Maurice Archambaud

Maurice Archambaud

Personal information
Full name	Maurice Archambaud
Nickname	Le Nabot
Born	August 30, 1906(1906-08-30) Paris, France
Died	December 3, 1955(1955-12-03) (aged 49) Le Raincy, France
Team information
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Major wins
10 stages Tour de France Paris–Nice (1939)
Infobox last updated on June 18, 2008

Maurice Archambaud (born Paris, 30 August 1906, died Le Raincy, 3 December 1955^[1]) was a French professional cyclist from 1932 to 1944. His short stature earned him the nickname of le nabot, or "the dwarf", but colossal thighs made him an exceptional rider.

He won Paris-Soissons and Paris-Verneuil as an amateur in 1931 and turned professional the following year for Alcyon, one of the top teams in France. He won the inaugural Grand Prix des Nations in his first season.^[2]

He set the world hour record at 45,767 km at the Vigorelli velodrome in Milan on 3 November 1937.^[3] He beat the Dutchman, Frans Slaats' record of 45.485 km, set on 29 September 1937.^[4] The distance stood five years before being beaten by Fausto Coppi.

Archambaud rode for France in the Tour de France between the wars. Sudden changes of form and his frequent falls meant that he never won but he did win nine stages ^[1] and wear the yellow jersey.

He won a shorter stage race, Paris–Nice, in 1936 and 1939.^[5]

Major victories

1932

Grand Prix des Nations: winner

1933

Tour de France:

Winner stages 1 and 11

5th overall

9 days in the yellow jersey

1935

Tour de France:

Winner stages 5A and 14B

7th overall

Giro d'Italia:

Winner stage 14B

Paris-Caen

Six days of Paris

GP de l'Echo d'Alger

1936

Tour de France:

Winner stage 4

5 days in the yellow jersey.

Paris–Nice

1937

Tour de France:

Winner stage 2

Hour record

Giro della provincia Milano (with Aldo Bini)

1939

Tour de France:

Winner stages 10B, 10C, 12B and 17B

Paris–Nice

References

1. ^ ^{a b} http://www.velo-club.net/article.php?sid=15616
2. ^ http://www.wielerdagboek.be/
3. ^ http://www.cyclingwebsite.net/ritfiche.php?ritid=36019
4. ^ Match, France, issue 599, 9 November 1937
5. ^ http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/cy/profiles/2357.html

External links

• Maurice Archambaud profile at Cycling Archives
• Official Tour de France results for Maurice Archambaud

Records
Preceded by Frans Slaats	UCI hour record (45.767 km) 3 November 1937-7 November 1942	Succeeded by Fausto Coppi

Persondata
Name	Archambaud, Maurice
Alternative names
Short description	French racing cyclist
Date of birth	30 August 1906
Place of birth	Paris, France
Date of death	3 December 1955
Place of death	Le Raincy, France