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Okumaya devam et...
← Previous revision | Revision as of 06:36, 4 May 2024 |
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| | amateuryears1 = 1903 | | amateuryears1 = 1903 |
| | amateurteam1 = UV Fléchoise | | amateurteam1 = UV Fléchoise |
| | proyears1 = 1905-1908 | | proyears1 = 1905–1908 |
| | proteam1 = [[Alcyon (cycling team)|Alcyon]] | | proteam1 = [[Alcyon (cycling team)|Alcyon]] |
| | proyears2 = 1909-1910 | | proyears2 = 1909–1910 |
| | proteam2 = individual | | proteam2 = individual |
| | proyears3 = 1911 | | proyears3 = 1911 |
| | proteam3 = J.B. Louvet-Dunlop | | proteam3 = J.B. Louvet-Dunlop |
| | proyears4 = 1912-1919 | | proyears4 = 1912–1919 |
| | proteam4 = individual | | proteam4 = individual |
| }} | }} |
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| == Professional racer == | == Professional racer == |
| === A benchmark in track racing (1905-1907) === | === A benchmark in track racing (1905–1907) === |
| In 1905, Germain, then a third category professional racer, established himself as one of the best cyclists in his region. On the Fléchois velodrome on March 26, he won the speed event, the 45-lap race behind the bike, and the bonus race, a domination he repeated on April 24, when he won the Sarthe departmental speed championship, held on the same track, as well as the 25 km race and the bonus race. At the end of the summer, he scored two further successes, with the Grand Prix de [[Tours]] on September 9 and the Grand Prix de [[Montluçon]] the following day, both in the middle-distance race.<ref name=":3">{{Harvtxt|Weecxsteen|1991|p=104}}</ref> He also distinguished himself in more modest competitions, such as the 4-kilometer cantonal race he won in Verron in early October 5,<ref name=":3" /> or at folklore events: the Pinder Circus was visiting La Flèche, and Germain competed with several Fléchois amateurs on the “Canadian track”, a 6.5-meter-diameter construction of wooden rungs spaced ten centimeters apart and inclined at 75 degrees. After an unsuccessful first attempt, he achieved the best performance of the participants, completing eight laps of the track.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Potron|1999|p=120}}</ref> | In 1905, Germain, then a third category professional racer, established himself as one of the best cyclists in his region. On the Fléchois velodrome on March 26, he won the speed event, the 45-lap race behind the bike, and the bonus race, a domination he repeated on April 24, when he won the Sarthe departmental speed championship, held on the same track, as well as the 25 km race and the bonus race. At the end of the summer, he scored two further successes, with the Grand Prix de [[Tours]] on September 9 and the Grand Prix de [[Montluçon]] the following day, both in the middle-distance race.<ref name=":3">{{Harvtxt|Weecxsteen|1991|p=104}}</ref> He also distinguished himself in more modest competitions, such as the 4-kilometer cantonal race he won in Verron in early October 5,<ref name=":3" /> or at folklore events: the Pinder Circus was visiting La Flèche, and Germain competed with several Fléchois amateurs on the “Canadian track”, a 6.5-meter-diameter construction of wooden rungs spaced ten centimeters apart and inclined at 75 degrees. After an unsuccessful first attempt, he achieved the best performance of the participants, completing eight laps of the track.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Potron|1999|p=120}}</ref> |
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| Germain made his return to the road at the end of September with [[Paris–Tours]]. His eighteenth-place finish was anecdotal, just as his last few outings on the track were hardly conclusive: he failed twice in his attempt to set the record for the hour without a trainer at La Flèche.<ref name=":10" /> In early December, however, he was selected for the Six Days of New York, one of the world's most famous races, where he teamed up with British runner Reginald Shirley. In the 50th minute of the race, Shirley caused a heavy crash when he passed the baton to Germain, who was hit in the right leg. The duo conceded a lap to the other teams, and despite Germain's best efforts, were unable to catch up. At the end of the first day of racing, Shirley retired, suffering from stomach pains. Germain was joined by the Italian Egisto Carapezzi, whose partner had also been forced to withdraw. By the regulations, the new crew received a one-lap penalty, but this was nothing compared to the number of laps Carapezzi regularly conceded during his stints. The duo were 21 laps down after 34 hours of racing. Redoubling their efforts to overcome the deficit, the two men suffered a breakdown at the same time and interrupted their race for two hours. At the end of the fifth day, Carapezzi gave up, and despite Germain's desire to continue the race, the judges deemed him too retarded to continue, his deficit having risen to almost 900 laps.