANNIE LONGO, ALFONSINA STRADA)
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS exposition. There was limited

Cycling as a world sport was participation from outside the
QRWXQLÀHGLQWKHWKFHQWXU\ US, which took two of the three
but the dominant organization gold medals.
was Britain’s National Cycle The Italians began
Union, strictly an amateur campaigning for a world road-
body. Their national title races race championship after the First
ZHUHFRQVLGHUHGXQRIÀFLDO World War, and an amateur
world championships. The title was inaugurated in 1921.
ÀUVWZDVDPLOHUDFHDW The French Grand Prix Wolber
Wolverhampton in 1874, won ZDVFRQVLGHUHGDQXQRIÀFLDO
by JAMES MOORE, while in professional world title until the
1879 a long-distance race was UCIUDQLWVÀUVWSURIHVVLRQDOURDG
organized, lasting 26 hours race title in 1927, with pros and
and won by Charles Terront of amateurs riding together on the
France. When the NCU helped Nurburgring in Germany. The
to found the International winner was ALFREDO BINDA of
Cycling Association, that body Italy. The UCI has been slow
UDQWKHÀUVWRIÀFLDOZRUOG to promote women’s racing
championships, held in Chicago and there was no world title
in 1893 to coincide with a world for women until 1958, when
v 423

championship has massive

VLJQLÀFDQFHZLWKDWUDGLWLRQ
D efending the world professional/elite
title is a rare feat. Only five men
have managed it:
going back to Alfredo Binda and
FAUSTO COPPI and the azzurri are
Georges Ronsse (Belgium) 1928–9 always under colossal pressure.

Rik Van Steenbergen (Belgium) 1956–7 Italian fans still hark back to an
RIK VAN LOOY (Belgium) 1960–1 episode in Holland in 1948 where
Gianni Bugno (Italy) 1991–2 Coppi and his great rival GINO
Paolo Bettini (Italy) 2006–7 BARTALI refused to cooperate
and disappeared lamely to the
changing rooms.
the winner was Elsy Jacobs of There are often claims that
Luxembourg. riders have betrayed their
The Worlds has always been national teammates and
contested by national teams notorious cases where this has
and are run at a different clearly happened. GREAT BRITAIN
venue each year, always on a was rocked by a scandal at
circuit. This gives the racing the 2004 world championship
a completely different tenor to in Madrid when two British
most professional events. The riders who race for Italian pro
great issue is whether national teams were seen to work for the
trainers can pull together a Italians. The coach resigned and
disparate group of pros, most the cyclists were told they would
of whom race in competing never wear the national jersey
teams for the rest of the season, again.
and turn them into a unit All world championship
even though it may be in their winners are awarded a rainbow
interests to work for a pro jersey, which can be seen in
teammate who has a different pictures going back to 1924, and
national jersey on. is subtly different depending on
The issue is particularly the discipline—the time-trial
acute in Italy, where the world jersey, for example, incorporates
v 424

a stopwatch. From the top down the road race stages.

the stripes are blue, red, black, Once the cyclist’s year as
yellow, and green. A world world champion has ended, he or
champion has the right to wear she retains the right to wear the
the jersey when competing rainbow stripes on the collar or
in his or her discipline. For cuff of their racing jersey. There
example, in a time-trial stage of is some debate about whether
the TOUR DE FRANCE the world the professional road race jersey
time-trial champion can wear carries a CURSE, due to the fact
his rainbow jersey, while the that world champions have
road champion can wear his in frequently failed to live up to
Magnificent Seven: Classic World Road Titles

=
1953—Fausto Coppi takes a solo victory at Lugano, the last truly dominant win of his career, and is
seen in the company of his mistress “the White Lady” on the podium. Scandal ensues.
1954—At Solingen, LOUISON BOBET chases down the Swiss Fritz Schaer then wins alone. The
“Marseillaise” is heard on German soil for the first time since the war.
1967—EDDY MERCKX enters the big time by winning the pro title at Heerlen, Holland. Britain takes the
amateur and women’s titles with Graham Webb and BERYL BURTON.
1980—BERNARD HINAULT completely crushes the field on the tough circuit at Sallanches, salvaging a
year ruined by a knee injury and ignominious withdrawal from the Tour de France.
1989—LAURENT FIGNON and GREG LEMOND reprise their battle from that year’s Tour de France in a rain-hit
race at Chambéry. LeMond adds the rainbow jersey to his Tour title.
1993—In Oslo, LANCE ARMSTRONG solos to the pro title ahead of MIGUEL INDURAIN; Jan Ullrich takes the
amateur crown. Both men will go on to win the Tour, Armstrong will dominate the event.
2002—A rare example of a pure sprinter taking the title: Mario Cipollini crowns a seamless piece of
team racing by the Italians to achieve the crowning glory of his career.
v 425

