Editing Paris–Brest–Paris (section)

===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>