Charles Terront
# Charles Terront

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. 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 Saint-Ouen, Seine-Saint-Denis. He took up cycle racing in 1876 along with his brother Jules. Charles excelled at both endurance and speed events, and also won many events on a tandem with Jules. He won 54 major solo events over his 15-year career, including being Champion of France twice and Champion of Great Britain twice.

In 1879 Terront covered 546.327 kilometres (339 mi) in 24 hours. On 27 September 1893 he left Saint Petersburg in Russia to cycle 3,000 kilometres (1,864 mi) across Poland and Germany, arriving at the Vélodrome Buffalo in Paris after 14 days and 7 hours. In 1894 he completed a ride from Rome, Italy, to Paris.

## Paris–Brest–Paris cycle race

Pierre Giffard of Le Petit Journal created the Paris-Brest et retour cycle race in September 1891, describing it as an "épreuve", a test of the bicycle's reliability and the rider's endurance. Riders were fully self-sufficient, carrying their own food and clothing, and riding the same bicycle for the duration. The response was so phenomenal that riders were charged 5 francs to enter, and 300 riders signed up. Each bicycle was given an 'official seal' at a 2-day ceremony; the 280 sealed machines included 10 tricycles, 2 Tandem bicycles, and 1 Penny-farthing. Participation was restricted to French men (7 women were refused entrance), and 99 of the 207 (or 280) participants finished.

Charles Terront won the event, covering the 1,196 kilometres (743 mi) in 71 hours 22 minutes, riding a Humber bicycle from the Beeston works in England. The bicycle weighed 21.5 kilograms and was equipped with Michelin's prototype pneumatic tyres (which were patented in 1891), front brake, curved handlebars, and a chain guard. He passed his main rival Jiel-Laval from Adolphe Clément's Dunlop Clément team, after his manager, H.O. Duncan, advised him to take a detour around the town where his rival was sleeping during the third night. Both had suffered punctures in their pneumatic tyres, but still enjoyed an advantage over riders on solid tires. Terront's arrival in Paris was watched by a crowd of 10,000 people, many of whom had waited throughout the night.

   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.

## 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.

A plaque in Brest commemorates his 1891 victory in the Paris–Brest–Paris.

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 - Boulogne-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

### 1881

    1st - Tours
    1st - Paramé

### 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
