Flahaut is fed at Place de la Nation
The arrival in Montmartre of Mme. Trebis
Flahaut crosses the finish line
We announced last week that La Pèdale would organize, next January, the Championnat des Porteurs de Journaux, a race reserved for the "gars du Croissant" and which would consist of, in a more purely sporting way, some professional "exercises".
As one can imagine, this announcement created a sensation in the interested parties.
We immediately put ourselves to work so that this demonstration is the success which it deserves, from the point of view of both prizes and general interest. We have begun discussions on these topics, which have not borne fruit as of yet, but whose success we do not doubt.
We will thus return with more detail next week on the Championnat des Porteurs de Journaux. And the interested parties will not have lost by waiting!
The organization of the Championnat de distribution des Porteurs des Journaux is on course. A first contact took place with various journalistic personalities likely to help us give this race the grand nature which it deserves. The final regulations as well as the list of prizes is under development. We hope to announce them in our next issue.
Here, in the meantime, is the history of the championnat des porteurs:
It was Bourotte who wrote his name first in its palmares.
In 1906, it was the excellent criterium specialist Morel, who hit the jackpot, ahead of Maitron.
In 1907, Maupas (a real porteur) was kept in check by Weill. The same Maupas was second again in 1908, behind Moins. In 1909 and 1910, he could not take part in the championship, being in the army. It was Libeaud, our ex-criterium racer, who won in 1909 and Zimmer, the actual head of distribution of l'Intransigeant, who won in 1910.
In 1911, Maupas made a brilliant return, and defeated Derone, who had just won Paris-Trouville.
In 1912, Maupas won again, ahead of Brocco, the brother of national team member Maurice. He was beaten by Gerbaud in 1913. He won again in 1914, but was disqualified for changing his bicycle. It was Lorgeou, our old friend, who profited from this lucky break.
One finds the names of Gatier also, in the palmares, and of Border, which runs the racing department of Jean Thoman, and recently of the old man "Caillot" who won the veterans category and creates quite a stir in the world of the amateurs.
After the war, Fay won in 1920 and 1921 brought the victory of Flahaut.
As can see from the paragraphs above, Maupas, who has never possessed a U.V.F. license, through his knowledge of the porteur's trade, was able to appropriate an interesting number of places of honor.
Let us say, in passing, that the porteurs have a great attachment to George Parent, our great departed stayer, because he was, also, one of their own.
This resurrection of the Championnat was therefore necessary.
A very imposing list of prizes will come to reward the efforts of those workers which serve the thought by conveying it, with the contempt of the taxis, in the copies that we entrust to them.
A contest of "professional resourcefulness"
In our November 11th issue, we announced that, as proposed by the Coopérative des Porteurs, a proposition provoked by an article by our colloborator Ralph: the "Gars du Croissant", that we were going to develop, on a new foundation, a sort of Championship exclusively for porteurs de journaux.
Since that date, powerful assistance was offered to us, that we knew we had to accept, in the interest of the event and its future entrants.
The completely new type of our championship, of which the official title is "Critérium Cycliste des Porteurs de Journaux", was enticing to our fellows at l'Echo des Sports and l'Intransigeant who, showered us with most flattering compliments.
Particularly, l'Intransigeant, in the person of M. Lèon Bailby, promised us much more than a simple, almost friendly, competition, and we are sure to please the future contestants by announcing that the "Critérium des Porteurs de Journaux" will be set up and largely supplied by l'Intransigeant itself.
The Critérium is open to all porteurs, men or women, duly acknowledged to be qualified by a competent commission.
Three categories are proposed: open, women and veterans.
Naturally, there wil be a very imposing prize list, comprising a motorcycle,, 2 bicycles and more than five thousand francs in cash.
As we have already mentioned, the Critérium will unroll its adventures across the whole of Paris.
The start will be from rue Réaumur, in front of the office of l'Intran, from there, the racers will head to place Clichy before following a route which will follow the exterior boulevards closely, leading to Montmartre, to the Butte sacrée.
It is quite evident that our Critérium des Porteurs, veritable Champonship of resourcefulness, will not be a race of pure speed. Specifically, finals placings will be alloted in the order of arrival, but dependant on the competitors satisfying certain rules relating to the controls.
Of these there will be a dozen, at each of which the porteur will not only have to get a signature, but exchange the load of papers which he began the race with on his bike, which, of course, will be the bike he uses daily.
Finally, the proposed date is Sunday morning, the 31st of January.
In our next issue, we will give ample details, and instructions regarding the festivities.
A contest of "professional resourcefulness" organized by l'Intransigeant, with the help of l'Echo des Sports and La Pedale
A small history of the porteurs de journaux
The Critérium Cycliste des Porteurs de Journaux, organized by l'Intransigeant, with the help of l'Echo des Sports and La Pedale, will be held January 31. Those that the rain, snow, frost, and wind cannot prevent from fulfilling their duty in obscurity but effectively, those who are nicknamed "roule-toujours", will be honored in a few weeks. Has not the time come for their story to be told?
