Birot (on a Rols w/ Hutchinson tires, Yellow chain) Mme. Trébis (on a La Ninette)
This second Critérium Cycliste des Porteurs de Journaux, organized by l'Intransigeant, La Pédale and l'Echo des Sports, was an enormous success, to say the least it was far superior to last year.
This is not to say it went badly in 1926. The Critérium des "Roule-Toujours" has become quite a Parisian event, one of the greatest manifestions of popular cycling.
Whoever attended one of the various parts of the race, whoever saw the eager crowd from Grenelle until Belleville, even stronger from Belleville to the finish, cannot help but be convinced of it.
The organization, guided by the masterful hand of our friends C. Wouters and J. de Lascoumettes, pf l'Echo des Sports and l'Intransigeant, was, on all points, absolutely impeccable.
A low-key but extremely effective service, which contained the advances, sometimes a little too enthusiastic, of the sporting mob, also went as well as possible, and without the least incident to regret.
Our beautiful race took its place amongst the festival which the people of Paris never fail to attend, from whom come these modest and courageous cyclo-porteurs, who gathered Sunday, to the applause and acclamations of their friends and admirers, the fruit of their continuous and oft-ignored efforts.
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Now on to the race itself. Of 197 registrants, 150 racers came to the start. Of these 150 participants, 144 of them, which includes women and the handicapped, finished.
This is still a plendid result, for the course was extremely difficult, because it was raced at a record pace. Through blockages and traffic jams, it is not possible to stay in a peloton, as in the road races. It is, more or less, an individual effort over a distance of about 30 kilometers.
Whoever has ridden even a little in Paris - even without the rack and heavy load of paper - will say that this is a terrible "grind".
This terrible "grind", a courageous 144 out of 150, finished. If we take into account the mechanical incidents and light accidents that inevitably occur in a competition of this type, we conclude that this is a miniscule rate of abandon.
Is there anything more flattering that can be said, beyond this, concerning these brave Parisian "roule-toujours"?
That should cover the masses. Now let us speak in a little more detail of the winner.
Albert Birot rode and excellent race, which did not at all surprise the organizers.
This young racer, at the mere age of nineteen, put in a better time than Flahaut, last year's winner, who is considered an old routier of this group.
Already last year, Birot had given an excellent performance at his activites, and our friend Langlois, who largely takes care of the younger set, places great confidene in him.
He has performed as befits his promise.
Let us hope that this brilliant victory, gained ahead of reputed specialists, brings him morale which can be difficult to find.
Birot, who is a nice fellow and knows it, sometimes seems a little disinterested in his bicycle. He has said as much to his friend, the phenomenon Blanchonnet.
This is perhaps a little excuseable.
Remember that he covers kilometer upon kilometer every day on his bike. He is supersatured with bicycles, this boy, and that doesn't even include training or racing.
In his place, you would perhaps do the same!
The young Albert has recently joined Halles Sportives, the club our friend Pellerin leads with such competence lately. It is hoped that he realizes that with the qualities with which he is endowed, he can become one of our best amateur racers.
In the meantime he has the right to warm-hearted and sincere congratulations. We lavish them on him with pleasure.
Behind the victor, we find Bernard and Vizel, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.
These two small guys defended themselves with an unequalled fervor and succumbed only a little.
They also therefore have the right to a lot of flowers, which we grant them gladly.
We find in sixth place the great favorite of the race: Jules Lenoir who, without his bad luck, would have done much better
Think that Lenoir had to change wheels twice, and that in spite of this, finished very close to the first!
Know, moreover, that before his unfortunate puncture, his was ahead with a strong lead and you will agree with me that Jules Lenoir is certainly the moral winner of our second Critérium des Cyclo-porteurs.
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Flahaut, last year's winner, was also hit with bad luck, as his rack broke along the route.
We also announce the good performances of Tissot, Denizot, Chazal, Freson, Ferradou, Dogny, Pruvost, etc. etc.
Lorgeou, lthe well-known veteran, who is quite a good racer, and held his hands high in first place in his category, finished 14th in the overall rankings, which is quite honorable.
The handicapped Crost was marvelled at all along the course. Its victory really was very deserved.
