Forgotten French Marque ? (Lejeune)

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velohomme

Senior Member
Just a couple of pics of my 1978 Lejeune. I bought it off ebay but it was originally found at a French jumble sale. Full campag gran sport groupset so the guy could probably not believe his eyes. Lejeune won the TdF in 1968 which is something mercier never managed.
 

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alicat

Legendary Member
Location
Staffs
Quel joli vélo.
 

Smokin Joe

Legendary Member
Fantastic looking machine. Barry Hoban raced one when he rode for Sonolor Lejune, and if you want to complete the picture here's a team jersey -

https://freestylecycling.com/retro-sonolor-lejeune-cycling-jersey.html
 

normgow

Guru
Location
Germany
Lejeune won the TdF in 1968 which is something mercier never managed.

Without trawling through a load of old records I seem to think that Louison Bobet rode a Mercier to victory in the 1955 Tour de France and possibly in 1954 and 1953 as well. Pre-war results should be looked at too.
 
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velohomme

velohomme

Senior Member
Although Bobet rode for Mercier when he won in 1955 the TdF was raced by national teams so he wasn't riding a mercier at the time. Unfortunately as a team the closest they came was second. The record over their history was still pretty good though.
 

Smokin Joe

Legendary Member
Although Bobet rode for Mercier when he won in 1955 the TdF was raced by national teams so he wasn't riding a mercier at the time. Unfortunately as a team the closest they came was second. The record over their history was still pretty good though.
They still rode their trade team bikes though, just like they do now in the Worlds. Check out Poulidor in the 1968 Tour, riding his team issue Mercier -

a24a175d56f28945885982c9b5ac7752.jpg
 

normgow

Guru
Location
Germany
Although Bobet rode for Mercier when he won in 1955 the TdF was raced by national teams so he wasn't riding a mercier at the time. Unfortunately as a team the closest they came was second. The record over their history was still pretty good though.
As Smoking Joe points out, the 1968 Tour was also contested by national teams won by Jan Janssen riding his Lejeune as can be seen in the excellent photograph.
 
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