Emile Idée, the oldest survivor of the first post-war Tour, run in 1947, died on Monday at the age of 104.
“Émile Idée, oldest stage winner of the Tour de France, has just passed away at the age of 104. He was also French professional Champion in 1942 and 1947. An endearing character! All my condolences to his family,” reacted on X David Lappartient, president of the International Cycling Union (UCI).
Born in Nouvion-le-Comte in Aisne, this high-flying puncher had his career troubled at the start by the world conflict.
But he was able to become champion of France in 1942, in Lyon, in the so-called free zone, and win a second national title five years later. For the record, the race was run because the first winner, Paul Néri, had not yet obtained his naturalization.
In the Tour de France, which he raced three times, Emile Idée won a stage, in Nîmes, during his third participation (1949).
Second in the GP des Nations in 1946 and 1947, each time behind the “campionissimo” Fausto Coppi, “the king of Chevreuse” ended his career at the end of 1951. The previous year, his brother-in-law Camille Danguillaume had found the died on the Montlhéry circuit, during the French championship.
His grandson by marriage (the husband of his granddaughter) made himself known in a completely different sport: harness trotting. Driver Jean-Michel Bazire has won the Prix d’Amérique five times.