This courage among the courageous ones gives a superb example of the tenacity it is normal to reward.
Lastly, Mme. Suzanne Trébis again as with last year, was the best of the women, carried off the glory despite a painful fall which handicapped her severely. Mme. Trébis, who is with Capital, tells us of her joy at winning a second time - and hopes for a third! - and also recognized her "patrons", who, on all occassions, showed themselves to be particularly pleased in all respects.
The other part, the Challenge du Petit Parisien returned again to Paris-Sport whose team proved to be the most consistent, although the most unlucky!
The fact that they won, in spite of the troubles which plagued Flahaut, Delmer and Lenoir in particular, quite abundantly proves that the dear team of our friend Langlois is, by far, the best.
Le Soir and La Presse shared an excellent second place.
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It now remains for to us to put forth many thanks.
We turn initially to the personalities which thought to honour with their presence the second edition of our beautiful race and which chose to attend at the start or finish lines, among whom we will note MM. Henriy Paté, vice-president of the Chambre des députés, lieutenant-colonel Fabry, representing M. L. Bailby, who was prevented from attending, our friend Marcel Delarbre, lthe pleasant and popular Biscot as well as all of our brethren of the press, small and large!
Then to MM. Boulanger and Hussenet, commisaires d'arrondissements, thanks to whom the operations at the start and finish proceeded with great ease and regularity.
And finally, to all the Clubs and their leaders who, either in the organization of the various controls, or on the different portions of the course, gave us services for which we are very thankful to them; and, particularly to M. Pellerin, President of Paris-Sportif as well as to his colleagues and partners of Halles Sportives - Once again thanks to all those who contributed more or less to the success of the 2nd Critérium des Porteurs de Journaux, organized by l'Intransigeant, La Pédale and l'Echo des Sports.
To next year!
The racers pass through the place d'Italie
I shall not give you a "film" of the race because, in any event, it would be almost financially impossible to make.
Across Paris, in a short turn in the middle of that crowd of cyclists, of motorcyclists and cars, one can see a more or less big part of the Critérium des Cyclo-Porteurs, - it depends on the car, the driver and is also a question of chance - but we cannot see following the entire race.
I will thus share with you some small observations and personal remarks, without any pretention as to the rest.
At the start in place Clichy, a mess, terrible and quite normal.
The women and the handicapped - touristes-routiers! - leave five minutes before the main category to have more elbow room and "embrayent" terribly.
Crost, who finished first in his category, has had our admiration for a long time.
By the way, I said: our, because I am in the company of Berrétrot who announces to all the winds without, naturally, losing a mouthful of it.
Or, this Crost is truly a sturdy one. Who would guess that at 40 years old, with only one arm... and weighing 100 kilos, he all the same succeeded in finishing very close to the winners, in spite of three tarps... and all these young people!
A splendid performance which, in its own way, is equivalent to that of the overall winner.
Besides, I am persuaded that the latter is also of this opinion!
But all has an end: Crost could not hold on to the... functions of leader, for the rest of the extremely trying race.
For the "as" return in a flood.
And among these "as" are Lenoir and Delmer, two of the young charges of our friend Langlois and of Paris-Sport.
At the Trocadero, Delmer, very resourceful, gains a light lead which he keeps for a while.
This brave small guy sometimes finds it very difficult to make a quick passage through the grenelloise crowd.
At la Motte-Picquet we stop for an instant and have the pleasure of meeting Maurice Brocco, "Coco" came as a "cyclard", and questions us with a bit of anxiety.
- Who is in the lead?
- Delmer...
- Ah! And Lorgeau, have you seen him?
The veteran Lorgeau is a good friend of Brocco, and he does not forget it awaiting him impatiently, ready to escort him .
The more we go on ahead, the more dense the crowd is.
Disturbances have occurred at the front.
Delmer, besides weakening slightly, breaks his pedal and must abandon.
Lenoir maintains the lead alone, with several minutes lead.
Such as we know him: courageous and pushing to the extreme, we can see him being the winner of the race, after having been one of the favourites.
Alas, bad luck, black bad luck, fate wanted one of Lenoir's tires, one of these clincher tires of the porteurs de journaux never seem to burst, renders up its soul.
