Hey Mick - Thanks for all the information! May I add it to the picture description.
In 1921 the P=e9lissiers rode for "JB Louvet". Also, Eugene Christophe won the 1920 edition of the race.
Aldo Ross Middletown, Ohio
----- Original Message Follows -----
From: "Mick Butler" <pariscyclesuk@hotmail.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Spam:***, RE: [CR]Pic of the Day Eighty-Five Years
Ago
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2006 11:12:38 +0000
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> Hello Aldo,
> Wonderful! Just a little bit of info to add to the
> picture. Louis Heusgem had a brother Hector they both
> rode for "La Sportive". Joseph Muller "Delage". Louis
> Mottiat "La Sportive." Not sure about the Pelissier's
> could have been Automoto? Perhaps someone can answer
> this. The Paris-Tours route was lengthened after 1919,
> they added a detour through Chinon thus adding the hilly
> lanes on the south bank of the Loire up to the finish at
> Tours. This race normally had good weather and was known
> for high speeds, all changed in 1921 as the picture
> depicts. It snowed. Nearly half of the peloton climbed
> off at Chatres leaving the Pellissier's, Louis Mottiat
> and Albert de Jonghe to race ahead.
> At Chateaudun conditions were so dreadful even for the
> iron man Henri Pellissier. He took off his cape and
> handed it to his brother Francis. He wore two capes for
> the rest of the race! Legend has it that this swop was
> done in a cafe over a glass of Martinique Rum. Whilst this
> was happening Eugene Christophe caught the leaders by a
> superhuman effort, typical of the man who thrived on hard
> days. He went clear. Meanwhile Pellisier had several
> stops to repair his bike and himself but he chased hard
> and caught him three times, with Mottiat, the only other
> rider in the chase, who was struggling to hang on. Finally
> Pellissier got clear by a couple of minutes but he then
> punctured. His hands were frozen and he was unable to do
> the repair so he tore the tire off with his teeth. Riding
> on the rim, Pelissier caught Christophe once more and
> then dropped him on the climb out of Azay-le-Rideau
> finishing alone. Henri won in 1922 and Louis Mottiat in
> 24. Henri Pellissier turbulent life had a tragic end. His
> wife committed suicide in 1933. Two years later his
> girfriend Camille shot him five times during a violent
> row, the gun she used was the same pistol that his wife
> Leonie had used to end her life.
> Francis Pellissier became a tem manager and made a habit
> of winning Bordeaux-Paris.
> Charles Pellissier won a record 8 stages in the 1930 Tour
> and went on to become a popular figure in France.
> Talking about suicide a mate of mine went into our local
> library to get a book on suicide, unable to find it he
> approached the librarian as to what shelf it was on.
> She took him straight to the section and handed him the
> book asking him who was going to bring the book back!
> Every picture tells a story.
> Best wishes Mick
>
>
>
>
> >From where the wheels don't spin as fast as they use to.
> Be lucky Michael Butler Huntingdon UK.
>
>
>
>
>
> Hello Aldo,
> Wonderful! Just a little bit of info to add to the
> picture. Louis Heusgem had a brother Hector they both
> rode for "La Sportive". Joseph Muller "Delage". Louis
> Mottiat "La Sportive."
>
>
>
> >From where the wheels don't spin as fast as they use to.
> Be lucky Michael Butler Huntingdon UK.