10 years ago, in 2012, the Tour de France passed the city of Neslé. The opportunity to remember that a cyclist from Neslois, Charles Hainiermanaged to participate and go to the end of the Grande Boucle in 1922, just 100 years ago.
That is Alan Happnow retired municipal police officer from Nesle, who, after the discovery of an old photo in the archives of the town hall “, had managed to follow the career and life of the local professional sportsman a few years ago thanks to articles published in the press of the time. He made a book out of it,’A Neslois in the Tourwhere he talks about the amateur runner’s unique journey.
Soldier in 14-18
Born on February 7, 1895 in Voyennes, Charles Hennuier moved very quickly with his family to Nesle, before working as a baker, while competing in his first amateur races. But World War I caught up with him and he was conscripted on November 15, 1914, at the age of 19. His passion for the bicycle pen is already mentioned at this point, as his mission is to convey military messages by bicycle or on foot. Wounded several times, he manages to heal and return from the conflict safe and sound. On his return, he was notably awarded the Military Medal and two regimental citations for his conduct in the face of the enemy.
A first failure in 1921…
The baker resumes his activity in a bakery in Abbeville, but at the same time decides to participate in the Tour de France 1921 with 122 other participants. 38 go to the end of the adventure, but not the rider from Neslois, who dismounts during the first mountain stage , between Bayonne and Luchon. A few months later, he abandoned the bakery to improve his physical fitness while integrating Maurice Metivet’s bicycle shop into Nesle. He is committed to racing more races at the highest level. Let’s quote the Paris-Roubaix (which he completed in 62e position), the Wonder trophy and the Circuit du Santerre, organized by the Vélo-Club-Neslois, but also Paris-Tours (49e).
… and success in 1922
Then came the big day, the 1922 Tour de France, and its 5,375 kilometers to cover in 15 stages ranging from 260 to 482 km. Austral team member Charles Hénuier is the only Picard present at the event, accompanied only by Flixecourt’s Dupontreué. The 120 runners will pass through the Picardy roads (Montdidier, Amiens and Abbeville) and the high mountains, where the Neslois runner will hold this time to reach the finish, Paris and the Parc des Princes on July 23 in 37e position. For the record, he was then the second Picardy runner to complete the Grande Boucle, the first being Constant Menager.
Back with a bang
For this achievement, Charles Hénuier was entitled to a great reception and banquet under the auspices of the Vélo-Club-Neslois. The following year he took to the roads of the Tour de France again, but he did not have the same success as in 1927 and 1928. He then established himself as a bicycle dealer in 1929 before submitting his own brand: “La Picarde” bicycles. While maintaining regular training in competition, until the age of 60. Charles Hénuier died at the age of 63, on November 11, 1958, and rests in Nesle Cemetery.
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