Maurice Garin, the winner of the first Tour de France was born on the 3rd of marc 1871 in Arvier, Aosta Valley, Italy.
Garin became a professional rider by chance.
He was already racing as an amateur (he won his first race in 1893) when he decided to ride a race nearby his home. He learned only at the start, that this event was only for professionals. He waited until the official participants departed and rode after them. Although he fell twice, he passed all the professional riders and won the race. But organisers refused to pay him the prize for the victory, so the spectators raised money (twice as much as the original prize was) for him.
He finished the first Paris-Roubaix third but won the next two editions.
He was the winner of the first Tour de France. He repeated his success next year, but he was stripped of his title.
He was also banned from racing from cycling for two years.
After his retirement, Garin ran his garage in Lens until his death. He also appeared on certain cycling events (like the 50th anniversary of the first Tour de France) and founded a professional cycling team under his own name.
Maurice Grin died on the 19th of February 1957.
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