their titles, and there have been races moved to late September,
one or two cases of bizarre injury after the VUELTA A ESPAÑA. For
and even death. several years the junior men
Traditionally the world and women’s events were run
championships were held in late alongside the seniors’.
August, enabling the winner of From 2012 the Worlds
the Tour de France to carry his format will be extended, with
form through to the title races. the junior men’s and women’s
The TEAM TIME TRIAL title was races integrated once again
held alongside the road races, with the senior events, and the
contested by amateur teams of racing taking place over a full
four riders. In 1994 the team seven days. The UCI has also
time trial championship was introduced a team time trial
replaced with a solo TIME- for men’s and women’s trade
TRIALLINGWLWOHWKHÀUVWZLQQHU teams on the preceding Sunday,
was CHRIS BOARDMAN. while the Worlds will include
In 1996, the format was a CYCLOSPORTIVE for amateur
radically altered to coincide riders.
with the category changes under Other world championships
HEIN VERBRUGGEN that enabled include: track, held in late
professional cyclists to enter the March; BMX, held in summer;
OLYMPIC GAMES. The professional MOUNTAIN BIKING cross-
and amateur categories were country and DOWNHILL, held in
abolished and replaced with September; INDOOR CYCLING,
Elite—top-ranked senior riders held by November; CYCLO-
from the various continents CROSS, held in late February;
and those riding for UCI-listed PARALYMPIC cycling, held in
teams—and Under-23. The November; masters (40–70-year
road events were separated olds) held in October.
from the track, and the road
v 426

Y
YATES, Sean (b. England, 1960) then a record speed. A distinctive
ÀJXUHZKRURGHZLWKKLV
The most popular cyclist in handlebars drooping, his shorts
Britain since TOM SIMPSON, a pulled halfway up the thigh, and
legendary hard nut nicknamed had a mass of varicose veins on
“Horse” or “Tonk” for his ability his right calf, Yates became a
to ride for long spells at high mainstay of the 7-Eleven and
speed in any weather while Motorola teams (see USA). He
seemingly unaware of any was a hero of LANCE ARMSTRONG
physical pain. Yates is a devotee when the future seven-time Tour
of extreme sports—skiing, winner turned professional in
ice-climbing, motorcycling, 1992, while BRADLEY WIGGINS
bodybuilding—who found his WDONVIRQGO\RIZDWFKLQJKLVÀQH
metier in cycling, where he was ride in the 1994 PARIS–ROUBAIX
a British national champion at Classic.
TIME TRIALLING. That year Yates also wore
After a spell racing as an the Tour’s yellow jersey for a
amateur in Paris at the ACBB day; he was ready to retire but
club, he turned professional Armstrong persuaded him to
in 1982 as one of PEUGEOT’s keep going for two more years.
FOREIGN LEGION but did not After retirement, he managed
break through until 1988 when the British team sponsored
he won stages in the VUELTA A by Linda McCartney Foods,
ESPAÑA and TOUR DE FRANCE, the then became a directeur sportif
latter a time trial at what was at CSC before moving to
v 427

Y ate s , S ea n
Armstrong’s Discovery Channel 2010 move to Sky as a directeur

and Astana squads, all the time sportif saw him complete the
riding his beloved time trials circle by returning to a British
when back home in Britain. His team.
v 428

Z
ZIMMERMAN, Arthur Augustus minute. Together with Frank
“A. A.” (b. Camden, New Jersey, 1869, d. Bowden of his sponsor RALEIGH
1936) he produced an early training
manual: Points for Cyclists with
Nicknamed “the Flying Training.
Yankee,” or “the Jersey Skeeter” Like Major TAYLOR—who
because of his pedaling speed, he met just as the Major was
=LPPHUPDQZDVWKHÀUVWUHDO beginning his rise in the early
world star of cycling, the fastest 1890s—Zimmerman was a
track sprinter of cycling’s early product of American track
\HDUVDSUROLÀFUHFRUGEUHDNHU racing, then at its zenith; like
and the winner of over 1,400 Taylor he was sensationally
UDFHV+HZDVWKHÀUVWPDQ popular when he raced in
to get inside 12 seconds for (XURSH+HZRQJROGLQWKHÀUVW
WKHÁ\LQJPDJRRGWLPH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS in 1893
currently is around 10 seconds) but subsequently his amateur
while his kilometer world record status was called into question.
of 1 minute 9.2 seconds set His prizes included bicycles,
in 1894 lasted more than 20 horses and carriages, pianos, a
\HDUV,QKHZDVWKHÀUVW KRXVHODQGVLOYHUSODWHVFRIÀQV
man to be crowned world sprint jewelery, clocks, and diamonds,
champion. and he used his name to market
Zimmerman was famed for his products such as shoes, toe-clips,
rapid pedaling style, estimated and clothes. In 1893 the NCU
at up to 190 revolutions per banned him after he struck a
v 429

