Bolesław Napierała
Encyclopedia
Bolesław Napierała was a Polish
cycling champion, twice winner of the Tour de Pologne
. He was born in Marten, Germany to a family of Polish immigrants, and in 1918, when Poland regained independence, the family moved back to their homeland. However, after a few years, the Napieralas left Poland again, to Lens
in France. It was there that Boleslaw for the first time saw cyclists, during Tour de France
. Fascinated by them, he decided to take up cycling himself, helped by his famous neighbor, French cyclist Nicolas Frantz
.
Napierala, nicknamed Road Tiger, cycled for the teams Fort Bema Warszawa, and Sarmata Warszawa. He twice won Tour de Pologne (1937, 1939), for 15 days was in leader's jersey, and in the 1937 tour, he was a leader from start to finish. In 1939, a month after winning Tour de Pologne, World War II broke out. After the war, Napierala never returned to his late 1930s form.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
cycling champion, twice winner of the Tour de Pologne
Tour de Pologne
The Tour de Pologne is a road bicycle racing stage race. It consists of seven or eight stages and is usually around 1,200 km in length. The race was first held in 1928. Until 1952 the race was held sporadically, but since then it has been an annual race...
. He was born in Marten, Germany to a family of Polish immigrants, and in 1918, when Poland regained independence, the family moved back to their homeland. However, after a few years, the Napieralas left Poland again, to Lens
Lens, Pas-de-Calais
Lens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of France's large Picarde cities along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras, and Douai.-Metropolitan area:...
in France. It was there that Boleslaw for the first time saw cyclists, during Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
. Fascinated by them, he decided to take up cycling himself, helped by his famous neighbor, French cyclist Nicolas Frantz
Nicolas Frantz
Nicolas Frantz , born in Mamer, Luxembourg, was a bicycle racer with 60 professional racing victories over his 12-year career . He rode for the Thomann team in 1923 and then for Alcyon-Dunlop from 1924 to 1931. He won the Tour de France in 1927 and 1928.Nicolas Frantz was the son of a prosperous...
.
Napierala, nicknamed Road Tiger, cycled for the teams Fort Bema Warszawa, and Sarmata Warszawa. He twice won Tour de Pologne (1937, 1939), for 15 days was in leader's jersey, and in the 1937 tour, he was a leader from start to finish. In 1939, a month after winning Tour de Pologne, World War II broke out. After the war, Napierala never returned to his late 1930s form.