Jules Rossi

Jules Rossi was an Italian professional road bicycle racer. Rossi became an orphan at the age of six and came to France to live in the town of Nogent-sur-Marne with the rest of his family. He started serious cycling at the age of 14 in 1928 and by 1933 had become one of the top amateurs in France riding for the Velo Club de Levallois. In 1934 Rossi turned professional for the Alcyon-Dunlop team of Ludovic Feuillet. He soon turned in some impressive performances as a professional winning the Circuit of the Allier in 1935 and Paris-St Etienne in 1936. In 1936 he finished fifth in Paris–Roubaix and in 1937 he became the first Italian to win that cobbled classic at the age of just 23. In 1938 he won Paris–Tours in a record average speed for a professional race of 42.092 km per hour, being awarded the Ruban Jaune for that achievement. Also in 1938 Rossi won Stage 6A of the Tour de France between Bordeaux and Arcachon. Rossi continued to race throughout the years of World War II winning Paris-Reims twice and the Grand Prix des Nations in 1941.