Zimmerman, Arthur Augustus
deal to ride RALEIGH bikes, so his French tour with a trip to

Zimmerman turned professional, Australia, drawing a crowd of
asking that his contracts in Paris 27,000 in Sydney. But as with
be paid in gold. Taylor, the strain of travel
After dismaying the French and racing caught up with him
due to his lean frame—“he and he was burned out by his
looks as if he eats nothing but late 20s. He stopped racing in
string” wrote one journalist— 1905 and ran a hotel until his
=LPPHUPDQZRQKLVÀUVWUDFHV death in 1936. The Swiss Urs
at the Buffalo stadium in Paris =LPPHUPDQZKRÀQLVKHGWKLUG
from the front with such ease in the 1986 Tour de France, is no
that he was asked to make it relation.
look harder; instead, he won (SEE ALSO TRACK RACING, UNITED
from behind. He followed up STATES)
v 430

BIBLIOGRAPHY
All the books mentioned in the text were of use at one time or another,
but so too were the following throughout:
Alderson, Frederick, Bicycling, Ejnès, Gérard and Schaller,

a History (David & Charles, Gérard (eds.), Cent Ans
1972). du Tour de France, (SNC
L’Equipe, 2002).
Augendre, Jacques, et al.,
Portraits Legendaires du Jacobs, Rene, and van den
Cyclisme, compilation, (Tana, Bremt, Harry, Gotha (Presses
2007). de Belgique, 1984).
Berto, Frank J, The Dancing McGurn, Jim, On Your Bicycle

Chain (Van der Plas (John Murrary, 1987).
Publications, 2009).
Perry, David B, Bike Cult, (Four
Chany, Pierre, La Fabuleuse Walls Eight Windows, 1995).
Histoire du Cyclisme (La
Woodforde, John, The Story of
Martinière, 1997).
the Bicycle (Routledge, 1970).
v 431

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book required input from answering questions about cycle

PDQ\VRXUFHVEXWVSHFLÀF couriers, and to Jim Varnish for
thanks are due to Ian Austen for additional information on cycle
providing advice and criticism, to speedway.
Jo Burt for information on Mint At Yellow Jersey I remain
Sauce, to Mark Cavendish for indebted to Matt Phillips for
reminding me about “hairnets,” his patience in overseeing a
to Tim Clifford for giving me the large, complex project of this
run of his library and showing kind, and thanks are also
me his Victorian dog pistol, to due to my sports editor at the
Jeff Cloves for advice on poetry Guardian, Ian Prior, and my
and for kindly allowing me to agent, John Pawsey, for their
print two of his works, to Luke continuing support. Further
Edwardes-Evans for the loan of thanks are due to Christopher
his dissertation on the National Gove at Telegramme Studio for
Clarion movement, to Richard his superb illustrations and
Hallett for advice on equipment, Rich Carr for his immaculate
to Peg Jarvis for agreeing to text design.
be interviewed about art and As with previous books,
cycling, to Matt Parker for however, the biggest debt is
reminding me about soigneurs, due to Caroline, Patrick, and
to Heiko Salzwedel for providing Miranda for their tolerance in
information on East German the face of my obsession with life
cycling, to movingtargetzine for on two wheels.
v 432

SPORTS
The world of cycling is one of death-defying feats and obscure mechanical

oddities, heroics and geekiness in equal measure. In Cyclopedia, renowned two-
wheel aficionado and acclaimed sportswriter William Fotheringham delves deep
into this world to unearth amazing facts and enthralling anecdotes.
This essential book is an A to Z compendium of everything you could ever want

to know about the bicycle, from the history of the Tour de France to Chris Hoy’s
dominance of the Beijing velodrome, from the origins of the quick-release
system to the diet that powered Graeme Obree to the world hour record, from
Lance Armstrong’s fabled career to the slang words used for performance-
enhancing substances, from the literature of cycling to the perils of vicious dogs.
Cyclopedia has all the equipment, the races, the chases, the faces,
the places, the drugs, the sex, and the scandals to convert any
amateur cyclist into a full-fledged bike expert.
WILLIAM FOTHERINGHAM has been a racing cyclist on road and track since 1981. He has
been cycling correspondent at the Guardian newspaper since 1994 and, since then, has
covered the Tour de France for them every year. In 1993 he was launch editor of Cycle Sport
magazine, and in 1998 he launched procycling magazine and website. His biography of Tom
Simpson, Put Me Back on My Bike, was acclaimed by Vélo magazine as “the best cycling
biography ever written.”

