Editing Paris–Brest–Paris (section)

==History==
[[File:Terront.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Charles Terront]] pictured on the front page of ''[[Le Petit Journal (newspaper)|Le Petit Journal]]'', 26 September 1891, after his victory.]]
[[Pierre Giffard]] of ''[[Le Petit Journal (newspaper)|Le Petit Journal]]'' staged the first ''Paris-Brest et retour''. Despite changes, Paris–Brest–Paris continues to this day as the oldest long-distance cycling road event.

===1891 ===
In an era when diamond safety frames and pneumatic tires were taking over from high-wheelers with solid rubber tires, Paris-Brest was an "épreuve," a test of the bicycle's reliability. Giffard promoted the event through editorials signed "Jean-sans-Terre." He wrote of self-sufficient riders carrying their own food and clothing. Riders would ride the same bicycle for the duration. Only Frenchmen were allowed to enter, and 207 participated.

The first (1891) Paris-Brest saw [[Michelin]]'s [[Charles Terront]] and [[Dunlop Rubber|Dunlop]]'s [[Joseph Jiel-Laval|Jiel-Laval]] contest the lead. Terront prevailed, passing Jiel-Laval as he slept during the third night, to finish in 71&nbsp;hours 22&nbsp;minutes. Both had flats that took an hour to repair but enjoyed an advantage over riders on solid tires. Ultimately, 99 of the 207 finished.<ref name="LePJ 9 Sept 1891" /><ref name="LePJ 11 Sept 1891" /><ref name="LePJ 12 Sept 1891" />

The race was a coup for ''Le Petit Journal'', bringing circulation increases. However, the logistics were daunting enough that organizers settled on a ten-year interval between editions.

====1891 Quadricycle====
Perhaps the most unusual entrant was a petrol-powered [[Peugeot Type 3]] Quadricycle, driven by [[Auguste Doriot]] and [[Louis Rigoulot]]. In order to publicly prove its reliability and performance [[Armand Peugeot]] had persuaded Pierre Giffard to have its progress certified by his network of monitors and marshals, the distance being about three times further than any road vehicle had travelled before. After a 3-day journey from Valentigny to Paris, they started immediately behind the bicycles. They covered 200 kilometres on the first day and 160&nbsp;km on the second, but then lost 24 hours when a gear failed near [[Morlaix]]. After effecting a repair using local resources (a shoemaker's tools) they arrived at Brest after dark where they were received by a large crowd and the local Peugeot bicycle dealer.<ref name="Creative"/>

For comparison, by the time Doriot and Rigoulot had reached Brest, Charles Terront and Jiel Laval had already returned to Paris. The next day they set off for Paris where they completed the trip 6 days after the cyclists.<ref name="LePJ 9 Sept 1891">{{Citation | url = http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6109779 | title = Gallica online archive of the Library of France. | work = 9 September 1891 La Course National de Paris a Brest et Retour. Departure from Paris | publisher = Le Petit Journal | access-date = 7 February 2013 }}</ref><ref name="LePJ 11 Sept 1891">{{Citation | url = http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k610981c/f2.image | title = Gallica online archive of the Library of France. | work = Le Petit Journal, 11 September 1891. Charles Terront arrives in Paris | publisher = Le Petit Journal | access-date = 7 February 2013 }}</ref><ref name="LePJ 12 Sept 1891">{{Citation | url = http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k610982r/f2.image | title = Gallica online archive of the Library of France. | work = Le Petit Journal, 12 September 1891. Peugeot arrives in Brest | publisher = Le Petit Journal | access-date = 7 February 2013 }}</ref><ref name="Creative">[https://archive.org/details/creativecapitalg00ante/page/261 <!-- quote=Auguste Doriot born. --> Creative Capital: Georges Doriot and the Birth of Venture Capital By Spencer E. Ante]</ref><ref name="LePJ 16 Sept 1891">{{Citation | url = http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6109868/f2.zoom | title = Gallica online archive of the Library of France. | work = Le Petit Journal, 16 September 1891. Peugeot arrives in Paris | publisher = Le Petit Journal | access-date = 7 February 2013 }}</ref><ref group="Note">''[[Le Petit Journal (newspaper)|Le Petit Journal]]'' Paris, 12 September 1891 states: 
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" 
|-
! scope=col style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | ''Le Petit Journal'' Paris, 12 September 1891. <br> The National Race, Paris to Brest and return. Brest 11 September
! scope=col style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | ''Le Petit Journal'' Paris, 12 September 1891.<br> La Course National de Paris a Brest et Retour. Brest 11 Septembre
|-
|The petrol/gasoline powered Peugeot Quadricycle which arrived the day before yesterday took 39 hours since leaving Paris, tomorrow it leaves for the capital.
|Le Quadricycle à gazoline Peugeot, arrivé avant-hier de Paris en 39 heures, repart demain pour la capitale. 
|}</ref><ref group="Note">''[[Le Petit Journal (newspaper)|Le Petit Journal]]'' Paris, 11 September 1891 states: 
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" 
|-
! scope=col style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | ''Le Petit Journal'' Paris, 11 September 1891. <br> Arrival in Paris
! scope=col style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | ''Le Petit Journal'' Paris, 11 September 1891.<br> ARRIVÉES À PARIS
|-
|We reveal that the third and last sections of the race have arrived in Paris.
It goes without saying that this is a preliminary statement of fact. The final rankings will be confirmed in a few days, after the return and checking of our control books. We hope, however, that no serious objections will change each competitor's position in the final standings. They have valiantly conquered by leg power!

