1893 Henri Desgrange

Sallanches 1964
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1893 Henri Desgrange
1893 Henri Desgrange

"THE NAPOLEON OF CYCLING SPORT..."

HENRI DESGRANGE (1865-1940) was a French sports journalist and cyclist who organized IN 1903 the FIRST Tour de France.
Desgrange was a very good track cyclist and the first French champion on the road. In 1893 Desgrange was the first cyclist that established the first World Hour record on his name at the Buffalo Velodrome near Paris. He rode 35,325 km in one hour.

Desgrange worked as a journalist for several newspapers before he became chief editor of the new magazine "L'Auto Vélo". After a complaint of violation of trade mark law by the existing paper "Le Vélo" Desgranges'magazine was renamed "L'Auto". After the Second World War changed the name again, now became the L'Équipe, still the biggest sports newspaper in France.

On January 19, 1903 L'Auto announced (as a way of competing with Le Vélo) a sensational plan: a cycling race around France, which would last a whole month. That summer was the first Tour de France a fact.

Henri Desgrange directed the Société du Tour de France until 1939, when he was succeeded by Jacques Goddet.
Besides working for the Tour, he also devoted himself to the development of the road touring for amateurs.
At the Col du Galibier is a monument to his memory. If the Tour passes the Col du Galibier a garland is traditionally laid at the monument. The "Souvenir Henri Desgrange" is awarded annually to the rider who first crosses the highest peak of the Tour.

Henri Desgrange will for always be remembered as a symbol for the cycling sport.

(Georges Matthys, "100 year of cycling sport", 1978)

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Taken on: November 8, 2015
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