Lenoir was not discouraged by that. He wanted to change his wheel and seized one offered by a follower.
But this one had a tubular tire mounted on a wood rim.
And this, the regulations expressly forbid.
So, having hardly set out again, Lenoir had to stop and change his wheel again.
It lost him the race.
Our friend Lacquit, who controls the "brass" of l'Intran , Jean de Lascoumettes and Emilien Robert, is happy as a king. To think that he could deliver, in the face and under the nose of the nice "cops" of the service of order - which, it should be said in passing, were very good - in maneuvers most audacious and most contrary to the law, on any other day!
Oregge wore a large, radiant smile for the entire time that fit him like a marvel...
All over the course people pointed out the racers of the l'Intran team who all carried their "paper" in magnificent green bags which associate had given them which made for very good advertising while giving his men and their mounts a small cachet which the others did not have.
Now Belleville, then the outside boulevards along which now gathers a tremendous crowd, barely contained by the officers' cordon.
And the finish!
The continuously narrowing side streets of Vieux-Montmartre, in which autos, motorbikes, and bikes jam up even more, then the place du Tertre, the final point, or rather the line which Birot crosses, exhausted but oh how happy!
On this subject, it is necessary to clarify a point, which seemed a little vague to number of followers.
They reproached Birot for having ridden behind cars. The facts are precise: Birot paced behind motors, but could he have ridden any other way?
I defy you to not do as much when you are surrounded by motorized vehicles, a vast expanse... of shelter!
Some were also astonished that the men of Soir and Paris-Soir, could take part in the race, these two newspapers having a messenger service for only a short time.
This is understandable, but they are no less true than the other porteurs - the critérium was organized for their benefit and not that of the newspapers! - how long the job has been held can be no reason to eliminate.
Our friend Langlois, of the Coopérative des Porteurs de Journaux, exulted at the finish of his, Paris-Sport having triumphed despite every the possible and conceivable misadventure, such as the Delmer's broken pedal, Flahaut's broken rack, Lenoir's puncture, etc, etc.
An interesting bit of precision, for the curious: Albert Birot, the winner, used a gear of 46 x 18.
For a good few minutes ago Birot, Bernard, Vizet, Tissot, Denizot and the honourable group which shared the places of honor, passed the boulevard Rochechouart.
Two old men come into sight suddenly, pedallig desperately. The audience - not very charitable - spew some displaced gibes at the riders: ' The final control is not still open!.... '
Smiling with pursed lips, one of the "braves" answers; "Don't smack me down!... one never knows!... what if the leaders decide to read their papers?..."
And our two veterans continue on their way.
At the finish Mme Trébis was overwhelmed with joy.
You would be the same, don't you think?
She relates: "I thought I was beaten. At the Trocadero I fell and was feeling badly. Then, my pedal was bent. In the end, despite everything, I finished first. Ah, how happy I am!"
And now, for the good mouth[???}, an amusing little anecdote, which should be worthy of the Histories Patagones of my friend Héran. I will make for you, a small revelation from our information service, which is never wrong in these matters.
This happenned several days ago
Two of the staff members of two big newspapers had resolved to travel the course and to pay a call on the heads of the twelve controls of the race. As you will see, it took quite a [courtelinesques] turn!
The tour began at 8 a.m.
- At the first control - place Clichy - our two friends dranks, what could be more natural? coffee.
- At the second control, it being a bit cold, a good bottle of Vouvray, dispenser of calories, was considered necessary and perished in the battle!
- At the third control, and as the morning moved along and stomachs cried out for food, drinks and other beverages... of Chinese name, went into action.
- At place d'Italie, midday has already passed when our two friends arrived, in good humor.
The host having invited them to lunch, they could not hide from such a nice invitation.
The lunch was excellent. I will say no more...
- The reconnaisance of the course continued some two hours later.
They had eaten well and finished with an excellent coffee.
- At Nation, it was liquor's turn, which, truly, was obvious.
At this point on the course there is a rather large gap in their information.
What do you want? Nobody's perfect!
- But trustworthy witnesses, walking along on the Butte Sacrée - don't ask us what they were doing there! - tell us that, at two in the morning, two off-balance night owls..., who this individual says were in sports gear, were having a big conference on Place du Tertre.
