Eugène Christophe

Eugène Christophe was a French road bicycle racer and a pioneer of cyclo-cross who raced as a professional from 1904 until 1926. He worked as a locksmith before racing took over his life, and he rode his first race at 18 and his last at 41. In 1919 he became the first rider to wear the yellow jersey of the Tour de France. He rode eleven Tours and finished eight but never won one, and he is best remembered for the 1913 Tourmalet incident, when his front forks broke while he led the race and he walked down the mountain to a village forge and welded them himself, finishing seventh overall after a time penalty. He is also remembered for the 1912 Tour, when points scoring cost him a victory he might have won on time.