Octave Lapize

Octave Lapize (; 24 October 1887 – 14 July 1917) was a French professional road racing cyclist and track cyclist.

Most famous for winning the 1910 Tour de France and a bronze medal at the 1908 Summer Olympics in the men's 100 kilometres, he was a three-time winner of one-day classics, Paris–Roubaix and Paris–Brussels.

Career In his first Tour De France in 1909, he abandoned early due to wintery conditions during the month of July, but not before he managed a Stage 2 second place behind Tour winner Francois Faber. The following year he went head-to-head with Alcyon teammate Faber who led comfortably until colliding with a dog at the foot of the Pyrenees. Lapize finally won by just 4 points helped by a number of punctures to Faber's bike on the final stage from Caen to Paris. In a total of six starts in the Tour De France between 1909 and 1914, this victory was the only one he finished.

While climbing the Col d'Aubsique (via the Col du Soulor and the Col de Tortes) in the 1910 Tour de France he is reported to have said to the race organisers: "Vous êtes des criminels !"' (French for 'You are criminals!')" Later, at the stage finish in Bayonne, he is reported to have told a reporter that "Desgrange est un assassin" (French for 'Desgrange is a murderer!")

Career achievements Major results

1908 Summer Olympics Men's 100 kilometres - Bronze Medal 1909 Paris–Roubaix, 1st Place 1910

Paris–Roubaix, 1st Place 1911 Paris–Roubaix, 1st Place Paris–Tours, 1st Place Paris–Brussels, 1st Place French National Championships, 1st Place 1912 Tour de France - Stage 6 win Paris–Brussels, 1st Place French National Championships, 1st Place 1913 Paris–Brussels, 1st Place French National Championships, 1st Place 1914 Tour de France - Stage 8 win

Grand Tour results