Tamburlini Trophy: Daniel Henry from Mende, 87, still cycles 20,000 km a year

Daniel Henry, lauréat du trophée Tamburlini 2024. DR – DR

The Mendois still goes on regular outings of nearly 100 km. With his son Christophe, he participated in the development of mountain biking in Lozère.

Introduced in 2008 by Privat Rousset, then mayor of Laubies, to honor the memory of local cycling champion Eugène Tamburlini, this eponymous trophy is awarded each year to a Lozérien who has marked the cycling season through his action, commitment and volunteering.

The organizing committee, chaired by Messrs. Rousset and Estevenon, former teammate of the late Eugène Tamburlini, made his choice from among the five nominees: Paulin Fages, Mathys Lafage, Hugo Lorentz, Matthéo Iniguez and Daniel Henry.

Airfield Manager

For the 2024 season, the Tamburlini Trophy is awarded to cyclist Daniel Henry. Born on September 5, 1937 in Mende, he traveled around France according to the assignments of his father, then a colonel in the gendarmerie. When the latter retired, they returned to the Lozère prefecture, his mother's hometown.

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Daniel Henry was a pastry chef there for ten years, then became manager of the Mende aerodrome in 1973. Despite intense work, he remained in impeccable physical condition by cycling to the tarmac every day or running along the Chemin des Chômeurs.

An outstanding handyman and meticulous model maker, he held pilot's licenses and provided numerous passenger transport services, logging over 4,500 flight hours.

Mountain biking pioneers in Lozere

He shares his passion for sport and cycling with his son Christophe, who started with BMX, is a pioneer of mountain biking in Lozère, one of the best regional competitors and a bicycle dealer in Mende. A shop where Daniel Henry tinkers with many mountain bikes, to the great delight of those who ride them.

Daniel Henry remains a friendly, passionate and exciting man who has always been a member of the Vélo club mendois, then chaired by René Moulin. Since the early 1990s, all his sports licenses have been taken out with the prefecture's flagship club.

Podiums

During thirty years of competition, he has a prestigious record of around 150 victories and countless podiums: Lozère champion, winner of the regional cup and Languedoc-Roussillon champion… Among them, his victory in the legendary Roc d’Azur master (1995) or in the Roc laissagais master (1997) remain imperishable sporting memories.

Although the time of competitions is over, Daniel Henry still has the pleasure and the need to ride. His daily outings of 80 to 100 kilometers allow him to display on the odometer almost 20,000 kilometers per year! Enough to make most elite amateur riders and even some professionals pale.

Always in the saddle!

As soon as the sun comes out and the temperatures are pleasant, you might see his frail silhouette on the slopes of Gévaudan. The passes of Vielbougue, Masseguin, Cheval Mort or the difficult Goulet are his favorites and as long as life gives him strength, he will enjoy his beautiful Lozère by bicycle.

The Tamburlini trophy was awarded to him on Monday, January 6, with the prize money offered by the partner Gévaudan Vélo.

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