P6 Histoire du cyclisme

• History of Cycling

General Cycling History

• The Tour de France was created in 1903.
• Cycling has a diversity of practices.
• The Tour de France has a media and mythological dimension: cyclists are sometimes seen as "convicts of the road", implying an addiction to cycling.

Invention of the Velocipede

• The velocipede was a German invention by Karl Von Drais; his invention was called the "draisienne" (a running machine), and was a mark of distinction in European courts.
• The pedal was invented around 1860-1861, which allowed for increased speed.
• In 1885, the gear system was invented, which made the velocipede faster.
• In 1889, Scotsman John Boyd Dunlop invented the pneumatic tire.
• The Michelin brothers seized the invention of the pneumatic tire, creating an air chamber to soften the ride.
• By 1890, the science of the velocipede became cycling.
• In 1889, the bicycle became a symbol of worldwide modernity and was used in marketing by Peugeot, Mercier, ManuFrance and La Française.
• Cycling became extremely popular in 1890, with bicycle production exceeding 10,000.
• By 1900, production exceeded 1 million, and by 1930, 8 million.
• Chain production began after 1900.
• Modern sport developed, and all races were sponsored by bicycle brands.
• There was a fascination with speed, which led to competitions in velodromes (1901 > 6 velodromes in Nice), with a diversification of races and the public.
• The UVF (Union Vélocipédique de France) brought together all the "vélo clubs" of France in 1981, leading to the emergence of competitions.
• Early competitions included Paris-Brest which allowed riders to go beyond velodromes into adventure.
• A race was organized for the first time in 1991 (without defined routes or time limits, the goal was to arrive at a point in Brest).
• Charles Terront won the race without sleeping for 3 nights, covering 1200km and becoming the first French cycling hero.
• He became a national hero and received prizes for participating in events like the Paris-Moscow cycle race and universal expositions.
• Women's races also existed.
• Other competitions included Paris-Belfort and Bordeaux-Paris (a night race).

Tour de France Cycliste

• The Tour de France was inspired by the book "Le Tour de France par deux enfants," a school manual about the detachment of Alsace-Lorraine through the story of two orphans who cycle the Tour de France to find their parents.
• The manual promoted diversity in geography and landscapes of France, emphasizing that France is a country with cohesion and an ideal nation, selling 10 million copies.
• Journalists transformed the book into the Tour de France event.
• In 1890-1895, amid the Dreyfus affair, the Tour de France was created by an anti-Dreyfusard newspaper and another pro-Dreyfus newspaper (vélo).
• Henry Desgranges, a former cyclist, founded the Tour de France as a journalist.
• The Tour de France stages are city-to-city routes (60 riders at the start, only 20 at the finish).
• Maurice Garin won 3 out of 6 stages (arriving 3 hours ahead of 2nd place in the first stage).
• The race became heavily publicized, and Paris welcomed a new audience of people who could watch and encourage the riders for free.
• Women soon appeared in the Tour de France.
• The Tour also included black people of Martinican or American origin (Major Taylor).
• The Tour de France has a mythological dimension to its success.
• Anti-doping controls were introduced in 1965 with legislation due to the number of injuries, illnesses, and deaths.

Stages of the Velocipede

• First stage: aristocratic speed in the courts of kings, slow speeds.
• Velocipedes became objects of ridicule and evolved from velocipede riding to cycling with technical evolution.
• The bicycle was considered a leisure object/cyclotourism enabler with Albert Vivie promoting tourism and city exploration by bike.
• The birth of cycling for transportation led to "pédard" (fear of cyclists going too fast, causing pedestrians to fear being run over).
• Second stage: popular speed; became useful for recreation, also playful with the Tour de France.
• Prices decreased, making it more accessible; it became a crucial and indispensable means of locomotion.
• The Tour de France became a fundamental element of popular culture.
• It became an epic event with cyclists competing honestly and openly.
• It evolved into a French ritual that fostered a dynamic France, the celebration of the sun, and the beginning of summer holidays for children.

Mythology of the Tour de France:

• It is a route around France.
• Anyone can win.
• There is generational opposition.
• The King of the Tour de France is an exemplary champion.
• There is an emergence of an increasingly useful and sporty bicycle.
• In the 1950s, the bicycle fell out of fashion except for the Tour de France, where motorcycles appeared.

Cycling Today

• Third stage: ecological; sports developed the notion of sensation (Californianization of sports).
• In the 1970s, it became an object of diversification (mountain biking, BMX, bi-cross, cyclo-cross).
• Bicycles regained color.
• Cycling has a passion for the French.
• Cycling is a difficult sport that bears fruit because people identify with it.
• It is a sport that women use and have quickly adopted.