Daily Cycling Facts 07.11.11

November the 7th, 2011

Happy birthday to Tanya Dubnicoff, the retired Canadian track cyclist who represented her country in three Olympics and won four gold medals in the Pan-American Games. She now lives in California where she works as a cycling coach, training Team Canada among many others and is 42 years old.

Happy birthday to Hilton Clarke, the Australian professional of the United Healthcare team. This year he became the first rider to win the Clarendon Cup (formerly the CSC Invitational) twice. Known as a sprinter, he is 32 and will ride for Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team in 2012.

The first Paris to Rouen race took place on this day in 1869, making it the first official and organised bicycle race in history. James Moore, born in Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk in 1849 (but lived in France since childhood) beat more than 200 opponents (including four women) to win (he may have also won a race the previous year, but there is no reliable evidence for this).

Happy birthday to Tom Meeusen, the Belgian road, mountain bike and cyclo cross rider from the Telenet-Fidea team.

November the 7th 2004 saw the inauguration of Sri Lanka's Cyclone, a mass participation bicycle rally aimed at establishing cyclist's rights and promoting the bike as a means of transport in the Asian nation.

James Moore (right) with an 1869 model Specialized Venge

On this day in 1942, Fausto Coppi set a new Hour Record at 45.798km at the Vigorelli Track.