- Paris-Rouen
Paris-Rouen was the first cycle race covering a distance between two cities. It was held between the cities of
Paris andRouen onNovember 7 ,1869 . The winner of the inaugural Paris-Rouen race was an Englishman living in Paris, James Moore, who rode the 123 kilometres dividing both cities in 10 hours and 40 minutes, including time spent walking his bicycle up the steeper hills. [http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/dossiers/dos_paris_rouen.php Paris-Rouen 1869 fr icon] ]The event was organized by the bimensual cycling magazine
Le Vélocipède Illustré andOlivier brothers , owners of a bicyle manufacturer company called "The Michaux Company". They were delighted with the success of short races held in Parc deSaint Cloud , Paris and onNovember 7 , they promoted a race betweenParis andRouen , covering a distance of 123 kilometres. The first prize was one thousand goldfrancs and a bicycle. The rules of the race said that the riders were not "to be trailed by a dog or use sails".fact|date=October 2007A total of 120 riders, including two women, participated in the race but just 32 finished before 24 hours. James Moore won with 15 minutes of advantage on Castera and Bobillier. [ [http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/biciclette/escuotiossa.html The "boneshaker": Cycling through Time] ] The first woman, referred to as "Miss America", finished 12 hours and 10 minutes after Moore at 26th position.
After the eruption of
Franco-Prussian War in1870 the race was no longer held but it was held as an amateur race in later years. [ [http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/amateurs/paris_rouen.php Paris-Rouen fr icon] ] The centenary of the race was commemorated onMay 12 ,1969 . The winner wasRégis Delepine , who perceived the same price as James Moore 100 years ago, one thousand goldfrancs as 50 Louis.General Standings
07-11-1869: Paris-Rouen, 123 km
References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
