Charles Terront
Charles Terront | |
---|---|
Saint-Ouen, Seine-Saint-Denis, France | |
Died | 31 October 1932 | (aged 75)
Nationality | French |
Charles Terront (9 April 1857 – 31 October 1932) was the first major French cycling star. He won sprint, middle distance and endurance events in Europe and the United States. In September 1891 he won the first Paris–Brest–Paris cycle race, which at 1,196 kilometres (743 mi) was more than double the length of any previous event. He rode a Humber bicycle fitted with prototype removable pneumatic tyres made by Michelin.[1][2][3] He won 54 major events over his 15-year career, was Champion of France twice and Champion of Great Britain twice.
Early life and career
Terront was born in
In 1879 Terront covered 546.327 kilometres (339 mi) in 24 hours.
Paris–Brest–Paris cycle race
Charles Terront won the event, covering the 1,196 kilometres (743 mi) in 71 hours 22 minutes, riding a
I pushed as hard as I could! The crowd was going delirious and closed in behind me, running as soon as I passed them, until I crossed the line. They tried to lift me off my bike, but I was able to alight on my own. Charles Terront.[2]
Honours
On account of Terront's fame, he was the first athlete to have his memoirs published during his lifetime. In 1893, he explained his life, races, and training methods to French journalist Louis Baudry de Saunier. Also in 1893 En suivant Terront by Herbert Duncan and Pierre Lafitte used 100 drawings to track his ride to Paris from Saint Petersburg.[2]
A plaque in Brest commemorates his 1891 victory in the Paris–Brest–Paris.[2]
The Rue Charles Terront in Nantes is named in his honour.
Major results by year
- 1876
- 1st - Paris-Pontoise-Paris
- 1st - Adamville
- 1st - Neuilly sur Seine
- 1st - Créteil
- 1st - Rouen
- 1st - Parc de Saint-Maur
- 1st - Saint-Germain
- 1st - Angers
- 1877
- 1st - Montauban
- 1st - Angers
- 1st - Saint-Ouen
- 1st - La Garenne-Colombes
- 1st - Charenton-le-Pont
- 1st - Saint-Denis
- 1st - ex-aequeo de Paris-Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
- 1878
- 1st - Versailles
- 1st - Argenteuil
- 1st - Adamville
- 1st - Maison-Blanche
- 1st - Rueil
- 1st - Saint-Denis
- 1st - Carrousel (Paris)
- 1st - Pré Catalan
- 1st - Courbevoie
- 1st - Versailles
- 1st - Point du Jour
- 1st - La Garenne-Colombes
- 1st - Fougères
- 1879
- 1st - Angers-Le Mans-Angers
- 1st - Angers
- 1st - Versailles
- 1st - Chaville
- 1st - Boulogne-Billancourt-Versailles-Boulogne Billancourt
- 1st - Carrousel (Paris)
- 1st - 6 days of Boston
- 1st - 6 days of Chicago
- 1880
- 1st - 6 days of London
- 1st - 6 days of Edinburgh
- 1st - 6 days of Kingston upon Hull
- 1st - Fougères
- 1st - Saint Denis
- 1st - Paris
- 1882
- 1st - Agen
- 1st - 6 hours of Angers
- 3rd Speed Championships of France
- 1883
- 1st - Fougères
- 2nd - Speed Championships of France
- 1884
- 1st - Fougères
- 1885
- 3rd - Speed Championships of France
- 1886
- 2nd - Speed Championships of France
- 3rd Middle distance Championships of France
- 1887
- 1st - 100 mile Championship of Great Britain
- Rennes
- 2nd Middle distance Championships of France
- 1888
- 1st - Middle distance Championships of France
- 1st - 10 mile Championship of Great Britain
- 1889
- 1st - Middle distance Championships of France
- 1891
- 1st - Paris–Brest–Paris
See also
- James Moore (cyclist) - winner of 'first' cycle races in 1868 in Paris and 1869 Paris–Rouen
- Paris–Rouen - first 'city to city' cycle race (1869)
- Bordeaux–Paris - first long-distance cycle race (May 1891)
- George Pilkington Mills - winner of Bordeaux–Paris cycle race
References
- ^ Lugged Steel - Charles Terront
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Le Petit Braquet - Charles Terront Archived 2012-04-01 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c Memoire du Cyclisme - palmares - Charles Terront Archived June 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Cicloweb Italia
- ^ A Hands - A short history of Paris–Brest–Paris by Gary Smith Archived 2009-04-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Cyclologie, Biclou Ethernel, Monsieur Charles Terront, champion cycliste Archived July 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
Bibliography
- Duncan, Herbert Osbaldo & Lafitte, Pierre, En suivant Terront de St-Petersbourg à Paris, 1894
- Terront, Charles, Les mémoires de Terront: sa vie, ses performances, son mode d'entraînement (Collection Les Introuvables), 1980