Jules Deloffre
Jules Deloffre (22 April 1885 – 13 October 1963) was a French racing cyclist. He rode in fourteen editions of the Tour de France between 1908 and 1928, finishing in seven of them. Throughout his career he was nicknamed 'The Acrobat' (French: "L' Acrobate"). During the First World War, he served in the infantry under Colonel Driant in Verdun and a street was named after him in Le Cateau-Cambrésis where he is considered a local hero. Early years. His parents were Jules Romain DELOFFRE (born 1858) and Marie Julia LEMPEREUR (born 1866). Career. Between 1920 and 1985, he  was the record holder for the number of participations in the Tour de France, and even sole holder of this record until 1966 and the fourteenth participation of André Darrigade. Deloffre was famous for performing acrobatics in front of the public at the finishings of stages, winning some subsidies. This was what motivated him to run his last five Tours de France, when he was 38 to 43 years old and he no longer had the physical means to complete in the event. In his book ""This is the Tour de France"", Michel Duino wrote: ""On each arrival, Deloffre performed  somersaults for the amazed onlookers. 'Unheard of!' the spectators exclaimed. To have 300km in the legs and to succeed in that, true, it is better than in the circus! Deloffre used to thank "his" audience, by singing "Le P'tit Quinquin" when he did not feel like being the acrobat, wearing a top hat. To many French people, the Tour, it was him!" General classification results timeline. He also competed in the most prestigious classic races of his time: Personal life. Deloffre married twice in Caudry, firstly on 12 August 1911 to Joséphine Maria Delcourte and secondly on 24 January  1924 to Anaïs Sophie Deschanvres. After his sporting retirement, he continued to attend regional races, and it was while riding his bicycle from the 'Criterium International de Cambrai' on 13 October 1963, that he was run over by a car leaving Caudry. He did not survive his injuries. The "Father Jules" (French: "Le Père Jules") was 78 years old.