Charlene's European Adventure 2003


PARIS-BREST-PARIS


All the Canadian riders


My trip to ParisMy PBP rideMy England/Wales ride


THE HISTORY OF THE PBP

The history of the bicycle involved a number of inventions. Long before 1885, an inline-two-wheel machine was propelled by a rider who straddled the unit and used his feet on the ground to propel the bike forward. Then came the penny-farthing or high-wheeler which had a large front wheel and a small rear one. The large wheel was needed to provide mechanical advantage. One turn of the crank attached to that wheel would propel it a great distance. The problem with the penny-farthing was its safety. It was hard to mount and dismount. Controlling it while in motion was equally challenging. In 1885 the "safety bicycle" (named in contrast to the penny-farthing) was invented. It looked very much like the bicycles we know today.

Six years after the "safety bicycle" was invented, Pierre Giffard, a journalist who rode a bicycle himself, wanted to promote cycling as a test of endurance. Shortly after the safety bicycle was invented, there were races for relatively short distances; but Giffard was not interested so much in speed. He wanted a test of skill and endurance. He proposed an event where a rider would cycle 1200 kilometers (750 miles) from Paris to Brest on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and back again to Paris. Many, including doctors, said the idea was crazy and that cycling such long distances would kill the rider.

At the first event, 293 men and 7 women signed up for the ride. Later, only 280 cycles qualified to go (267 safety bikes, 10 tricycles, 2 tandems, and one high wheeler). The women were not allowed to participate.

At daybreak on Sunday, September 6, 1891, 206 riders left a cheering crowd in front of the newspaper building, Le Petit Journal. Of these 206 riders, 99 finished it. Charles Terront, riding a bike with pneumatic tires, finished first with a time of 71 hours and 22 minutes. His closest rival, Jacques Jiel-Laval, rode a bike with solid rubber tires and made the trip in under 80 hours. Other riders completed the event within the prescribed 10 days, averaging 130 km a day.

Inspired by the Paris-Brest-Paris, the Tour de France was started in 1903.

No other bicycle race or ride held today is as old as PBP.

Because the PBP was so demanding, it was initially held every 10 years.

In the beginning it was an event for professional riders or racers; but in 1931 there was a second class of riders: the randonneur (literally, super-tourist or super-traveller). Randonneurs were limited to 90 hours to complete the PBP. Jules Tranchant completed the randonneur class in 68 hours 30 minutes. Finally women were allowed to participate.

Rob Gray writes, "The PBP was given two starts in its 2nd edition in 1901 -- Coureurs and Vitesse, or pros and touristes routiers (hard riding tourists). In 1931 the touristes routiers were allowed a 90 hour time and called Randonneurs, split into Audax and Allure Libre. I suppose this was the beginning of different start times and limits. Quite a lot has altered over the years by the look of it. . . . The pros stopped riding PBP in the late 50's, early 60's (too hard for them, no rest days) but the Randonneurs kept riding it. The Vedettes now replace the pros as favourites to win. The word Vedette comes from the scouts who rode at the head of an army. I suppose they had the fastest horses."

The next PBP was scheduled for 1941, but was delayed until 1948 because of WWII. It was determined to hold it every five years and later to every four years.

  • 1948 (#6 racing event and #2 randonneur event)
  • 1951 (#7 racing event and #3 randonneur event)
  • 1956 (#4 randonneur event)
  • 1961 (#5 randonneur event)
  • 1966 (#6 randonneur event)
  • 1971 (#7 randonneur event)
  • 1975 (#8 randonneur event)
  • 1979 (#9 randonneur event)
  • 1983 (#10 a randonneur event)
  • 1987 (#11 randonneur event)
  • 1991 (#12 randonneur event)
  • 1995 (#13 randonneur event)
  • 1999 (#14 randonneur event)
  • 2003 (#15 randonneur event)

In order to qualify for PBP a rider must complete several rides, called brevets (literally "diplomas"), of 200, 300, 400, and 600 km within prescribed times.

In the 15th PBP event, held in 2003, there were over 4000 participants. In 1999 there were only 3000 riders and even less in previous years.

For a more detailed history Click here

15th PARIS-BREST-PARIS RANDONNEUR - 2003

2003 StatsNON-FRENCHFRENCH2003 Canadian Jersey
Registered riders2129 (51%)2055 (49%)
Non-shows6550
Starters20642005
Non-finishers278 (13.5%)320 (16%)
Disqualified95
Finishers17771680


Included in the totals above, there were 267 women riders who made up 6.56% of the total riders (78.7% of them finished).

MALE RIDERS
CountryEnrolledNo-showRidersAbandonedFinishedDisqualifiedConfirmed
Australia792771166066
Austria15015312012
Belgium833801466066
Brasil1010101
Bulgaria10461505
Canada65164856056
Denmark1841183251580158
Finland7072505
Germany1987191191723169
Great Britain33812326362900290
Greece11294505
Holland64163558058
Ireland3030303
Italy2035198261721171
Japan16115411011
Luxemburg1010101
Norway22220119118
Russia23023518117
South Africa111101909
Spain1718163161470147
Sweden49148939039
Switzerland14014113013
Ukraine3300000
USA40010390453451344
Total Non-French1971641907236167171664
Total French1945501895307158851583
Grand Total391611438025433259123247

FEMALE RIDERS
CountryEnrolledNo-showRidersAbandonedFinishedDisqualifiedConfirmed
Australia4042202
Belgium4041303
Canada19019514014
Denmark5052303
Germany4041303
Great Britain20020713013
Greece2021101
Italy17116511110
Japan5054101
Russia1011000
South Africa2020202
Spain4042202
Sweden2020202
Switzerland1010101
USA680681157156
Total Non-French1581157421152113
Total French11001101397097
Grand Total2681267552122210

TOTAL RIDERS
CountryEnrolledNo-showRidersAbandonedFinishedDisqualifiedConfirmed
South Africa13112111011
Germany2027195201753172
Australia832811368068
Austria15015312012
Belgium873841569069
Brasil1010101
Bulgaria10461505
Canada841831370070
Denmark1891188271610161
Spain1758167181490149
Finland7072505
Great Britain35812346433030303
Greece132115606
Holland64163558058
Ireland3030303
Italy2206214311832181
Japan21120812012
Luxemburg1010101
Norway22220119118
Russia24024618117
Sweden51150941041
Switzerland15015114014
Ukraine3300000
USA46810458564022400
Total Non-French2129652064278178691777
Total French2055502005320168551680
Grand Total418411540695983471143457



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