The history of Peugeot and cycling

Peugeot’s relationship with the world of cycling began in 1886. At that time, the company was immersed in a diversification strategy, adding new production lines to its existing ones. In 1882 it created a new workshop at its Beaulieu factory to produce bicycles, and four years later it began series production.

Its range consisted of a Penny-farthing-type model priced between 225 and 450 francs. The fact that it had no chain and used a freewheel made its maintenance inexpensive. Furthermore, Peugeot began offering tricycles and a bicycle with 75 cm wheels priced at 250 francs. The architecture of the latter remains in use to this day. It was so popular that the term Peugeot entered the collective vocabulary as a generic way to refer to this means of transport.

In 1903 the ‘Tour de France’ was born, conceived by the publication ‘L’Auto’ under the motto “the longest and toughest cycling competition ever organised”. Although its extreme nature would eventually be toned down, it grew in fame. Around that time, Peugeot also came into being as a cycling team.

From 1905 onwards, Peugeot emerged as such with four victories in the ‘Tour de France’: in 1905 with Louis Trousselier, in 1906 with René Pottier, and in 1907 and 1908 with Lucien Petit Breton.

After the end of the First World War, Peugeot experienced a three-year hiatus during which it survived as a consortium with other squads under the name ‘La Sportive’. Once the economic situation improved, Peugeot was re-established as an independent team. From then on it remained under the classic co-sponsorship model, combining its name with that of other partners.

In 1975, when Bernard Thévenet won his first ‘Tour de France’ as a member of Peugeot, a feat he would repeat two years later, the 150,000 units sold in 1971 nearly tripled in just three years.

Due to its longevity and the number of victories achieved, it is considered one of the most famous teams in the world of cycling. Moreover, the CyclingRanking.com website ranks the Peugeot team as the first in history.

Peugeot offers a wide range across most segments: road, crossover, urban, children’s and even electric. You can see all of them here

The most representative is the HYbrid Bike AE21. It embodies Peugeot’s expertise applied to the world of two-wheelers: it is urban, with a modern and elegant design, innovative and built to meet all the challenges posed by the daily use of this means of transport.

Source | Peugeot