Antonin Magne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Antonin Magne

Magne in 1931
Personal information
Full name	Antonin Magne
Nickname	Tonin le sage (Tonin the Sage), Tonin le taciturne (Tonin the Taciturn)
Born	(1904-01-15)15 January 1904 Ytrac, France
Died	8 September 1983(1983-09-08) (aged 79) Arcachon, France
Team information
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France General classification (1931, 1934) 10 stages One-day races and Classics Road Race World Championships (1936) Grand Prix des Nations (1934, 1935, 1936)

Antonin Magne (15 February 1904 – 8 September 1983) was a famous French cyclist. He is best known for winning the Tour de France, one of the biggest cycling races in the world, twice. He won in 1931 and again in 1934.

He raced as a professional cyclist from 1927 to 1939. After he stopped racing, he became a successful team manager. People sometimes called him "The Monk" because he was a quiet person. He didn't talk much to journalists.

Antonin Magne's Cycling Journey

Starting His Career

Antonin Magne became a professional cyclist in 1927. He joined a team called Alleluia. This team won the 1927 GP Wolber race. This race was seen as an unofficial world championship for road cycling.

Magne first rode in the Tour de France in 1927. He was part of the French team alongside another great rider, André Leducq.

Winning the 1931 Tour de France

In 1931, the defending champion, André Leducq, was not in top form. So, Antonin Magne took over as the main leader for the French team. Even though other strong riders attacked him often, Magne managed to win the entire race.

Challenges and Comebacks (1932-1933)

In 1932, Magne did not race in the Tour de France. Instead, he competed in the Giro d'Italia in Italy. However, he didn't perform as well there.

He returned to the Tour de France in 1933. He finished in 8th place overall that year.

His Second Tour de France Victory (1934)

Antonin Magne started the 1934 Tour de France with a very strong French team. He took the lead early in the race, on the second day. His team was incredibly dominant, winning 19 out of the 23 stages.

Magne himself won two stages. One of these was the first-ever time trial stage in the Tour de France. This was a long race against the clock, covering 80 kilometers.

He faced a big problem during the race in the Pyrenees mountains. His bike wheel broke while he was going downhill. His youngest teammate, René Vietto, who was in third place himself, quickly gave Magne his own wheel. This act of sportsmanship was very famous.

The very next day, Magne had trouble again. Vietto was ahead but saw Magne needing another wheel. He rode back down the hill to help his leader again. Vietto even cried by the roadside as he waited for a new wheel for himself. Magne went on to win the Tour, and France dominated the race. But Vietto, who finished fifth, became a true hero for his selfless actions.

That same year, Magne also won the Grand Prix des Nations. This was an important race for individual time trials.

Later Years in Racing

Antonin Magne continued his success in 1935 and 1936. He won the Grand Prix des Nations again in both years. In 1935, he started the Tour de France and was in second place. But he had to leave the race after a crash.

In 1936, Magne rode very well in the Tour de France. He finished in second place overall. After the Tour, he achieved another huge success. He became the world champion in road cycling.

Magne did not race in the 1937 Tour de France. He said he was still recovering from a car accident. Instead, he was the official starter for the race that year.

His last Tour de France was in 1938. In the final stage, he crossed the finish line with André Leducq. Leducq was also riding his last Tour. Both were declared winners of that stage.

After His Racing Days

After retiring from racing, Antonin Magne became a directeur sportif. This is like a team manager in cycling. He managed several very successful riders. These included famous cyclists like Louison Bobet and Raymond Poulidor. They were part of the Mercier team.

Magne was known for guiding and mentoring the top riders of his time. Many consider him one of the best team managers in cycling history. He always spoke to his riders formally, showing great respect.

Magne lived most of his life in Livry-Gargan, near Paris. In 2004, the Tour de France honored his 100th birthday. A stage of the race finished in Livry-Gargan. In 1962, Magne was given a special award. He was made a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, a high honor in France.

Career Achievements

Major Results

Magne at the 1935 Grand Prix des Nations

See also

In Spanish: Antonin Magne para niños