Let us establish the beginning of the epoch of the "roule-toujours" in 1890, rather than starting with the flood, because that would take far too long.
In 1890, therefore, means of transport for [plis], dispatches and newspapers, were reduced to the bare minimum, that is to say the legs of the porteurs.
Some companies found the means, however, to attract attention to themselves. Oldtimers remember a racer-walker, by the name of Comtal, who wore fancy dress as a jockey, with hat and riding crop, who left the Chamber of Deputies for the editorial staff of the newspapers. To go more quickly, he whipped his calves.
The newspaper Le Soir had two postilions mounted on ponies, but to tell the truth, they made more show than work.
Charles Terrot, glorious winner of Paris-Brest, the man that one finds at the beginning of all the manifestations of the vélocipede, was the first known cyclo-porteur, mounted on a "bi"; he founded a service of regular porterage. he is the star of a small group which includes Charles Hommey, ancient champion of the "bi" (Les Debats), Le Hérissé (La Patrie), Emile Karm (République Française), Joly, "longue barbe" (Agence Nationale).
These memorable matches [se engagent dans le transport de résultats.] The winners were not always the best-known champions.
For the election of Felix Faure (1895), a wild battle takes place between the porteurs on the Versailles-Paris course. Emile Karm is the first to arrive of his newspaper, but, like the soldier of Marathon, he collapses upon his arrival.
In this epoch, the grouping of cyclo-porteurs is called the "groupe des estafettes de la presse". To answer the question of superiority, they decide on a regular championship. It is run on a 50 kilometres course around Lac Daumesnil.
In 1895, Charles Hommey wins ahead of Feytau and Mangin. In 1896, Hommey again beats Feytau and Karm. In 1897, the race takes the name "Brassard de Estafettes", Paul Bourotte, who was champion of France and who is a notable cycle manufacturer today, beat Hommey, Mangin and Karm. Among cyclo-porteurs of the epoch, we find, would you believe, Gallot, the king of walkers, Ramogé, winner of the cross-country Belfort-Paris, Mourges, the head of sports in the prefecture of police.
In 1900, the championship was once again earned by Bourotte, in front of Palmieri and Considéré, on 50 kilometres around Longchamp. Bourotte will narrate for us shortly his win of 1900.
Of the primes!
Our friend Clément Lyon, chief of sales of the Daily Mail, tells us that his newspaper will give 30 francs to the best finisher of its team and 20 francs to the second.
They get ready...
The anticipation of the future racers is fevered. Perhaps never was a race received with so much joy and pleasure by those who are called to compete in it. The "roule-toujours" polish their weapons, discuss fiercely, study their tactics and the routing which they will have to follow. They know that routing is left up to the racers initiative, except what is obligatory. And that is what gives the Critérium Cycliste des Porteurs de Journaux the angle of a competition of professional "resourcefulness ".
The new entrants
WALTER (Jean), 22 years, Intransigeant
LAGNEAU (Georges), 23 years, Intransigeant
BASSET (René), 19 years, Paris-Soir
LEMOINE (Paulus-Eugene), 46 years, Coopérative
LIBED (Maurice), 43 years, Intransigeant
To get involved
Registration for the Critérium Cycliste des Porteurs de Journaux are accepted at the Cafe de la Grille, 121, rue Montmartre. A commitment fee of 5 Frances is due, in order to assure perfect regularity of the registration. but it will be reimbursed to those who start.
A contest of "professional resourcefulness" organized by l'Intransigeant, with the help of l'Echo des Sports and La Pedale
The Critérium Cycliste des Porteurs de Journaux is actively being prepared by l'Intransigeant, with the help of l'Echo des Sports and La Pedale.
Everything leads us to hope that on January 31st the race will be a tremendous success.
Registrations are rushing in. Prizes are also. You may read a list of registrants in today's issue.
Of the numerous cyclo-porteurs who figure in the history of cycling.
In recent articles, we described who were the first porteurs de journaux, and how this honorable profession was organized.
Today we shall make an incursion into the present by listing current bicycle racers who were or who are still porteurs de journaux. And we shall borrow some of our information from an article by our friend Pierre Labric, published in Aérauto.
Souchard, French road champion, is a cycliste for l'Agence Radio; Blanc-Garin, at l'Intransigeant; Faudet, at l'Agence Radio; Charles Péllisier, at Bulletin Les Halles; Flahaut, at Paris-Soir (he is still there); Lacquehay, at la Société Générale; Ville at l'Agence Radio; Pathey and Lemee at l'Agence Fournier; Mantelet, at l'Agence Radio; Vuge, for Monde Illusté; Travaden, at l'Agence Fournier.
