René Gaillard

Born in Besançon on 24 September 1927,^[2] Gaillard participated in his first race in 1941.^[3] In the 1950s, he became a regional champion.^[4] He finished 16th in a race in Besançon won by Fausto Coppi, with Louison Bobet as runner-up.^[5] In 1999, he took part in a 3200 kilometer trip from Chicago to Los Angeles in the "Route 66 by bike" series.^[6] In 2017, he became the hour record holder for 90-94 year-old men by cycling 29.278 km in one hour on the Vélodrome National.^[7] In 2021, he was considered the dean of French cycling following the death of Robert Marchand.^[8][9][10] In May 2025, he was still cycling at almost 98 years old.^[11] He had cycled an estimated 550,000 km in his lifetime.^[12]

Gaillard was the father of actress Manoëlle Gaillard [fr].^[13] His eldest daughter, Evelyne, worked as a wedding dress merchant in Vesoul.^[14] His wife, Colette, was a keyboard player.^[15]

Gaillard died in Vaivre-et-Montoille on 6 October 2025, at the age of 98.^[16]