Alcyon
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Alcyon_1904.jpg/233px-Alcyon_1904.jpg)
The Alcyon was a French
Origins
Alcyon originated from about 1890 when
Motorcycle racing
In 1912 Alcyon competed at the Isle of Man TT races with a 348cc single-cylinder engine featuring two inlet valves and two exhaust valves.[1] Both bikes failed to finish the Junior TT race.[2]
Alcyon had local success in France during the 1920s, with riders such as Marc Jolly, Marcel Mourrier, Jean Durand and Lucien Lemasson winning races.[3] During this time too, this bicycle brand got its nickname "l'intrépide Alcyon".
Voiturettes before the World War I
Two models were shown in 1906, one a two-seat light car with single-cylinder 950 cc engine and a larger four seat model with 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine. Both engines were bought in from Gentil. The cars were advanced models with 3-speed gearboxes and shaft drive. However, the single-cylinder models were dropped in 1912 and larger models of up to 2120 cc were added to the range. By then, most of the engines were obtained from
The company moved to Courbevoie, Seine in 1912.
In 1954 Peugeot absorbed Alcyon.
Cyclecars between wars
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Alcyon_Touriste_350_JAP_1925.jpg/233px-Alcyon_Touriste_350_JAP_1925.jpg)
In 1914, the company's name was changed to Automobiles Alcyon. After the war, the first model was a 1914 cc four-cylinder model, some examples of which were tuned and sold by the Lyons agent as Alycon-GLs and performed quite well in competition. However, the car was not a success and did not sell well, so in 1923, Alcyon moved into the production of
Trophée Gentil (1946-1963)
In 1946, the "Gentil Trophy" was created in memory of the founder of Cycles Alcyon, who died that year. It was awarded for the "achievement of the year", and took the form of a work of art created by Carlo Sarrabezolles. Each National Federation expressed its choice and the winner had to obtain 70% of the votes to obtain this honorary title.[4]
List of winners
- 1946:
Émile Masson
- 1947:
Fausto Coppi
- 1948:
Briek Schotte
- 1949: Reginald Harris
- 1950: Ferdi Kübler & Hugo Koblet
- 1951: Prize not awarded
- 1952:
Fausto Coppi
- 1953:
Jacques Anquetil
- 1954:
Louison Bobet
- 1955:
Stan Ockers
- 1956:
Ercole Baldini
- 1957:
Roger Rivière
- 1958:
Charly Gaul
- 1959:
Rik Van Looy
- 1960:
Jacques Anquetil
- 1961:
Jean Jourden, Henri Belena & Jacques Gestraut
- 1962:
Jo de Roo
- 1963:
Jacques Anquetil
The company also gave its name to a race, the Grand critérium Alcyon, open to independent and aspiring riders under U.V.F. regulations.
See also
References
- ISBN 1-86160-342-8.
- ^ "TT 1912 Junior TT Results". Isle of Man TT. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
- ^ Hammond, Laurence. "1920-1929 results". Road Racing Questions. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
- ^ "Trophée Gentil". sitiodeciclismo.net (in Italian). 9 October 2023.