1868 · Story
The race that became known as the first
On a gravel path at Saint-Cloud, a 19-year-old Englishman rode into cycling history. The difficult question is not who won, but what the race was actually the first of.
To the fountain and back
On 31 May 1868 riders and spectators gathered in Parc de Saint-Cloud west of Paris. James Moore won a race of about 1,200 metres on a pedal-driven velocipede with solid tyres.
The victory was later celebrated as the first formal cycle race. The Science Museum still describes Moore’s machine as the bicycle from the reputedly first formal race. That qualification matters: several events were held that day and historians disagree about their order.
What can be said safely
The date, place and Moore’s victory are secure. The grand title as the first cycle race ever is less certain. Earlier contests existed, and another rider may have won the first event on the programme.
Saint-Cloud nevertheless marks a clear beginning. The bicycle was no longer merely a new means of transport. It had become something people could time, race and gather to watch.
Source and further reading
collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk ↗
The image provides historical context. Where it does not depict the specific event, the caption says so.
