Ruban Jaune

The Ruban Jaune (English; Yellow Ribbon) is a cycling trophy created in 1936 by Henri Desgrange, awarded to the rider recording the fastest average speed in a professional cycling race or stage longer than 200 km. The trophy’s name is thought is to have come from comparison with the Blue Riband trophy awarded to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in record time. Desgrange changed the colour to yellow to reflect the newsprint of L'Auto, the sports newspaper he edited. The timing of the record must be by two independent timekeepers using certified timing equipment which has been recently calibrated. Because of these strict rules it was unofficially accepted in the latter part of the 20th century that only times in classic races would be accepted.

The first holder of the Ruban Jaune was Gustave Danneels of Belgium, who won the 1936 Paris–Tours in 41.455 km/h. Paris–Tours was long associated with the Ruban Jaune because its flat course, coupled with a following wind, makes for a fast speed. Jules Rossi of Italy took the record in 1938 when covering 251 km at an average 42.092 in Paris–Tours.

The suspension of top-class cycling during World War II meant Rossi’s record stood for ten years until April 4, 1948, when Rik van Steenbergen won Paris–Roubaix at 43.612 km/h. The race had a violent tailwind. Van Steenbergen attacked at Hem 6 km from the finish, catching Emile Idée and Fiorenzo Magni and then beating Idée in a sprint in Roubaix Velodrome. In 1955 the record returned to Paris–Tours when Jacques Dupont covered the 253.7 km at 43.766 km/h.

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