9 September<br>
*1st MM Ch Terront, Bayonne, arrived at 6:37 in the morning, from Paris to Brest and back in 71 hours 37 minutes.
*2nd Jiel-Laval, Bordeaux, arrived at 3:04 pm, a total time of 80 hours 4 minutes.

|Nous ouvrons aujourd'hui la troisième et dernière rubrique de la course: celle des arrivés à Paris.
Il va de soi que ce n'est là qu'une mention, la constatation d'un fait. Pour que le classement soit definitif il faudra un délai de quelques jours, le retour de nos livres de contrôle, la vérification de diverses pièces. Nous espérons, toutefois, que pour chacun des concurrents nulle objection sérieuse, ne viendra modifier leur rang au classement final. Ils l'ont trop vaillamment conquis a la force du jarret!

Journée du 9 Septembre<br>
MM.
*1er Ch. Terront, de Bayonne, arrivé à 6 heures 37 minutes du matin, trajet de Paris à Brest, et retour en 71 heures 37 minutes.
*2e Jiel-Laval, de Bordeaux, arrivé à 3 heures 4 du soir, trajet en 80 heures 4 minutes
|}</ref><ref group="Note">''[[Le Petit Journal (newspaper)|Le Petit Journal]]'' Paris, 16 September 1891 states: 
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" 
|-
! scope=col style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | ''Le Petit Journal'' Paris, 16 September 1891. <br> The National Race, Paris to Brest and return
! scope=col style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" | ''Le Petit Journal'' Paris, 16 September 1891.<br> La Course Nationale de Paris à Brest et Retour
|-
|The petrol/gazoline powered Quadricyle continued its superb journey. It arrived on Sunday evening at [[Vitré, Ille-et-Vilaine]] and left the next morning to [[Mortagne-au-Perche]] where it spent yesterday morning. It arrived [[in Paris]] yesterday evening at seven o'clock at the [[Porte Maillot]]. [15 September 1891] 
|Le Quadricyle à gazoline Peugeot à poursuivi brillament son voyage. Il est arrivé Dimanche soir à Vitré, et est parti le lendemain matin pour Mortagne ou il a passé hier matin. Il est arrivé hier soir à sept heures à la Porte Maillot.
|}</ref>

===1901 to 1951 ===
[[File:Paris-Brest-Paris.jpg|thumb|Poster advertising Paris-Brest, showing 1901 winner Maurice Garin]]
The 1901 Paris-Brest was sponsored not only by ''Le Petit Journal'' but ''L'Auto-Velo'', edited by [[Henri Desgrange]]. For the first time, professionals were segregated from the "touriste-routier" group (in which a 65-year-old finished in just over 200&nbsp;hours). The newspapers organized a [[Telegraphy|telegraph]] system to relay results to their Paris presses, and the public followed the exploits of [[Maurice Garin]], who won in just over 52&nbsp;hours over 112 other professionals.

So many newspapers were sold that [[Géo Lefèvre]] at [[L'Auto]] suggested an even bigger race, the [[Tour de France]]. Under Henri Desgrange's leadership, the first Tour happened in 1903.

The 1911 event saw pack riding rather than solo breaks. Five riders stayed together until nearly the last control, Emile Georget finally pulling away from Ernest Paul to finish in 50&nbsp;hours and 13&nbsp;minutes.

The 1921 event, following [[World War I]], was small, with 43 professionals and 65 touriste-routiers. It was fought between [[Eugène Christophe]] and Lucien Mottiat, Mottiat finally prevailing in 55&nbsp;hours 7&nbsp;minutes.

In 1931, there was a change in the regulations. Proposed by André Griffe (president of the Union des Audax Cyclistes Parisiens), Desgrange (president of l'Auto) replaced the ''touriste-routier'' group by an [[Audax (cycling)|Audax]], where cyclists rode in groups of 10 at an average 20kmh (22.5kmh since 1961).