Among the amateur racers, Lenoir is at l'Intransigeant; Rodier at l'Ere Nouvelle; Saunois at l'Agence Radio; Caillon and Tozzi remain at l'Agence Fournier.
Of course, we speak at the same time of porteurs de journaux and cyclists. But it seemed interesting to us to indicate those who used their bike on road and path, to look for success on the track or in races on the road.
The new primes.
We already know how amazing the list of prizes and primes is. January 31st will be one day of general share-out for our brave porteurs.
And see how our big associate in information, the Petit Parisien, makes a generous move. the Petit Parisien offers for the test of professional resourcefulness a challenge to valor of 1,200 francs. This challenge is given to the victorious team, a classication given by points. Here is the principle by which this challenge will be awarded. We shall give the complete regulations later, but from now on we hold and address to the Petit Parisien the most warm-hearted gratitude of organizers and competitors. So not only the struggle for the individual classification will be strong, but in solidarity as well riders will be able to manifest themselves for their best day.
Our associate La Liberté has decided to award the following primes to racers from La Liberté:
To the highest placed porteur: 300 francs; to the second highest: 200 francs; to the third: 100 francs; to the fourth: 50 francs; to the first of the veteran porteurs of La Liberté: 150 francs; to the second: 100 francs; to the third: 50 francs; to the first of the female porteurs of La Liberté: 50 francs.
As well, M. Georges Poisson, head of sales for La Liberté, offers 50 francs to the top ranked porteur more than 50 years old, and the same sum to the highest ranked porteur under 17 years old.
They number more than one hundred...
Undoubtedly, a tremendous success waits for the Critérium Cycliste des Porteurs de Journaux organized by l'Intransigeant, with the help of l'Echo des Sports and La Pedale. January 31st, 1926 will be a date to remember in the life of the brave "roule-toujours".
At this point, the first one hundred registrations is not only attained, but roundly exceeded. and we are still three weeks from the race! Quite promising!
The new registrants
Here are the latest registrations which we have accepted and recorded, subject to their review by the technical committee.
GILMAN (Fréderic), 29 years old, Paris-Soir
LELANDAIS (Rouquin), 26 years old, l'Intransigeant
PICARD (Roger), 29 years old, l'Intransigeant
FEVENET (André), 19 years old, Paris-Soir
VILLERMET (André), 16 years old, La Liberté
EPINAT (Arthur), 32 years old, Presse
TUFFAN (Maurice), 27 years old, l'Intransigeant
CROST (Anselme), 35 years old, Paris-Soir
LACHAPELLE, 37 years old, Temps
Mlle AQUESTAZ (Nana), 15 years old, l'Intransigeant
MARLOT (Henri), 34 years old, Temps
BLANCHARD (Emile), 25 years old, Paris-Sport
DUMONTIER (Lucien), 45 years old, La Liberté
ROGER (S.), 36 years old, Paris-Midi
THOMAS (Jules), 33 years old, l'Intransigeant
MEUNGUIN (Albert), 23 years old, Cooperative
ESPINOUS (Antoine), 30 years old, Cooperative
DEOLECKER (Charles), 41 years old, Cooperative
CARLOT (Pierre), 27 years old, l'Intransigeant
FOSSE (Georges), 22 years old, l'Intransigeant
BEBANGER (Toto), 23 years old, Temps
PALMIERI (L&eactue;on), 50 years old, La Liberté
KELLER (Auguste), 32 years old, l'Expéditive
TEISSIER (Georges), 24 years old, Messageries Hachette
LECOURANT (Raymond), 17 years old, Paris-Soir
These registrations are recorded subject to their approval by the technical committee.
To sign up
Registration for the Critérium Cycliste des Porteurs de Journaux are accepted at the Cafe de la Grille, 121, rue Montmartre. A commitment fee of 5 Frances is due, in order to assure perfect regularity of the registration. but it will be reimbursed to those who start.
A contest of "professional resourcefulness" organized by l'Intransigeant, with the help of l'Echo des Sports and La Pedale
The "Roi de la Pédale" will give the starting signal
The cyclo-porteurs will hold their Critérium Sunday, January 31st, thanks to the close cooperation of l'Intransigeant, l'Echo des Sports and la Pédale. They will be numerous at the start, rue Réaumur, in front of the office of l'Intransigeant. they will be given flight by the one who has just been crowned "roi des comiques français du cinéma", by the one who starred in le Roi de la Pédale, who is such a great success in the Eldorado, by Georges Biscot, to put it briefly. "Biscotin" will hold the gun. his smile, his Parisian verve, the sympathies he has in sports circles will fit perfectly in with the decor.
A slight change to the rules
The future racers are asked to duly note the one light modification to the rules. It concerns article 6, the last paragraph of which has been reviewed and changed. And so that no one misses it, we show here, in full, the new text of this article.
