Firmin Lambot

Firmin Lambot (March 14, 1886 – January 19, 1964) was a Belgian bicycle racer and a two time champion of the Tour de France.

Born in the small town of Florennes, Lambot worked as a saddler but began racing professionally in 1908. In that year he won the championships of Flanders and Belgium. He rode the Tour de France from 1911 to 1913 but the First World War eliminated the race for the next five years.

When it struggled to its feet again in 1919 the Tour was a miserable affair of war-torn roads, fractured logistics and former contenders no longer alive to compete. Only eleven riders finished. Lambot was in second place for much of the race but prevailed when the leader, Eugène Christophe, suffered a broken fork. Many observers felt that Lambot owed his victory more to Christophe’s bad luck than to his own ability and a collection was taken up for Christophe that eventually surpassed the official prize money Lambot received.

During the 1919 Tour Henri Desgrange unveiled his now-famous yellow jersey (maillot jaune) and Lambot was the first rider to wear it. It has ever since identified the leader of the race.

In the 1920 and 1921 Tours Lambot placed respectably and in 1922 he became champion for the second time after another rival fell victim to a broken bicycle. Lambot was 36 years old when he won the 1922 Tour and remains the oldest champion in the history of the race. In retirement, he returned to work as a saddler.