Léon Flameng

Together with Paul Masson, Léon Flameng dominated the 1896 Olympic cycling events. He won the 100 km, in which his compatriot did not compete, but served as a pacemaker for Flameng. He won that race fairly easy, riding with a French flag tied around his leg. Masson had defeated Flameng earlier in the sprint and the 10 km track races.

Léon Flameng had achieved some measure of fame as a cyclist in August 1895, when he cycled 3,000 km. across France, in his own personal Tour de France. He never placed at the world championships. He fought for France in World War I as a sergeant-pilot with the 2nd Aviation Group. He was killed in action when his parachute failed to open near Ève, Oise.