The conversation was lively. It was a matter of the finish, of the officials enclosure, and both interlocutors made wild gesticulations in the pure and still air of this February night...
When asked, our two friends declared to us that they had had an excellent memory of this charming walk through Paris and that they were ready to start again!
Dame, cela se conçoit!
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Ad for Rols bicycles, ridden by the winner, Birot |
Ad for La Ninette bicycles, ridden by the women's winner, Mme. Trébis |
Our eminent fellow Henri Desgrange will excuse me for borrowing his work, but its title applies so happily to the subject that i did not hesitate to use it to top off my rantings this week.
The victory of the young Albert Birot in the second Critérium des cyclo-porteurs, which they call a triumph, the proof of his muscular qualities was simultaneous with that of his intellectual faculties - [mais-z-oui], o denigrators of sports!
The crack of Paris-Sport won as much with his head as with his legs.
Put wisely - he who rides steadily, rides clean, as Aldo Borella would say - Birot rode his race with a tactical sense that made it obvious that youth is not always as mad as they would have you beleive. He knew which of the strong rivals remained, amongst the crowd of racers, his stablemates: Flahaut and Lenoir
Last year's winner having disappeared from the light of day, Birot turned all his attention to Lenoir, who, in one fine effort, had assumed command and had a significant lead, at mid-race.
At this moment, Birot navigated through the group of walkers, cyclists, cyclards and innumerable cars.
Benifitting intelligently from this lucky assistive service - and also dangerous, for he who does not know they are doing - this little white slipped capably through the chaos, using the involuntary aid of these windblocks; leaping from this shelter to that, as the maneuvers of their drivers arrange it, he progressively caught up to those ahead of him. And he managed, with an artful adversary with him, to break free of the big group; these two rogues had no one left in front of them but Lenoir, who promptly took off.
Alas! The stupid puncture stopped the sprint of Lenoir, and the pair of hunters found him in distress.
Then, Birot felt immense hope fill his heart, he could win - he wanted to win!
And, using, this time, another mode of assistance, he hung on to wings, not of an auto - which would have been clever, of course, but not very sporting - but of Victory, which flew in front of him...
He shook off his last adversary, in a powerful jump, and rode away passionately towards the Butte Sacrée, where sporting glory waited for him.
And a 20-year-old rascal became the champion of the cyclo-porteurs.
This title, which he deserved, he captured as much with his brain as with his muscles. Quick and tough at the same time, flexible and artful, he devoted the qualities which were essential in such an event, which is not only intended to show the athletic value of the racers, but also - I should say especially - talents that the messengers on wheels actually have to make use of in their job: cleverness, boldness, resourcefulness.
And is this not what this special race is all about?
To transport news-rags from one point to another, in the shortest possible time, using all the tricks, anything which will help to resolve the problem.
It is that which Albert Birot, better than all his comrades, accomplished. He therefore has the right to the admiration of crowds - and the recognition of the readers greedy to feed on the daily news.
The champion of the cyclo-porteurs, is it not, in reality, a Critérium of D.I.Y.?
Albert Birot and Mme. Trébis both finish with a smile!
Albert Birot, the brilliant victor, is not unknown to followers of the Petite Reine, for he joins his qualities as a cyclo-porteur, with those of an excellent amateur road-racer. And if, in this last category, he has not won the rank of Champion yet, it is no less true there that his palmares proves eloquently that this young man has serious qualities. Let us not forget of course that Birot is a young person in all senses of the term.
Parisien of the 20th arrondissement, Albert Birot came into the world not 20 years ago, to be exact, he was added to the list in the census office on 6 september 1907.
Like every young person, he felt drawn towards the bike and, at the age of 14, he made his debut in the tough speciality the "as" of which he would join 5 years later.
In this epoch, the cycling sections of the sports newspapers had no more diligent reader than the young Albert. and, by reading reports of the feats of his elders, the inevitable occurred!
At the age of 17, he received his beginner's licence and, under the colours of the V.C. 20e, he presented his arms to the interclub races of the Paris region.
This first year of racing could not be any more encouraging, our young hero finishing 10 times in the top 5. Not satisfied with that, he triumphed in the prix Rovel-Eliver (beginners category), not succumbing to Thomas who was at this instant one of our brightest hopes.
