Philippe Thys

Philippe Thys 1919

Philippe Thys (born October 8, 1890 in Anderlecht , † January 16, 1971 in Brussels ) was a Belgian cyclist who was the first to win the Tour de France three times .

In addition to his Tour victories in 1913 , 1914 and 1920, there would certainly have been a few more if the First World War had not "robbed him of his best years" (quote from Tour boss Henri Desgrange at the award ceremony in 1920).

At 22 years and 9 months in his first triumph in 1913, Thys is still one of the youngest winners in the history of the Tour de France. During the First World War he served in the French Air Force , but was able to continue training thanks to numerous special permits.

After Thys ended his cycling career in 1927, he discovered a new sport for himself in archery . He also became president of the "Brussels Archery Society".

Individual evidence

^ Jean-Paul Ollivier: Giganten des Radsport , Kiel 2003, p. 155

Web links

Palmarès - List of achievements and placements
Philippe Thys in the Radsportseiten.net database

Philippe Thys in the Tour de France database(French / English )

personal data
SURNAME	Thys, Philippe
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Belgian cyclist and first three-time winner of the Tour de France
DATE OF BIRTH	October 8, 1890
PLACE OF BIRTH	Anderlecht
DATE OF DEATH	16th January 1971
Place of death	Brussels

[1] Jean-Paul Ollivier: Giganten des Radsport , Kiel 2003, p. 155