ART. 6 - The start will be at rue Réaumur and the finish will be at place Constantin-Pecqueur. Fixed controls will be at the following locations: place Clichy, porte Maillot, Grenelle-Motte-Picquet, Italie, Nation, Belleville-Temple, Villette-Jean-Jaurès, place Blanche.
At these controls, the racers are required to exchange the token they acquired at the start, or at the previous control, for a new token, endowed with a special mark. The organizing newspaper will introduce the form and dimension of the tokens in time, so that the racers can take any useful measures to avoid the risk of loss. Any porteur who shows up at a control with a token which does not match the one he ought to be holding, will be immediately disqualified.
In addition the racers will carry with them a load of 15 kg, which they may not discard under any circumstances, from start to finish.
The persons concerned are firmly asked to draw inspiration from these new rules.
124 registrants at this point
Here are the latest registrations which we have accepted and recorded, subject to their review by the technical committee.
DAVESNES (Georges), 34 years old, la Liberte
JUNQUA (Pierre), 39 years old, Intransigeant
DANIEL, 43 years old, Daily Mail
RAVIOTTE (Paul), 25 years old, Paris-Times
BARLEMONT (Marcel), 26 years old, Paris-Soir
NOIRET (René), 29 years old, Intransigeant
BATEUX (Emile), 25 years old, Paris-Soir
PIERROT, 30 years old, Le Temps
BAUCHOT (Raymond), 29 years old, New York Herald
The full list consists of 124 names.
To sign up
Registration for the Critérium Cycliste des Porteurs de Journaux are accepted at the Cafe de la Grille, 121, rue Montmartre. A commitment fee of 5 Francs is due, in order to assure perfect regularity of the registration. but it will be reimbursed to those who start.
The prize list
Open category
1st place, a 175cc Alcyon motorcycle;
2nd place, 1000 francs;
3rd place, 600 francs;
4th place, 500 francs;
5th place, 400 francs;
then 300, 200, 150, 4 times 100 an 8 times 50 francs.
Women's category
1st place, a J.-B. Louvet bicycle;
2nd place, 150 francs;
3rd place, 100 francs;
4th place, 50 francs;
5th place, 50 francs;
plus a souvenir for all finishers.
Veterans category
1st place, an Automoto bicycle;
2nd place, 200 francs;
3rd place, 150 francs;
4th place, 100 francs;
5th and 6th places: 50 francs each
As can be seen, the porteuses and porteurs de journaux will only have the difficulty of choosing... which place.
The new primes...
La "maison des coureurs", Rosine Picquart, could not help but be interested in the announcement of the Critérium Cycliste des Porteurs de Journaux. They have signed up for a prime of 100 francs, to be given to the most senior of the porteuses which finish.
La Maison Combrias-Dubessey, 304, rue de Paris, in Montreuil, offers a prime de 50 francs, to be given to the youngest competitor finishing within the time limit.
Our friend, the pleasant constructeur Uldry, who knows and appreciates the cyclo-porteurs, and furthermore supplies the big news-agencies Havas, Radio, Fournier, etc, etc, gives to the youngest and best-placed racer, a frame - built to the winner's measurements.
On the other hand, three "Cyclone" pumps are given by the sportsman Lacquit, maker of this apparatus, which has revolutionized road races, this season.
Many thanks to those who have donated.
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Flahaut is fed at Place de la Nation |
The arrival in Montmartre of Mme. Trebis |
Flahaut crosses the finish line |
The happy winners of the Critérium des Porteurs de Journaux, Mme. Trébis and Albert Flahaut came to visit us last week and to tell us how happy they were to have triumphed.
Mme. Trébis, while we congratulate her, endeavors to tell us how great the courage of her friends was, for whom the race was very hard. For his part, Flahaut does not run dry of praises for his close pursuers. "Finally," he tells us, "I won, but it was necessary to pull out all the stops. This is of no importance, since they will be rewarded well for it!"
Flahaut, without completely stopping his job as newspaper courier, will race this season for Météore and Wolber tires, the same as Gilman. He assures us, moreover, that his daily job is the best training that he can have.
Before leaving us, he makes a point to restate his thanks to l'Intransigeant, l'Echo des Sports and La Pedale.
Before drawing the curtain on a race which had so much of an effect on the Parisian region, we permit ourselves once again to renew our sincere thanks to all those which contributed to this imposing success; to l'Intransigeant and l'Echo des Sports, and to their devoted collaborators; to the competitors, who showed all their courage; to all the sporting companies which gracefully lent their support for the organization of various controls; to all the sportsmen who were sent at the organizers' disposition to any post; to all those, in short, who, in large or small part, were the creators responsible for such a beautiful sporting event.
Once again, a thank you to all.
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