The Mendois still does regular outings of nearly 100 km. With his son Christophe, he participated in the development of mountain biking in Lozère.
Established in 2008, by Privat Rousset, then mayor of Laubies, to honor the memory of local cycling champion Eugène Tamburlini, this eponymous trophy is awarded each year to a Lozérien who has marked the cycling season through their action, commitment and volunteerism.
The organizing committee, chaired by MM. Rousset and Estevenon, former teammate of the late Eugène Tamburlini, made their choice from among the five nominees: Paulin Fages, Mathys Lafage, Hugo Lorentz, Matthéo Iniguez and Daniel Henry.
Airfield manager
For the 2024 season, the Tamburlini trophy is awarded to cyclist Daniel Henry. Born on September 5, 1937 in Mende, he traveled throughout France following the assignments of his father, then colonel of the gendarmerie. When the latter retired, they returned to the Lozère prefecture, his mother's hometown.
Daniel Henry was a pastry chef there for ten years, then became manager of the Mende aerodrome in 1973. Despite intense work, he maintained impeccable physical condition by returning to the tarmac daily by bike or running along the Chemin des Chômeurs.
An outstanding handyman and meticulous model maker, he holds pilot's licenses and provides numerous passenger transports, with more than 4,500 flight hours.
Precursors of mountain biking in Lozère
He shares his passion for sport and cycling with his son Christophe who started with BMX, is a pioneer of mountain biking in Lozère, one of the best regional competitors and a bicycle trader in Mende. A store where Daniel Henry tinkers with numerous mountain bikes, to the delight of riders.
Daniel Henry remains a friendly, passionate and exciting man who has always been a member of the Mendois Vélo club, then chaired by René Moulin. From the beginning of the 1990s, all of its sports licenses were taken within the prefecture's flagship club.
Podiums
During thirty years of competition, he has a prestigious record of around 150 victories and countless podiums: champion of Lozère, winner of the regional cup and champion of Languedoc-Roussillon… Among them, his victory at the legendary Roc d'Azur master (1995) or on the Roc Laissagais Master (1997) remain unforgettable sporting memories.
Although the time of competitions is over, Daniel Henry still has the pleasure and the need to ride. His daily outings of 80 to 100 kilometers allow him to clock almost 20,000 kilometers per year! Enough to make most elite amateur runners and even some professionals pale.
Always in the saddle!
As soon as the sun is present and the temperatures are pleasant, you could see its frail silhouette in the embankments of Gévaudan. The passes of Vielbougue, Masseguin, Cheval mort or the difficult Goulet are his favorite and as long as life gives him strength, he will enjoy his beautiful Lozère by bicycle.
The Tamburlini trophy was presented to him on Monday January 6, with the prize offered by the partner Gévaudan Vélo.
