Chapter 04 · The competition

Competition, an achievement record.

In fifty years at the highest level, the Mercier team built one of the greatest records in the history of cycling.

Fifty years at the top

1933Birth of the professional teamFirst Tour de France in 1935

40stage wins in the Tour de France

5victories at Paris-Roubaix

12victories at Paris-Nice

Raymond Poulidor and Antonin Magne, 1965

1933 – 1984

The runners for the crown.

The Mercier team took the start of its first Tour de France in 1935 and remained in the peloton until 1984: Mercier became the professional team with the most appearances in the Tour de France.

Legendary riders have made their careers there: Antonin Magne, Louison Bobet, Raymond Poulidor, Cyrille Guimard, Joop Zoetemelk.

The team is led by Edmond Mercier, son and nephew of the founders. Three sports directors succeeded one another at its head: Antonin Magne, a two-time Tour de France winner, followed by Louis Caput and Jean-Pierre Danguillaume.

Track record

Fifty years of victories.

Grand tours, classics, stage races: choose a category, then expand each race to find its winners.

Tour de France40 stage wins21 participations from 1962 to 1984, 5 team classification victories

The winners

1962: Robert Cazala (2)
1963: Frans Melckenbeeck
1964: Raymond Poulidor
1965: Raymond Poulidor (2)
1966: Raymond Poulidor
1969: Barry Hoban (2)
1970: Cyrille Guimard and Rolf Wolfshohl
1971: Jean-Pierre Genet
1972: Cyrille Guimard (4)
1973: Barry Hoban (2) and Cyrille Guimard
1974: Genet, Poulidor and Vianen
1975: Hoban, Zoetemelk and Knetemann
1976: Joop Zoetemelk (3)
1978: Joop Zoetemelk and Christian Seznec
1979: Christian Seznec and Joop Zoetemelk
1980: Jean-Louis Gauthier and Raymond Martin
1983: Clère, Andersen, Le Bigaut, Laurent, Michaud and the team time trial

Vuelta a España17 stage wins7 participations from 1964 to 1981, 3 final victories

The winners

Overall victories: Raymond Poulidor (1964), Rolf Wolfshohl (1965), Joop Zoetemelk (1979)
1970: Eddy Peelman (2) and José María Errandonea
1971: Peelman (3), Guimard (2) and Vianen
1979: Joop Zoetemelk (2) and Christian Levavasseur
1981: Clère (3), Andersen and Vichot

Giro d'Italia2 stage wins2 participations, in 1957 and 1958

The winners

1957: Antonin Rolland and Louison Bobet