Comments on: Cyril Praet: International Man of Mystery http://www.bobkestrut.com/2007/01/19/cyril-praet-international-man-of-mystery/ Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:17:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Janine http://www.bobkestrut.com/2007/01/19/cyril-praet-international-man-of-mystery/#comment-14894 Janine Wed, 30 May 2007 13:41:12 +0000 http://www.bobkestrut.com/2007/01/19/cyril-praet-international-man-of-mystery/#comment-14894 My dad was "Frenchy" Gilles i.e. Maurice Gilles who won that 6 day Milwaukee race with his partner Oscar Junar and who rode in many of these rode races and in velodome and road circuits. As french immigrants, he and his brother Florian wanted to race in the Tour De France for the United States but was told if they returned to France the minute they got off the boat, they would be arrested to either serve in the army or be locked up in jail. (I have the letters from the French Consulite to prove this fact.) Needless to say they never rode the Tour De France. Also remember by the end of the 1930's racing no longer provided support for their families and they were forced to leave the sport they loved thus "falling off the face of the earth ." My dad was “Frenchy” Gilles i.e. Maurice Gilles who won that 6 day Milwaukee race with his partner Oscar Junar and who rode in many of these rode races and in velodome and road circuits.

As french immigrants, he and his brother Florian wanted to race in the Tour De France for the United States but was told if they returned to France the minute they got off the boat, they would be arrested to either serve in the army or be locked up in jail.
(I have the letters from the French Consulite to prove this fact.) Needless to say they never rode the Tour De France.

Also remember by the end of the 1930’s racing no longer provided support for their families and they were forced to leave the sport they loved thus “falling off the face of the earth .”

]]> By: Kris Green http://www.bobkestrut.com/2007/01/19/cyril-praet-international-man-of-mystery/#comment-4681 Kris Green Sun, 21 Jan 2007 16:12:27 +0000 http://www.bobkestrut.com/2007/01/19/cyril-praet-international-man-of-mystery/#comment-4681 This was a terrific post, with great journalistic sleuthing. And the capper was the dietary advice at the end. Jesus, can you imagine picking up the tempo with a pint of milk sloshing around inside you? Ah, well, it must have helped wash down the amphetemines. This was a terrific post, with great journalistic sleuthing. And the capper was the dietary advice at the end. Jesus, can you imagine picking up the tempo with a pint of milk sloshing around inside you?
Ah, well, it must have helped wash down the amphetemines.

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