Who was Antonin Magne?

Who was Antonin Magne?

Antoine Marius Magne known as Antonin Magne (1904-1983) ) was a professional cyclist from 1926 to 1939. He notably won the Tour de France in 1931 and 1934. 

A major rider of the 1930s, he also had a road world champion title in 1936 and three consecutive successes in the Grand Prix des Nations between 1934 and 1936. However, he failed in his quest for the French champion’s jersey. , finishing second in the event four times.

In 1945, Antoine Magne became sporting director of the Mercier team, a position he held for twenty-five years. Very quickly, his team affirmed its domination of French and then world cycling and won several prestigious victories. Antonin Magne notably manages renowned runners such as Rik Van Steenbergen, Louison Bobet and Raymond Poulidor, and participates in the emergence of young talented French runners, like Bernard Gauthier.

Son of farmers, turned star, Antoine Magne is the symbiosis of these two worlds, having bought a Panhard “Panoramic” 6CS (the French luxury car par excellence) and taking over his father’s farm in Livry-Gargan, to work there, until taking up the torch of cycling as a highly esteemed sports director.