Título: Tom Simpson
Seção: Move to Brittany
Background: Thomas Simpson (30 November 1937 - 13 July 1967) was one of Britain's most successful professional cyclists. He was born in Haswell, County Durham and later moved to Harworth, Nottinghamshire. Simpson began road cycling as a teenager before taking up track cycling, specialising in pursuit races. He won a bronze medal for track cycling at the 1956 Summer Olympics and a silver at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

Conteúdo: In April 1959, Simpson left for France with PS100 savings and two Carlton bikes, one road and one track, given in appreciation of his help promoting the company. His last words to his mother before the move were, "I don't want to be sitting here in twenty years' time, wondering what would have happened if I hadn't gone to France". The next day, his National Service papers were delivered; although willing to serve before his move, he feared the call-up would put his potential career at risk. His mother returned them, with the hope they would understand this.  He applied to local cycling clubs, and joined Club Olympique Briochin, racing with an independent (semi-professional) licence from the British Cycling Federation. When settled with the Murphy family, 21-year-old Simpson met 19-year-old Helen Sherburn, an au pair from Sutton, Yorkshire. Simpson began attracting attention, winning races and criteriums. He was invited to race in the eight-day stage race Route de France by the Saint-Raphael VC 12e, the amateur club below the professional team Saint-Raphael-R. Geminiani-Dunlop. Simpson won the final stage, breaking away from the peloton and holding on for victory. After this win, he declined an offer to ride in the Tour de France for the professional team. Simpson had contract offers from two professional teams, Mercier-BP-Hutchinson and Saint-Raphael-R. Geminiani-Dunlop, which had a British cyclist, Brian Robinson; opting for the latter team, on 29 June he signed a contract f

user: When did he move to Brittany?

assistant: In April 1959,

user: Why did he move to Brittany?

assistant: his National Service papers were delivered; although willing to serve before his move,

user: What did he do once he moved?

assistant: He applied to local cycling clubs, and joined Club Olympique Briochin, racing with an independent (semi-professional) licence

user: How long did he race in Club Olympique?

assistant: He was invited to race in the eight-day stage race Route de France by the Saint-Raphael VC 12e, the amateur club below the professional team Saint-Raphael-R.

user: If he accepted the race, did he win?

assistant: Simpson won the final stage, breaking away from the peloton and holding on for victory.

user: What did he do after the win?

assistant: After this win, he declined an offer to ride in the Tour de France for the professional team.

user: Why did he decline the offer?

assistant: Simpson had contract offers from two professional teams,

user: What professional team did he decide to sign a contract with?

assistant: Saint-Raphael-R. Geminiani-Dunlop,

user: Did they offer him more money in the end?

assistant: he signed a contract for 80,000 francs (PS80 a month