Famous for his frail figure molded in a yellow and purple outfit and his contagious laugh; the doyen of cycling Robert Marchand, who died Friday 21^st night to Saturday 22nd May at the age of 109, had become a mascot thanks to his super-centenary records. He, who said he did not fear death only paralysis, obeyed his motto - "we must move!" - for as long as possible. As recently as November 26^th, 2018, he had celebrated his 107th birthday on a bicycle by riding about 15 kilometers in Ardèche. This was an incredible moment to watch and ACC-EX has limitless possibilities if you want to open a betting account without restriction at the bookmaker of your choice.

About Robert Marchand

Born on November 26^th, 1911 in Amiens, Robert Marchand made a name for himself after a century of life by becoming the first centenarian to set speed records on a bicycle.

Great revenge for the one who at the age of 20 said he had given up, a career as a professional cyclist on the advice of the sports world and doctors who doubted his abilities in view of his build.

He lived two world wars and outlived seventeen presidents of the Republic. The eternal cyclist was 25 years old under the presidency of Albert Lebrun, 50 years old under Charles de Gaulle, 75 years old with François Mitterrand, and celebrated his centenary under the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2011. When Emmanuel Macron was born in 1977, he was already 66 years old.

He, the bicycle fan, was able to follow 98 Tours de France from near and far. Diminished and tired, he was still in front of his TV when the latest one arrived on the Champs-Élysées on September 20^th. He lived on three continents and became a widower in the early 1940s.

A series of records

He did not get back on a bicycle until he was well into his sixties. He set the hour record for the over 100s and then for the over 105s, and won the title of world road cycling champion for the over 105s. Always under the yellow and purple jersey of L'Ardéchoise, the popular local race that made him its mascot.

At each of his outings, the cameras flocked to immortalize this 1.50 m tall man. Voluntarily naughty, he delivered without complaint the keys to his longevity: "sport", "lots of fruit and vegetables", "not too much coffee", "no cigarettes", "very little alcohol".

On January 4^th 2017, for his unprecedented record in the category of over 105 years, his notoriety had convinced some television channels to broadcast live his 92 laps at the velodrome of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.

Fireman, sugar cane planter, wine merchant, or market gardener, Robert Marchand worked until an advanced age. He was also involved for a long time, of course, in the French Communist Party and the CGT.

After having lived through two world wars, the Cold War, and years of wandering in Venezuela and Canada, he spent the last years of his life in a modest studio in Mitry-Mory, north of Paris.