Roger Rivière

Gitane, Rivière's last sponsor, manufactured a Roger Rivière signature series of bicycles in the 1970s. The production of the Rivière line coincided with the 20th century "bike boom".

Doctors found pain-killers in Rivière's pockets and more in his body. Rivière nevertheless blamed his mechanic, saying his brakes were faulty. "I pulled them on but they didn't work." The brakes were examined and found to be faultless. He then said there was oil on his rims. He withdrew the accusation in face of criticism. He later sold the story of his drug use to a newspaper, admitting he had taken Palfium during the climb of the Perjuret, a painkiller that could have affected his reflexes and judgment. In 1961, Miroir du Cyclisme republished an article originally written for Libre Santé by Rivière's friend and dietician, Clarisse Brobecker. She confirmed the theory that Rivière was so numbed by painkillers that he either hadn't attempted to pull on the brakes or had been unable to.

Rivière, a time trialist, all-around talent on the road, and a three-time world pursuit champion on the track, lost his career to injury. He was considered to have a chance of winning the 1960 Tour de France but crashed on the Col de Perjuret descent of Mont Aigoual in the Massif Central while following leader Gastone Nencini. Rivière hit a guard-block on the edge of the road, falling 20 meters into a ravine. He landed in brush, breaking two vertebrae. The injury permanently disabled Riviére, confining him to a wheelchair and ending his career.

Rivière was one of 14 riding for France in 1960. It was his second participation and he had become one of the favourites. But his talent made him careless with training and what he ate. Rivière had a personal war with another French rider, Henry Anglade. Rivière won the opening time trial but Anglade had the yellow jersey of leadership by day six. Rivière took his revenge, even though they were in the same team, by attacking 112 km from the finish at Lorient. He beat Anglade by 14 minutes. Only a German, Hans Junkermann, Jean Adriaenssens of Belgium, and Gastone Nencini of Italy could stay with him. Rivière won the stage and Nencini the overall lead.

The Tour took the Perjuret on 10 July 1960 on a stage from Millau to Avignon. It had never previously been that way. Rivière followed Nencini wherever he went. He had only to hold him until the final time-trial and beat him by 1m 38s to win the Tour. On the zig-zags of the col de Perjuret, Nencini passed fourth with Rivière behind him. Nencini was known as the fastest descender in the world, famous for his dangerous and risky trajectories, and Rivière tried to follow him. He hit a low wall soon after the start of the descent and fell over it, rolling down the slope. A team-mate, Louis Rostollan, raised his hand to call the team manager, Marcel Bidot. He, journalists and officials found Rostollan peering into the ravine. Rivière's bike was nearby, its forks pushed back and its frame twisted. Rivière had broken his back. A helicopter took him to hospital in Montpellier.

He won the world pursuit championship again in 1958, at the Parc des Princes, beating Leandro Faggin in the final with 5m 59s, the first time the title had been won in less than six minutes. He said he would attack the hour again, on 23 September. He rode 53×15 (7.48 m), higher than that usually used by sprinters. He punctured but started again and became the first rider to exceed 47 km/h. Pierre Chany wrote:

Rivière admitted taking amphetamines and solucamphor during his hour record in 1958 – including tablets during the attempt. He said he had an injection of solucamphor and amphetamine before the start and swallowed several amphetamine tablets.

Rivière started as a track rider, at the old velodrome in St-Étienne. At 19 he beat Jacques Anquetil for the national pursuit championship at the Parc des Princes in Paris. He turned professional in 1957, when he beat Albert Bouvet to win the world pursuit championship at Rocourt, Belgium.

On the advice of his team manager, Raphaël Géminiani, and his agent, Daniel Dousset, Rivière attempted Ercole Baldini's hour record on 18 September 1957 at the Vigorelli track in Milan. He was still in national service in the army at Joinville, near Paris, although in a battalion which allowed the country's top athletes to train at public expense. He rode a 7.28m gear and took the record with 46 km 923m.

Roger Rivière (23 February 1936, Saint-Étienne – 1 April 1976, Saint-Galmier) was a French track and road bicycle racer. He raced as a professional from 1957 to 1960.