Henri Pépin
Henri Pépin. Hard Man with a Soft Belly.
In the early days, like now, the Tour de France was an event for hard men. In many ways, perhaps harder than now. Stages were longer, upwards of 300 kilometers, surpassing 400 at times. Roads were unpaved. Some, mere dirt paths in the mountains. The riders were not allowed to change bicycles or receive outside help of any kind. Bicycles were heavier and gears fixed. Stages were often begun in the middle of the night so riders had time to finish the next day.
Enter our hero.
After dropping out after the seventh stage in 1905, Henri Pépin must have done some thinking. Perhaps he thought long and hard about his chances of realistically competing with the likes of Trousselier, Georget or Faber. Perhaps the pain of seven stages of grueling, near inhuman racing burned an indelible memory upon his soul. Would he quit? Hell no. Would he compete? Well… no. Would he ride the 1907 Tour de France in style and pleasure? Hell yes.
Hiring two professionals, Jean Dargassies and Henri Gaubon, to accompany and assist him, Pépin promised to pay them more than if they won the tour. How could they resist? His plan was to enjoy gourmet lunches, sumptuous dinners and nights in the best hotels. If he couldn’t win the tour then he might as well enjoy it in grand style.
Beginning the first stage, Team Pépin set off a bit late as their leader was busy flirting with the ladies. Blowing kisses and tipping his hat, he announced, “Let us depart. But remember. We have all the time in the world.” And his leisurely tour began.
Singing songs and waving, our heroes took their time finishing the stages. Lunches were devoured, dinners were savored and wine flowed. Along the way, the crowds adoration and time keepers anger grew. In those days there were no cutoff times. Pépin and his cohorts finished the second stage more than twelve hours after the winner.
Coming across an exhausted and finished rider, Pépin ordered his men to help him out of the ditch he was lying in and invited him along. Why let hunger ruin a tour? Pépin rushed the man to the nearest inn where his hunger was vanquished, his bravery restored and the three were now four.
Journalists somehow got it in their head he was royalty and began writing of the “Baron Henri Pépin de Gontaud”. The convenient confusion evidently stemmed from the regal sounding “Henri Pépin de Gontaud” stamped on his trunk of belongings. Rather than hinting at any blue blood in those post revolutionary days, the stamp simply meant he was from Gontaud. No matter. A baron was born.
Somewhere during the fifth stage, Pépin decided he’d had enough. He paid his teammates the promised amount and caught the train back to Gontaud. Dargassies also decided to hop the train, dropping out of his last Tour, leaving only Gaubon to ride on.
Pépin would return to the Tour de France in 1914 only to drop out and die shortly thereafter. The cause of death listed as “athleticism”… As for Jean Dargassies and Henri Gaubon? They would enter history as cycling’s first domestiques, though the coinage of the word would be saved until 1911. But that, as they say, is another story for another day…
Sources:
The Story of the Tour de France. Volume 1. 1903 – 1964. By Bill and Carol McGann
Hard Men With Soft Bellies 