In 1975 he had his first international success with a stage win on the Rapport Tour in South Africa . As an amateur , he was able to win the French championship in the team pursuit in 1977. The following year he became a professional driver in the French Fiat team and drove his first Tour de France , three more starts followed. In 1981 he had his best result in the overall ranking with 31st place. His start as a professional in 1978 was successful with a stage win at the Four Days of Dunkirk . Nevertheless, he allowed himself to be reamateurised in late 1979 when he did not get a new contract and drove the 1980 season for his home club AC Boulogne-Billancourt . He won the Paris – Conerre race that season. A year later, after a new contract offer, he was back as a professional with Sem-France-Loire . That year, surprisingly for the public as an unknown driver, he won the French championship in the professional road race ahead of Bernard Vallet . He ended his career in 1985 after winning six races as a professional.