Pic of the Day 21st July 1948 French Olympic Road Squad
France must have been cool in August 1948, judging by the sweaters and plus-fours. Out for a training ride before the 1948 Olympics, from left to right; Jose Beyaert , Rene Rouffeteau, Alain Moineau, Socquet, and Jacques Dupont. Rouchet hands-up the bottle, while team manager and former TdF champion Georges Speicher drives the little Simca "Cinq" (french version of the Fiat "Topolino". The four riders chosen by Speicher for the road race were: Dupont, Moineau, Beyaert, and Rouffeteau.
Dupont flatted twice in the road race and abandoned, but won a gold medal in the kilo.
Rouffeteau crashed heavily while leading the road race.
Moineau helped in the road race by covering the Italians when they attacked on the climb. Moineau would go on to race pro from 1950 through 1956.
Beyaert would go on to win the 1948 Olympic road race, then race as a pro from 1949 through 1952 or 1953 (no contract for 1953).
Beyaert, Moineau, and Dupont would also get a Bronze Medal in the 100km TTT.
>From "But et Club" No.137, 9 August 1948.
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Aldo Ross
Blue Ball, Ohio