Was James Moore the winner of the very first bicycle race in the world or not - a question that remains open to this day. It is known for certain that Moore had a chance to take part in one of the first races in the world - and many people remember his brilliant performance at the Paris-Rouen race; however, even if Moore's victory was not the first in the world, it will not affect the cyclist's fame.
James Moore is an English cyclist. In many sources, he is called the winner of the first official bicycle race in the world.
James Moore's childhood
The famous James Moore was born on January 14, 1849 in Long Brackland, Suffolk, UK. When the boy was only four years old, his family, for some unknown reason, moved to Paris. Here James became friends with the Michaud family of blacksmiths who contributed to the history of cycling. Later it was one of the members of the Michaud family who came up with the idea to equip the bicycle with pedals. It is known that Moore already had a bicycle made by Michaud in 1865. His first "horse" by modern standards will seem completely unsuitable for riding - the bicycles of those times were called "bone shakers" for a reason. James Moore, however, liked the two-wheeled vehicle - he used it to carry out various errands of his father and clearly enjoyed the ride.
Winner of the first bicycle race in the world
By 1868, nineteen-year-old James Moore was already a member of the local cycling club. And on May 31, 1868, he took part in his first bicycle races. It is these races that are often called the first official races in the history of all cycling. The event began at three o'clock in the afternoon in the presence of all the Parisian aristocracy, who were in anticipation and delight of the very idea and the opportunity to see how these people compete with each other in strength and virtuosity.
The cycling race that made James Moore famous took place in the western part of Paris in France, in the Parisian park Saint-Claude. The racers had to cover a distance of one thousand two hundred meters along a gravel path to the park fountain and back. Many people wanted to try their hand - in those days in Paris, bicycles were quite popular, and competitions of various kinds were traditionally very successful. James pulled ahead already in the middle of the distance. He developed a truly impressive speed and came to the finish line in 3 minutes 50 seconds.
The race in the Saint-Claude park thundered not only throughout Paris - rumors about it spread throughout Europe. Soon, similar events were organized in other capitals. The bike that Moore won is still displayed in the museum in Ely, Cambridgeshire. Interestingly, a large part of it - including the wheels themselves - is made of wood.
The Saint-Cloud Cycling Race has sparked the public imagination and inspired the creativity of similar cycling events elsewhere. The first race in Great Britain was held the next day and the races were held on 18 July in Ghent, Belgium. Also in September, a race took place in Brno, the capital of Moravia, which marked the beginning of bicycle races in Central Europe.
Winner Paris - Rouen
The success of the creative event inspired the organizers to launch a larger project - and on November 7, 1869, a one hundred and thirty kilometers drive took place, from Paris to Rouen. James Moore also took part in this event - and again won a convincing victory. He finished in ten hours twenty-five minutes; the average speed of thirteen kilometers per hour is not serious by today's standards. This was due to poor road conditions, a very heavy bike and a lack of tires per se.
Biography
During the Franco-Prussian War, James Moore worked in an ambulance. Later he got a job at a French racehorse training center. In 1945, James Moore was awarded the Knight Commander of the Legion of Honor.
Until the very end of his days, James Moore was actively involved in sports. It is not known exactly when he returned to Britain; unknown to this day and the exact burial place of the body of the cyclist. James Moore died on July 17, 1935 at the age of eighty-six.
Victory denials
Throughout his life, James Moore truly believed that he had won the first bicycle race in the world; later, however, this was refuted. Critic Keizo Kobayashi has determined that at least five cycling competitions had taken place in France before Saint-Claude - and the fact that they did not receive such widespread publicity does not at all give James Moore the right to be named first.
Although this race won by James Moore is considered the first in history, the Dutch historian Benji Mazo claims that it was the second and that the first was won by a rider named Polocini. The favorite for the second run was François Drouet, who was the leader before. In the middle of the distance, James Moore took the lead, covering the distance, as they wrote, "with lightning speed" and won with a result of 3 minutes and 50 seconds amid enthusiastic shouts of the crowd. Moore and Polocini were awarded gold medals worth one hundred francs.
Museum exhibit
James Moore's winning bike is on display at the City Museum in Cambridgeshire. It has a diamond-shaped iron down tube, and the top tube and tires are made of flattened metal. The rest is made of wood, including the wheels. The rear wheel is thirty-one inches in diameter, the front is thirty-eight inches. The gear ratio is one to one because the pedals are connected to the front hub. The bike saddle was lost before it was returned to the UK.
