Origins & Early Life

Lucien Georges Mazan (18 October 1882 – 20 December 1917), known by the pseudonym Lucien Petit-Breton (French pronunciation: [lysjɛ̃ p(ə)ti bʁətɔ̃]), was a French racing cyclist best known as the first two-time winner of the Tour de France. He was born in Plessé, Loire-Atlantique, a part of Brittany, now part of Pays de la Loire. When he was six he moved with his parents to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he took the nationality. His cycling career started when he won a bike in a lottery at the age of sixteen.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

As his father wanted him to do a 'real' job, he adapted the nickname Lucien Breton for races, to deceive his father. Later he changed it to Petit-Breton, because there already was another cyclist called Lucien Breton. His first notable victory was the track cycling championship of Argentina. In 1902 he was drafted in the French Army and moved back to France. In 1904 he won the Bol d'Or track event at the second attempt, having finished second the previous year and in 1905 he broke the world hour record on the Buffalo cycling track in Paris with 41.110 km.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The same year he started road-racing and finished the Tour de France fifth overall. In 1906, he won...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. A. Milne — Contemporary (Born in 1882) (1882): Celebrated English author, famed for Winnie-the-Pooh and children's literature.
• Éamon de Valera — Contemporary (Born in 1882) (1882): Dominant Irish statesman, leading figure in the establishment of modern Irish governance.
• Anna Pavlova — Contemporary (Born in 1882) (1882): Iconic Russian prima ballerina, famed for 'The Dying Swan' and global tours.
• Andrew Wyeth — Contemporary (Born in 1917) (1917): Master American Realist Painter known for regional scenes of Pennsylvania and Maine.
• Arthur C. Clarke — Contemporary (Born in 1917) (1917): Pioneering science fiction writer, futurist, and popularizer of space travel.
• Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. — Contemporary (Born in 1917) (1917): Influential American historian and social critic of 20th-century liberalism.
• Canaletto — Shared historical date (10-18 · Born) (1697): Master Vedutista: Celebrated painter of Venetian and Roman cityscapes.
• Charles Babbage — Shared historical date (10-18 · Died) (1871): Pioneering polymath credited with originating the concept of the digital programmable computer.
• Abdulrazak Gurnah — Shared historical date (12-20 · Born) (1948): Acclaimed Tanzanian novelist and Nobel laureate exploring themes of colonialism and refuge.
• Arthur Rubinstein — Shared historical date (12-20 · Died) (1982): Master Polish and American pianist, celebrated for his interpretations of Chopin and classical repertoire.
• 1882 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1882
• October 18 (10-18) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 18
• 1917 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1917
• December 20 (12-20) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 20