Maurice Garin

Maurice-François Garin was an Italian-born road cyclist who raced for France and is best known as the winner of the first Tour de France, held in 1903. He was born on 3 March 1871 and adopted French nationality on 21 December 1901. Before the Tour he had worked as a chimney sweep. In 1903 he won the opening stage from Paris to Lille and a second stage into Nantes, and he held the lead of the general classification to the finish at Ville-d'Avray near Paris. In the second Tour, in 1904, he crossed the line first but was stripped of the title, along with eight others, for cheating. He died on 19 February 1957.