Marcel Molines
Encyclopedia
Marcel Molinès is a former professional racing cyclist. Molinès is the first cyclist born in African to win a stage of the Tour de France
.
Molinès, born in Algeria
(at that time part of France
), competed in the 1950 Tour de France in a team representing French North Africa. His background meant neither he nor his teammate, Abdel-Kader Zaaf, suffered in that summer's heat wave. The temperature was so high on the stage from Perpignan
to Nîmes
that the race stopped at St-Maxime on the Mediterranean coast and many riders ran or even cycled into the sea.
Two exceptions were Molinès and Zaaf, who profited from their lowly status and from a widespread disinclination to ride fast by riding 200 km by themselves and sometimes getting up to 20 minutes' lead. Their advantage was enough to make Zaaf the de facto leader of the race and he would have taken the yellow jersey
of best rider had he not began to zigzag 15 km (8m) before the end. An official, or perhaps a spectator, pulled him off his bike and let him sleep under a tree. Molinès went on to win by five minutes and became the first cyclist born in Africa to win a stage.
His career included riding for big teams such as Peugeot and Dilecta. He has subsequently vanished and nothing is known of his whereabouts or if, like Zaaf, he has died.
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...
.
Molinès, born in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
(at that time part of 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...
), competed in the 1950 Tour de France in a team representing French North Africa. His background meant neither he nor his teammate, Abdel-Kader Zaaf, suffered in that summer's heat wave. The temperature was so high on the stage from Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
to Nîmes
Nîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
that the race stopped at St-Maxime on the Mediterranean coast and many riders ran or even cycled into the sea.
Two exceptions were Molinès and Zaaf, who profited from their lowly status and from a widespread disinclination to ride fast by riding 200 km by themselves and sometimes getting up to 20 minutes' lead. Their advantage was enough to make Zaaf the de facto leader of the race and he would have taken the yellow jersey
Yellow jersey
The general classification in the Tour de France is the most important classification, the one by which the winner of the Tour de France is determined. Since 1919, the leader of the general classification wears the yellow jersey .-History:...
of best rider had he not began to zigzag 15 km (8m) before the end. An official, or perhaps a spectator, pulled him off his bike and let him sleep under a tree. Molinès went on to win by five minutes and became the first cyclist born in Africa to win a stage.
His career included riding for big teams such as Peugeot and Dilecta. He has subsequently vanished and nothing is known of his whereabouts or if, like Zaaf, he has died.
Palmarès
1950- Tour de France1950 Tour de FranceThe 1950 Tour de France was the 37th Tour de France, taking place from 13 July to 7 August 1950. It consisted of 22 stages over 4775 km, ridden at an average speed of 32.788 km/h....
:- Winner stage 13