May 11, 1893 – Early bicycle enthusiast, Henri Desgrange, established the very first bicycle world record, traveling at a top speed of 21.95 miles per hour or 35.325 km/hr at the Buffalo Velodrome in Paris, France.
This was sort of a starting point for Desgrange to take cycling to a whole new level. The Frenchman watched his first bicycle race in 1891 and caught the bug.
He ended up setting twelve world records in track cycling, was an early journalist/writer on the sport, and was the original founder of the Tour de France in 1903.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network

Roy Lopez: From Childhood Fan to Arizona Cardinals Player
In professional sports, it’s not uncommon to hear stories of athletes achieving their childhood

FIFA World Cup Finals: Which Is the Greatest Ever?
A World Cup final is a rare event that happens only once every four

Mike Listro’s Weightlifting Legacy: Strength, Determination, and Breaking Records
Mike Listro began lifting weights in his basement at thirteen after watching the movie

George Pjura: American Weightlifting Ageless Wonder
Few sports fans have heard of George Pjura. One reason is that Olympic Weightlifting

The New York Yankees in 1980: A Tale of Determination
After winning back-to-back World Series in 1977 & 1978, the New York Yankees had

Two Safeties From The Miami Dolphins “No Name Defense”
During the first half of the 1970s, the Miami Dolphins had a couple of

Long Shot & Hot Favorites: Discussing Historical Super Bowl Winners’ Betting Odds
When the Philadelphia Eagles walked off the field of Caesars Superdome last February, very

Century For Stripes: From Billy Jeffrey to Fraser Kershaw
In the chronicles of American soccer history, one name stands out as a symbol