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A top-flight puncher and double French champion, the native of Nouvion-le-Comte in Aisne died at the age of 104.
Émile Idée, last survivor of the first post-war Tour de France in 1947, died on Monday at the age of 104. Born in Nouvion-le-Comte in Aisne, this talented puncher saw his early career disrupted by the Second World War.
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Despite this difficult context, he won the title of French champion in 1942, during an event contested in Lyon, in the free zone. Five years later, he won a second national title, in a race marked by an unusual event: it was canceled and then re-run after the first winner, Paul Néri, had not yet obtained his naturalization.
Participating in the Tour de France three times, Émile Idée distinguished himself by winning a stage in Nîmes during his last participation in 1949. Apart from the Grande Boucle, he also shone in other prestigious races, finishing second in the Grand Prix des Nations in 1946 and 1947, beaten each time by the legendary Fausto Coppi, nicknamed the “campionissimo”. Nicknamed “the king of Chevreuse”, he ended his career in 1951.
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The previous year, he had been deeply affected by the tragic death of his brother-in-law Camille Danguillaume, who died during the French championship on the Montlhéry circuit. His family has also distinguished itself in other sporting disciplines: Jean-Michel Bazire, his grandson by marriage, is an emblematic figure in harness trotting, with five victories at the Prix d'Amérique to his credit.
David Lappartient, president of the International Cycling Union (UCI), paid tribute to Émile Idée on Professional France 1942 and 1947. An endearing character! My condolences to his family.”
France
