Jean Robic

Jean Robic was a French road racing cyclist who won the 1947 Tour de France. He raced as a professional from 1943 to 1961 and was known for his small build, about 1.61 metres tall and 60 kilograms, which earned him the nickname Biquet, the kid goat. After fracturing his skull in a fall in Paris-Roubaix in 1944 he always wore a leather crash helmet, and the fans also called him leather-head. Born in the Ardennes but raised in Brittany, he is remembered as a Breton champion. He took the 1947 Tour by attacking on the final stage from Caen at the Bonsecours hill, finishing 13 minutes ahead of the race leader Pierre Brambilla and taking the yellow jersey in Paris. He also won the world cyclo-cross championship in 1950.