José María Javierre

José María Javierre Rapún, commonly known as Joseph Habierre (4 February 1888 – 22 April 1954) was a Spanish road racing cyclist who later became a naturalized French citizen.

He is regarded as the first Spanish cyclist to compete in the Tour de France, having ridden the 1909 Tour de France and 1910 Tour de France editions. Until research published in 2003, Vicente Blanco had generally been regarded as the first Spanish participant.

Personal life

Javierre was born in Plaza de la Estrella (now Plaza de Ripa) in Jaca, in the Province of Huesca, Spain, on 4 February 1888. He was baptised two days later at the Jaca Cathedral. He was the son of Justo Javierre, a day labourer from Javierregay, and Oriosa Rapún, a native of Borau. He had five siblings. After the death of his father when he was four years old, his mother moved by foot with her children to France, where the family settled in Lescar. There, the family surname "Javierre" became Frenchified as "Habierre". He also adopted the French form of his given name, Joseph. He received the French nationality on 25 January 1915.

Habierre had two children, Cécile and Auguste. Cécile Habierre married French boxer and rugby player Bernard Yus. Auguste Habierre was a French skier and founder of the Royal Asport bicycle brand.

Cycling career As a teenager, he worked in a factory while developing an interest in cycling. At the age of 17, he built his own bicycle and began competing in local races.

Military service

Seeking French citizenship, Habierre enlisted in the French Foreign Legion. During the World War I he served for four years becoming a naturalised French citizen in January 1915.

He was wounded several times, including at the Battle of Verdun, leaving him permanently disabled. For his military service he received the Legion of Honour and the Croix de Guerre.

Major results

1908 1st Monein–Artix 1st Pau–Puyoô–Pau

1909 17th Overall 1909 Tour de France

1910 24th Overall 1910 Tour de France