Gustave Garrigou

Gustave Garrigou (1884 to 1963) was one of the best professional racing cyclists of his era, born in Vabres, France, who lived in Paris. He rode the Tour de France eight times and won once, taking eight of 117 stages, finishing in the top ten 96 times and in the first five 65 times. He gained from his lightness in the mountains but had the strength to ride hard on flat stages and remarkable powers of recovery. He turned professional in 1907, winning the national championship, the Giro di Lombardia and Paris-Brussels that year and coming second in the Tour de France. He placed fourth in 1908, second in 1909 and third in 1910, and won the Tour in 1911 despite death threats from fans of rival Paul Duboc.