Théodore Vienne

Théodore Vienne, also known as Théo Vienne, (28 July 1864 – 1 March 1921) was a textile manufacturer in Roubaix who with Maurice Perez founded the Paris–Roubaix cycle race in 1896 (One of the oldest cycle races in the world.).

Vienne was born in Roubaix France on 28 July 1864. He was a sports entrepreneur, building Roubaix velodrome and the town's bullfighting ring. He also promoted Greco-Roman wrestling, professional boxing and billiards. He was described by the New York Times as "the leading fight promoter of France." He owned the Grande Roue de Paris (then the largest Ferris wheel in the world) and founded the 'Wonderland Français' sports arena in Luna Park, Paris.

Vienne's father, Emmanuel Ignace Vienne, was born in Lille, of which Roubaix is now a part, on 23 April 1824. He died in Roubaix on 11 April 1873. His mother, Elisa Marie Joseph Lesur was born in Tourcoing on 24 November 1825 and died in Roubaix in 1878. His grandfather, Jean Baptiste Vienne, was born at Menin around 1786 and died at Ghent, Belgium, on 12 January 1830. His grandmother, Léocadie Potteuw, was born at Gheluwe, Belgium, in 1786 and died in Roubaix on 20 April 1859. Théodore Vienne was married in Bondues on 26 November 1887 to Louise Marie Crepel, who was born in Bondues on 21 January 1865.

Roubaix, a town and now a suburb of Lille on the Belgian border of northern France, was a fast-growing industrial town in the 19th century. Its politics were strongly socialist and its mayor, Henri Carette, was the first Collectivist mayor in the country. His campaigns for a better life for workers included encouraging sports events. The Fédération Cyclopèdique du Nord was founded on 8 March 1890 as part of his work.

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