La Sportive (cycling team)
Encyclopedia
La Sportive is a former French
professional cycling team
from 1918 to 1921. It won the team classification
in the Tour de France
three times, in 1919–1921.
s in the early 20th century suffered and some were destroyed during World War I
. There was little money to sponsor a team so several businesses ran a joint team called La Sportive. to keep the sport alive. Alcyon
, Armor, Automoto
, Clément, La Française, Gladiator, Griffon, Hurtu
, Labor, Liberator, Peugeot
and Thomann are said to have equipped half the peloton
and to have controlled the riders' salaries. La Sportive won the Tour de France in 1919, 1920, and 1921 with Firmin Lambot
, Philippe Thys
and Léon Scieur
. Eugène Christophe
was in a grey La Sportive jersey when, leading the 1919 Tour de France
, Henri Desgrange
gave him the Tour's first maillot jaune..
The consortium disappeared in 1922 when the companies re-started their own teams. They included Peugeot
, the Automoto and the Alycon. During the three years of the La Sportive consortium, the member companies were rebuilding their teams and it is possible these riders rode for these teams as well as La Sportive. In 1925, the old situation of cyclists riding in sponsored teams returned to the Tour de France.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
professional cycling team
Cycling team
A cycling team is a group of cyclists who join a team or are acquired and train together to compete in bicycle races whether recreational or professional - and the supporting personnel...
from 1918 to 1921. It won the team classification
Team classification
The team classification is a prize given in the Tour de France to the best team in the race. It has been awarded since 1930, and the calculation has changed throughout the years.-Calculation:...
in the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
three times, in 1919–1921.
History
Many bicycle factories that sponsored cycling teamCycling team
A cycling team is a group of cyclists who join a team or are acquired and train together to compete in bicycle races whether recreational or professional - and the supporting personnel...
s in the early 20th century suffered and some were destroyed during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. There was little money to sponsor a team so several businesses ran a joint team called La Sportive. to keep the sport alive. Alcyon
Alcyon
The Alcyon was a French bicycle, automobile and motorcycle manufacturer between 1890 and 1957.- Origins :Alcyon originated from about 1890 when Edmond Gentil started the manufacture of bicycles in Neuilly, Seine. In 1902, this was complemented by motorcycle production and in 1906, the first cars...
, Armor, Automoto
Automoto
Automoto was a French motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1902, which joined with the Peugot group in 1930 and was fully absorbed by 1962. Prior to World War II Automoto sourced engines from Chaise, Zurcher, J.A.P., and Villers. AMC engines were also used after 1945....
, Clément, La Française, Gladiator, Griffon, Hurtu
Hurtu
Hurtu was a pioneering French car made by Diligeon et Cie based in Albert, Somme from 1896 to 1930. As well as cars, the company also made sewing machines and bicycles....
, Labor, Liberator, Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
and Thomann are said to have equipped half the peloton
Peloton
The peloton , field, bunch or pack is the large main group of riders in a road bicycle race. Riders in a group save energy by riding close near other riders...
and to have controlled the riders' salaries. La Sportive won the Tour de France in 1919, 1920, and 1921 with Firmin Lambot
Firmin Lambot
Firmin Lambot was a Belgian bicycle racer who twice won the Tour de France.Born in the small town of Florennes, Lambot worked as a saddler. He worked 12 hours a day, starting at 6am. He bought his first bicycle at 17 and began riding 50 km a day to and from work. His first race was in a local...
, Philippe Thys
Philippe Thys
Philippe Thys was a Belgian cyclist and three times winner of the Tour de France.-Professional career:...
and Léon Scieur
Léon Scieur
Léon Scieur was a Belgian cyclist who won the 1921 Tour de France, along with stages 3 and 10. His first great victory was the 1920 Liège–Bastogne–Liège; he won a stage and finished fourth in the 1919 and 1920 Tours de France.-Origins:Léon Scieur was the son of a farmer in Florennes, near...
. Eugène Christophe
Eugene Christophe
Eugène Christophe was a French road bicycle racer and pioneer of cyclo-cross. He was a professional from 1904 until 1926. In 1919 he became the first rider to wear the yellow jersey of the Tour de France .Eugène Christophe rode 11 Tours de France and finished eight...
was in a grey La Sportive jersey when, leading the 1919 Tour de France
1919 Tour de France
The 1919 Tour de France was the 13th Tour de France, taking place from 29 June to 27 July 1919 over a total distance of . It was the first Tour de France after World War I, and was won by Firmin Lambot...
, Henri Desgrange
Henri Desgrange
Henri Desgrange was a French bicycle racer and sports journalist. He set 12 world track cycling records, including the hour record of 35.325 kilometres on 11 May 1893. He was the first organiser of the Tour de France.-Origins:Henri Desgrange was one of two brothers, twins...
gave him the Tour's first maillot jaune..
The consortium disappeared in 1922 when the companies re-started their own teams. They included Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
, the Automoto and the Alycon. During the three years of the La Sportive consortium, the member companies were rebuilding their teams and it is possible these riders rode for these teams as well as La Sportive. In 1925, the old situation of cyclists riding in sponsored teams returned to the Tour de France.
Selected victories
- Tour de FranceTour de FranceThe Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
General ClassificationGeneral ClassificationThe general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
1919, 1920, 1921 Second overall 1920 and 1921 Road Race championship 1919 Road Race Championship 1919 - Paris–Roubaix 1919, 1920
- Liège–Bastogne–Liège 1920, 1921
- Giro di Lombardia 1920
- Bordeaux–Paris 1919
- Paris–Brussels 1919, 1920
- Tour of BelgiumTour of BelgiumThe Tour of Belgium is a four-day bicycle race which is held annually in Belgium.It was held annually between 1908 and 1981, except during both world wars. Between 1982 and 1990 several of races were not organised and none at all during the decade 1991 to 2001...
1919, 1920 - Bordeaux–Paris-Bordeaux 1920
- Paris–Brest–Paris 1921