Alfred Letourneur
Encyclopedia
Alfred LetourneurAlfred Letourneur (born 25 July 1907 in Amiens
, France
and died 4 January 1975 in New York
) was a professional cyclist. He is known for setting the motor-paced world speed record. He was professional cyclist from 1928 to 1942
" races in the USA and Canada
.
He also had 4 victories in National Championship, USA, in years 1932, 1933, 1934 and 1935.
On 22 October 1938, Alfred Letourneur was able to beat the motor-paced world speed record on a bicycle, reaching 147,058 km/h at a velodrome
in Montlhéry
, France
, riding behind a motorbike. On 17 May 1941 he broke the record again, reaching 175,29 km/h (108.92 mph) on a Schwinn bicycle riding behind a car on a freeway near Bakersfield, California.
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and died 4 January 1975 in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) was a professional cyclist. He is known for setting the motor-paced world speed record. He was professional cyclist from 1928 to 1942
Achievements
From 1930 to 1938 he reached 20 victories on the "six-day racingSix-day racing
A six or six-day is a track cycling race that lasts six days. Six-day races started in Britain, spread to many regions of the world, were brought to their modern style in the United States and are now mainly a European event. Initially, individuals competed alone, the winner being the individual...
" races in the USA and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
He also had 4 victories in National Championship, USA, in years 1932, 1933, 1934 and 1935.
On 22 October 1938, Alfred Letourneur was able to beat the motor-paced world speed record on a bicycle, reaching 147,058 km/h at a velodrome
Velodrome
A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights...
in Montlhéry
Montlhéry
Montlhéry is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France. It is located from Paris.Inhabitants of Montlhéry are known as Montlhériens.-History:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, riding behind a motorbike. On 17 May 1941 he broke the record again, reaching 175,29 km/h (108.92 mph) on a Schwinn bicycle riding behind a car on a freeway near Bakersfield, California.