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SPORTS

The world of cycling is one of death-defying feats and obscure mechanical

This essential book is an A to Z compendium of everything you could ever want

Put Me Back on My Bike: In Search of Tom Simpson

Roule Britannia: A History of Britons in the Tour de France

Fallen Angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi

Fotheringham’s Sporting Trivia

Fotheringham’s Sporting Trivia:

CYCLO_PRESS_FINAL_6 x 8.25_pages.indd 2 8/1/11 2:26 PM

First published in the United Kingdom by Yellow Jersey Press in 2010

We are grateful to BBC Focus PDJD]LQHIRUSHUPLVVLRQWRXVHWKHSHGDOSRZHUGDWDÀUVW

Chicago Review Press Incorporated

CYCLO_PRESS_FINAL_6 x 8.25_pages.indd 4 8/1/11 2:26 PM

T he particular joy of cycling

CYCLO_PRESS_FINAL_6 x 8.25_pages.indd 5 8/1/11 2:26 PM

CYCLO_PRESS_FINAL_6 x 8.25_pages.indd 6 8/1/11 2:26 PM

CYCLO_PRESS_FINAL_6 x 8.25_pages.indd 1 8/1/11 2:26 PM

AERODYNAMICS If the strength that over 15 mph, overcoming

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would go “truck-hunting” to get WKH\ZHUHÀUVWXVHGE\

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POWER CRANKS to ensure his

CYCLO_PRESS_FINAL_6 x 8.25_pages.indd 4 8/1/11 2:26 PM

After tri-bars, the most vortexes that actually increase

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AFRICA Cycling is a vital Race in the World; they told

CYCLO_PRESS_FINAL_6 x 8.25_pages.indd 6 8/1/11 2:26 PM

ended up riding the wrong way

CYCLO_PRESS_FINAL_6 x 8.25_pages.indd 7 8/1/11 2:26 PM

ALPS When the Alps were huge range of mass-participation

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Mont Ventoux. This peak lies a events up the climbs, so that

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CLIMB LENGTH ALTITUDE HEIGHT GAIN NOTED FOR

Iseran 16 km 2,764 m 960 m Vast glaciers and a wild summit in the

Galibier 18 km 2,646 m 1,216 m Exposed scree slopes, a disused

Izoard 31.7 km 2,360 m 1,438 m Death Valley–type pinnacles in

Madeleine 19.3 km 1,993 m 1,523 m 40 bends, 20 years construction work,

Mont Ventoux 21 km 1,909 m 1,610 m Bare moonscape at domed summit

L’Alpe d’Huez 14.5 km 1,850 m 1,150 m Winners’ names on each of the 21

Joux-Plane 11.8 km 1,691 m 988 m Insanely steep climb with views of

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The passes in the south- history: see DOLOMITES for more

AMAURY SPORT ORGANISATION

percent of the Vuelta a España, CRITÉRIUM INTERNATIONAL

and has partnerships with Tour PARIS–NICE

of California. In early 2010 it took DAUPHINÉ LIBÉRÉ

over the Dauphiné Libéré, giving it TOUR DE PICARDIE

a near monopoly on French races. ÉTAPE DU TOUR

ASO’s lineage goes back to TOUR DE L’AVENIR

the newspaper L’Auto, which TOUR OF QATAR (PRO AND WOMEN)

UDQWKHÀUVW7RXUGH)UDQFH TOUR DU FASO

Under HENRI DESGRANGE and PARIS–DAKAR MOTOR RACE

his successor Jacques Goddet, PARIS MARATHON

the paper organized the race FRENCH GOLF OPEN

until the outbreak of war in

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1940. During the war, Goddet Jean-Marie Leblanc took over.

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ANDERSON, Phil (b. England, 1958) one-day CLASSICS (Amstel Gold

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ANQUETIL, Jacques Blond-haired and with chilly

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We are grateful to BBC Focus PDJD]LQHIRUSHUPLVVLRQWRXVHWKHSHGDOSRZHUGDWDÀUVW

UDQWKHÀUVW7RXUGH)UDQFH TOUR DU FASO

Their rivalry was never personal, \ZQITTQ[\_QVVQVO[WTWZIKM[QV

ARMSTRONG, Lance \WTLPMPILIXMZKMV\KPIVKMWN

IKIZJWVÅJMZUWVWKWY]MNZIUM crashed out of the Tour four times

SAN REMO!\PMTOUR OF again (see SADDLE SORES for other