Many people disliked that change. So Camille Durand (president of the Audax Club Parisien, ACP) organised another PBP at the same time on the same road. Cyclists could ride individually (French ''allure libre'') and there was a limit of 96&nbsp;hours. 57 participated, among them two women, a [[tandem]] with two men, four mixed tandems and a triplet.

The 1931 professional event saw victory by [[Australia]]n [[Hubert Opperman]] with a sprint on the finish [[velodrome]] after his long solo breakaway was neutralized just outside Paris. Opperman's finishing time was a record 49&nbsp;hours 21&nbsp;minutes, despite constant rain. His diet included 12&nbsp;pounds of [[celery]], which he thought an important energy source (celery's energy content is minuscule, but it may have been a source of fluid and salt).

Owing to [[World War II]], the 1941 PBP was postponed to 1948, when [[L'Equipe]] sponsored the event. Of 52 pros, Albert Hendrickx proved strongest, winning in a sprint over fellow Belgian [[François Neuville]].

Three years later, the 1951 event saw Maurice Diot win in a record time of 38&nbsp;hours 55&nbsp;minutes. It is the last time PBP has been raced by professionals and from then on the course used smaller roads and more hills. Diot won a sprint over breakaway companion Eduoard Muller after waiting for Muller to fix a puncture in Trappes, 22&nbsp;km from the finish.

===1956 to present: amateur event===
Though listed on the professional calendar in 1956 and 1961, too few racers signed up to make the event happen. Nonetheless, hundreds of randonneurs turned out. And the randonneur division even featured racing, [[René Herse]]-sponsored Roger Baumann winning over Lheuillier in 52&nbsp;hours 19&nbsp;minutes.<ref name="VBQ - 1 - 2">{{cite journal|last=Heine|first=Jan|title=Interview with Roger Baumann, Pilote de René Herse and Winner of PBP 1956|journal=Vintage Bicycle Quarterly|year=2002|volume=1|issue=2|url=http://www.bikequarterly.com/contents.html}}</ref>

PBP was held every five years between 1956 and 1975, with more participants and less media coverage.<ref name="BQ - 9 - 3">{{cite journal|last=Heine|first=Jan|title=The History of Randonneuring, Part 3: Post-War Boom, 1950s Decline and the End of Competition|journal=Bicycle Quarterly|year=2011|volume=9|issue=3|pages=55|url=http://www.bikequarterly.com/contents.html}}</ref> From 1948 until the 1980s, the randonneur event included a "Challenge des Constructeurs" for the bicycle maker with the three best-placed riders. [[René Herse]] won this "Challenge" every time from 1948 until 1971, and again in 1975. No other builder won the "Challenge" more than once.<ref>{{cite book|last=Heine|first=Jan|title=Rene Herse - The Bikes - The Builder - The Riders|year=2012|publisher=Bicycle Quarterly Press|location=Seattle|isbn=976546023-6|pages=424|url=http://www.bikequarterly.com/books_rene_herse.html}}</ref>

The Belgian former professional Herman de Munck came 5th in 66, first in 71, 75, 79 and 83. He was disqualified in 79, most believe unfairly. De Munck continues to place highly, finishing the 1999 PBP 109th place at the age of 60.

The randonneur Paris–Brest–Paris has always allowed women to participate.<ref name="BQ - 8 - 3">{{cite journal|last=Heine|first=Jan|title=The History of Randonneuring, Part 1: Vélocio, the Audax and Paris-Brest-Paris|journal=Bicycle Quarterly|year=2010|volume=8|issue=3|pages=54|url=http://www.bikequarterly.com/contents.html}}</ref> In 1975, Chantal de la Cruz and Nicole Chabriand lowered the women's time to 57&nbsp;hours. In 1979, Suzy de Carvalho finished in 57h02m.

American Scott Dickson came third in 1979, though at just less than 49&nbsp;hours he was four hours behind the winners. In 1983 he again came third, this time by only one hour. He won his first PBP in 1987 by breaking away in Brest, aided by a tailwind and a few strong riders from the "touring" group, which that year started many hours before the "racing" group. Dickson also won in 1991 and in 1995.

Susan Notorangelo set a women's record of 54&nbsp;hours 40&nbsp;minutes in 1983, this was bettered in 1995 when by Brigitte Kerlouet 44&nbsp;hours 14&nbsp;minutes. American Melinda Lyon finished as first woman in 1999 and 2003. In 2007 the first woman was Christiane Thibault, and in 2011 it was Isabelle Esclangon, both from France.

The 2007 Paris–Brest–Paris was the first poor weather event since 1987. It was the worst weather PBP riders had faced since 1956. 30.2% failed to finish.{{cn|date=August 2022}}