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Weecxsteen|1991|pp=121–122}}</ref> | Germain made his return to the road at the end of September with [[Paris–Tours]]. His eighteenth-place finish was anecdotal, just as his last few outings on the track were hardly conclusive: he failed twice in his attempt to set the record for the hour without a trainer at La Flèche.<ref name=":10" /> In early December, however, he was selected for the Six Days of New York, one of the world's most famous races, where he teamed up with British runner Reginald Shirley. In the 50th minute of the race, Shirley caused a heavy crash when he passed the baton to Germain, who was hit in the right leg. The duo conceded a lap to the other teams, and despite Germain's best efforts, were unable to catch up. At the end of the first day of racing, Shirley retired, suffering from stomach pains. Germain was joined by the Italian Egisto Carapezzi, whose partner had also been forced to withdraw. By the regulations, the new crew received a one-lap penalty, but this was nothing compared to the number of laps Carapezzi regularly conceded during his stints. The duo were 21 laps down after 34 hours of racing. Redoubling their efforts to overcome the deficit, the two men suffered a breakdown at the same time and interrupted their race for two hours. At the end of the fifth day, Carapezzi gave up, and despite Germain's desire to continue the race, the judges deemed him too retarded to continue, his deficit having risen to almost 900 laps.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Weecxsteen|1991|pp=121–122}}</ref> |
| === Middle-distance specialist (1910-1913) === | === Middle-distance specialist (1910–1913) === |
| [[File:Achille Germain 1910.png|left|thumb|Achille Germain in 1910.]] | [[File:Achille Germain 1910.png|left|thumb|Achille Germain in 1910.]] |
| At the beginning of 1910, Germain once again gave priority to the track. He obtained convincing results at the local level but struggled to confirm his performance in the major Parisian events. In May, however, he competed in the French road championships with coaches. Dropped after the first few kilometers, he eventually came tenth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1910-05-09 |title=L'Auto-vélo : automobilisme, cyclisme, athlétisme, yachting, aérostation, escrime, hippisme / directeur Henri Desgrange |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4625699j |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=Gallica |language=EN}}</ref> After a detour to the track and a success in [[Brest, France|Brest]] over 25 kilometers at the expense of César Simar, he returned to the road to take tenth place in Paris-Le Mans.<ref name=":11">{{Harvtxt|Weecxsteen|1991|pp=123–125}}</ref> During the summer, Germain took several places of honor on the velodromes, coming second in the Grand Prix d'inauguration du vélodrome d'Angers, the Challenge Cointreau in the same town, and the Huit heures de Tours, which earned him selection for the Bol d'or. Ill and suffering from the pace set by Léon Georget, he retired shortly after the halfway mark. As in the previous year, he was selected to take part in the Six Days of New York, this time in partnership with the Belgian Verlinden. The two men never found their rhythm and retired after just eight hours of racing.<ref name=":11" /> | At the beginning of 1910, Germain once again gave priority to the track. He obtained convincing results at the local level but struggled to confirm his performance in the major Parisian events. In May, however, he competed in the French road championships with coaches. Dropped after the first few kilometers, he eventually came tenth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1910-05-09 |title=L'Auto-vélo : automobilisme, cyclisme, athlétisme, yachting, aérostation, escrime, hippisme / directeur Henri Desgrange |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4625699j |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=Gallica |language=EN}}</ref> After a detour to the track and a success in [[Brest, France|Brest]] over 25 kilometers at the expense of César Simar, he returned to the road to take tenth place in Paris-Le Mans.