Odile Defraye

Odilon " Odiel " Defraeye (also Odile Defraye; * July 14, 1888 in Rumbeke; † August 20, 1965 in Bierges ) was a Belgian racing cyclist. He was in 1912 the first Belgian winner of the Tour de France.

Odiel Defraeye, a skilled brush makers, was a professional racing car driver 1909 until 1914. He was a protégé of the Belgian cycling idol Cyrille Van Hauwaert who hoped the first Tour victory of a Belgian from him. This victory allowed him in 1912. During the years 1909, 1913, 1914, 1919, 1920 and 1924, he started again in the Tour, but had to give up every time. He also won the 1913 Milan - Sanremo cycling classic, as the second Belgian after his mentor Van Hauwaert. After the First World War, he was again professional from 1919 to 1924, but was not able to his earlier successes.

After his victory in the Tour de France convinced Defraeye the Belgian publisher of Sportwereld, Karel Van Wijnendaele to organize your own tour according to their model: 1913 the first Tour of Flanders has been started.

1924 ended Odiel Defraeye its active cycling career, first moved to the French Côte- d'Or, but later returned to Belgium and opened a café, which although was good; However, he mourned for the old times and began to drink. Died in 1965 the first Belgian Tour winner Lost in a retirement home in Bierges.

2012 dedicated the Nationaal Wieler Museum in Roeselare, Belgium Odiel Defraeye its program of events under the heading In het Wiel van Odiel, on the occasion of the centenary of his Tour victory.