Next year - we are therefore in 1925 - he graduates to category 4 and registers with l'Association Sportive des Transports where, together with his friend Gérin, he particularly distinguishes himself. First of all, he starts the season triumphantly by recording the best time of the Tournament Raspail, the nice race of our friends of the V.C.A.C ., where our readers may still remember, about 800 racers registered. This forced the organizers to hold their race in 2 parts, of which Birot won his.
In the Prix Berson, our man has a rather serious fall, which compels him to rest for some time. We re-find him on the occasion of the Easter holidays, where he makes a doubled, triumphant blow, in effect, on Sunday in the Challenge Pascal and capturing the following Monday, the prix Simon-Juquin. Absolutely restored now, he continues to post very good results, notably winning the Prix Royal-France Signor and the Prix Chariot 8 days later. This is more than he needs to move up to third category. But this does not upset him, because after a 5th place he captures successively the Prix W.D.S. and the Prix Girardin.
1926 finds him in the second category, licensed under the C.S.I.
But, initially ill, he acheives no notable results. Then, crashing during a period of growth, he is forced to interrupt his training, and when he can resume, the season is almost past.
He finishes, however, fourth in the Prix du Perreux behind Ch. Wambst and Ray and third in the prix de Lagny behind Chevreaux and R. Driancourt.
In the Grand Prix de La Pédale, he was forced to abandon, victim of too many punctures.
This year, in the colors of Halles Sportives, equipped by Rols, he definitely hopes to resume the list of his successes.
It is grace which we wish to this young racer, who, again and again, has displayed a very good disposition.
Ad for Hutchinson tires, ridden by the winner, Birot
1. BIROT Albert (Paris-Sport), on a Rols bicycle, Hutchinson tires, covering about 27 km in 57 minutes 19 seconds. Average speed: 25.266 km/h.
2. Bernard (Le Soir), in 57 m 43 s
3. Vizet (Paris-Sport), in 58 m 29 s
4. Tissot (Daily Mail)
5. Denizot (Le Soir)
6. Lenoir (Paris-Sport)
7. Chazal (La Presse)
8. Freson (Le Temps
9. Lefeuvre (l'Intransigeant)
10. Ferradou (Paris-Midi)
11. Ragu (New-York Herald); 12. Dutol (Hachette); 13. Tison (l'Intransigeant); 14. Lorgeou (Le Petit Parisien); 15. Linck (La Presse); 16. Dagny (Le Petit Parisien); 17. Pruvost (La Presse); 18. Tresse (La Presse); 19. Cordonnaire (Le Soir); 20. Jolly (Paris-Sport);
21. Challiot (La Presse); 22. Fournier (Paris-Midi); 23. Crost (Paris-Sport); 24. Lebriseaux (Paris-Sport); 25. Talé (La Liberté); 26. Labesse (Le Capital); 27. Monnier (Paris-Sport); 28. Groutard (l'Intransigeant); 29. Argulaud (l'Intransigeant); 30. Basset (Hachette);
31. Philippe (Le Soir); 32. Leinault (La Presse); 33. Schwardz (Hachette); 34. Seiller (Hachette); 35. Tortuaux (l'Intransigeant); 36. Rolnet (l'Intransigeant); 37. Arnault (Le Soir); 38. Huan (l'Intransigeant); 39. Morlot (Paris-Midi); 40. Bibi-Roubi (l'Information);
41. Bonnet (Paris-Midi); 42. Bussard (Paris-Midi); 43. Etchebarrre (La Liberté); 44. Roin (Le Soir); 45. Diendonné (Paris-Midi); 46. Chevalier (La Liberté); 47. Paviotte (Paris-Midi); 48. Froment (l'Intransigeant); 49. Sueur (l'Intransigeant); 50. Fauchois (l'Intransigeant);