<ref name=":11">{{Harvtxt|Weecxsteen|1991|pp=123–125}}</ref> During the summer, Germain took several places of honor on the velodromes, coming second in the Grand Prix d'inauguration du vélodrome d'Angers, the Challenge Cointreau in the same town, and the Huit heures de Tours, which earned him selection for the Bol d'or. Ill and suffering from the pace set by Léon Georget, he retired shortly after the halfway mark. As in the previous year, he was selected to take part in the Six Days of New York, this time in partnership with the Belgian Verlinden. The two men never found their rhythm and retired after just eight hours of racing.<ref name=":11" /> |
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| As in the previous year, Germain teamed up with Édouard Léonard for the Six Jours de Paris, which started on January 12, 1914. After Léonard dropped out on the second day of the race, Germain teamed up with Charles Meurger and came within two laps of the leaders. Le Fléchois kept the duo afloat, but Meurger, more of a sprint specialist, conceded several laps and eventually retired after the 61st hour. Germain continued the race with a third team-mate, Alfred Beyl, but it was he who finally retired after 102 hours, having won numerous primes.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Weecxsteen|1991|p=138}}</ref> After a series of fine performances at the Paris meetings and a major success at the Grand Prix du Printemps de [[Limoges]], he achieved the best result of his career at the French middle-distance championship on July 19, finishing third in the event, won once again by Paul Guignard.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Weecxsteen|1991|pp=139–140}}</ref> | As in the previous year, Germain teamed up with Édouard Léonard for the Six Jours de Paris, which started on January 12, 1914. After Léonard dropped out on the second day of the race, Germain teamed up with Charles Meurger and came within two laps of the leaders. Le Fléchois kept the duo afloat, but Meurger, more of a sprint specialist, conceded several laps and eventually retired after the 61st hour. Germain continued the race with a third team-mate, Alfred Beyl, but it was he who finally retired after 102 hours, having won numerous primes.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Weecxsteen|1991|p=138}}</ref> After a series of fine performances at the Paris meetings and a major success at the Grand Prix du Printemps de [[Limoges]], he achieved the best result of his career at the French middle-distance championship on July 19, finishing third in the event, won once again by Paul Guignard.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Weecxsteen|1991|pp=139–140}}</ref> |
| === World War I and end of career (1914-1919) === | === World War I and end of career (1914–1919) === |
| A few days later, the First World War broke out and, like his competitors, Germain was mobilized. Assigned to the 317th Infantry Regiment as a corporal cyclist, he was in charge of transporting mail by bicycle. During the war, however, he took part in several races on leave. On November 19, 1916, he took part in a 400-lap American-style race at the Vélodrome d'Hiver. Teaming up with Marius Chocque, he came tenth. In December 1917, on the same track, he won the Prix de la Capitale over 30 kilometers, and the following year he won the Prix d'Avril middle-distance race at the Vel' d'Hiv'.<ref name=":15">{{Harvtxt|Weecxsteen|1991|pp=141–142}}</ref> He then beat a Belgian runner in a middle-distance match held at the Beaulieu velodrome in Le Mans.<ref name=":15" /> | A few days later, the First World War broke out and, like his competitors, Germain was mobilized. Assigned to the 317th Infantry Regiment as a corporal cyclist, he was in charge of transporting mail by bicycle. During the war, however, he took part in several races on leave. On November 19, 1916, he took part in a 400-lap American-style race at the Vélodrome d'Hiver. Teaming up with Marius Chocque, he came tenth. In December 1917, on the same track, he won the Prix de la Capitale over 30 kilometers, and the following year he won the Prix d'Avril middle-distance race at the Vel' d'Hiv'.<ref name=":15">{{Harvtxt|Weecxsteen|1991|pp=141–142}}</ref> He then beat a Belgian runner in a middle-distance match held at the Beaulieu velodrome in Le Mans.<ref name=":15" /> |
Okumaya devam et...