Pierre Marie Gonzague Privat (26 August 1880 – 19 October 1915) was a French professional road cyclist and cartoonist. He competed professionally from 1906 to 1910, mainly as a domestique for leading riders of his era, and took part in four editions of the Tour de France. Turned to drawing and caricature, he became known for his cycling-themed posters including many official posters is the main cycling events. He was killed during World War II.
Biography Privat was born in the 17th arrondissement of Paris on 26 August 1880. He became a professional cyclist at the relatively late age of 26, joining the prominent Peugeot team alongside riders such as Lucien Petit-Breton, Giovanni Gerbi, René Pottier, Émile Friol and Georges Passerieu. Although considered a capable rider, he was primarily employed in a supporting role and therefore never achieved major victories. However he still had multiple top-10 achievements in the international classic cycle races.
He rode the Tour de France four times. In 1907 he was team member of Émile Georget who was about to win the 1907 Tour de France. However, in Bayonne Georget suffered a puncture; and Privat gave him is bike to continue. Due to this, Georget was disclassified because it was in that era not allowed and Georget didn't win the Tour. Privat finished this Tour on the 11th place overall; his best Tour de France achievement. Toward the end of his cycling career, Privat became a cartoonist and caricaturists and became known for his cycling-themed posters. He designed numerous posters for major bicycle manufacturers and contributed to several Parisian sports newspapers.
During World War I, Privat served as a sergeant in the 274th Infantry Regiment. He died on 19 October 1915 at the evacuation hospital in Aubigny-en-Artois from wounds sustained in combat.
Major results
1906 1906 Tour de France 10th Stage 1 9th Stage 3 7th Stage 5 7th Paris–Tours
1907 11th Overall Tour de France 5th Stage 13 6th Stage 12 7th Stage 11 6th National Road Championships, Versailles 10th Paris–Roubaix 4th Paris–Dieppe 9th Paris–Brussels 6th Bol d'Or cycle race (24-hour race), Paris
1908 7th Bordeaux–Paris
1909 1st La Flèche–Mantes 8th Tours–Bordeaux 7th Paris–Trouville–Paris 6th Rouen–Roubaix
Grand Tour general classification results + Stage races 1906 1907 1908 1910 Tour de France DNF 11th DNF DNF
Classic cycle races results + Classic cycle races 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1913 Paris–Roubaix — 10th — — — 83rd Paris–Tours 7th — — 12th — — Bordeaux–Paris — — 7th — — — Paris—Brussels — 9th — — — —
References
External links