51. Legros (Le Soir); 52. Hubert (La Presse); 53. Tuffon (l'Intransigeant); 54. (l'Intransigeant); 55. Bergin (Le Temps); 56. Roinet (l'Intransigeant); 57. Atkinson (Paris-Midi); 58. Fabre (l'Intransigeant); 59. Patoux (l'Information); 60. Marais (Paris-Sport);
61. Magret (l'Intransigeant); 62. Mme Suzanne Trébis (Le Capital); 63. Vialet (Le Fl. Financier); 64. Vergnot (l'Intransigeant); 65. Roville (La Presse); 66. Marion (l'Intransigeant); 67. Raphaël (La Presse); 68. Bauchot (New-York Herald); 69. Blousse (l'Information); 70. Espinous (Coopérative des Porteurs);
71. Deshayes (La Presse); 72. Vittecoq (Le Capital); 73. Thomas (l'Information); 74. Morlet (Paris-Midi); 75. Moreau (Paris-Midi); 76. Jousset (l'Information); 77. Gillet (l'Intransigeant); 78. Ducloux (Revue Vendre); 79. Lasar (Cote Desfossés); 80. Pecout (Le Soir);
81. Berthelin (Le Petit Parisien); 82. Bach (Paris-Times); 83. Botry (La Presse); 84. Guillon (Coopérative); 85. Hespel (Hachette); 86. Puchet (La Presse); 87. Decq (Le Temps); 88. Rolland (l'Information); 89. Agard (La Presse); 90. Cave (La Liberté);
91. Mme Conrad (Aérauto); 92. Mme Mourra (Paris-Sport); 93. Jeunet (l'Information); 94. Birot Marius (Le Soir); 95. Prévost (Paris-Sport); 96. Collardelle (Le Temps); 97. Blanchard (La Presse); 98. Romano (l'Intransigeant); 99. Hervy (Le Capital); 100. Bignebat (Le Soir);
101. Borlemont (Paris-Midi); 102. Irol (Le Petit Parisien); 103. Perin (Le Capital); 104. Codan (Le Capital); 105. Michaud (Paris-Midi); 106. Dumand (Le Soir); 107. Saint-Galmier (Le Capital); 108. Vesseron (Le Petit Parisien); 109. Martin (Paris-Midi); 110. Menneguin (Le Soir);
111. Camelet (l'Information); 112. Clément (Paris-Presse); 113. Mme Dusetier (La Presse); 114. Decleux (Le Soir); 115. Husson (La Presse); 116. Picard (Coopérative); 117. Darlot (Le Soir); 118. Tuet (Cote Desfossés); 119. Deshaye Pierre (La Liberté); 120. Courtois (Coopérative);
121. Mme Michaud (La Presse); 122. Mme Lemasson (La Presse); 123. Darlot (Coopérative); 124. Peyroux (l'Intransigeant); 125. Delem (Le Soir); 126. Belloin (Coopérative); 127. Loye (Paris-Midi); 128. Dupuis (Le Capital); 129. Gary (La Presse); 130. Gueroult (l'Intransigeant);
131. Jupin (l'Information); 132. Hoel (l'Intransigeant); 133. Mme Favier (Le Soir); 134. Favier (Le Fl. Financier); 135. Veillat (Paris-Midi); 136. Delautre (l'Information); 137. Libès (l'Intransigeant); 138. Mme Crost (Paris-Sport);139. Lebret (La Liberté); 140. Lemoine (Coopérative);
141. Barthou (Coopérative); 142. Cabrol (Paris-Midi); 143. Devers (l'Information); 144. Thierry (l'Intransigeant)
1. Mme Suzanne TRÉBIS, on a La Ninette bicycle
2. Mme Conrad; 3. Mme Mourra; 4. Mme Dusetier; 5. Mme Michaud; 6. Mme Lemasson; etc...
1. CROST; 2. Morlot; 3. Fauchois
1. LORGEAU
1. Paris-Sport, 30 points
2. Le Soir, 57 points (best placing)
3. La Presse, 57 points
4. l'Intransigeant, 79 points
5. Messageries Hachette, 109 points
6. Paris-Midi, 112 points
7. La Liberté, 204 points
8. l'Information, 211 points
9. Le Temps, 246 points
10. Le Capital, 253 points
11. Le Petit Parisien, 350 points
12. Coopérative, 390 points
Paris-Sport won this challenge for the second consecutive time.
Ad for Yellow chains, ridden by the winner, Birot
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