With 2 slants to the Velodrome.......Vélodrome d’Hiver (Winter Velodrome). It was France’s first indoor track, and the name stuck for all covered velodromes built since that first six-day race took place on the 13th January 1913. The track was designed by Gaston Lambert, and was 253.16m round at the base. Their were two tiers of seats which towered above bankings so steep for their day that they were considered cliff-like and the space was lit with 1,253 hanging lamps. That first race set a very high bar. Included in it were the Tour de France winners Louis Trousselier and Émile Georget. Racing began at 6pm and by 9pm all 20,000 seats were sold. Among those who watched was the millionaire Henri de Rothschild who offered a prize of 600 francs. A tradition also started of electing a Queen of the Six, whose job included starting the race and giving out the prizes, the most famous being Édith Piaf.
Above..The illustrations captured in this book by French illustrator Jacques Lem
But there is a darker side to this splendid Velodrome..both recorded in French history and a faco fiction book and film
SARAH'S KEY
Based on Tatiana de Rosnay’s best-selling novel, SARAH’S KEY tells the story of an American journalist (Kristin Scott -Thomas) on the brink of making big life decisions regarding her marriage and her unborn child. What starts off as research for an article about the Vel’d’Hiv Roundup in 1942 in France ends up as a journey towards self-discovery as she stumbles upon a terrible secret and discovers the heartbreaking story of a Jewish family forced out of their home, a home that is now her own. As she starts to see, live, and breathe through Sarah, the eldest daughter, her world is turned upside down. Can one put aside shadows from the past?
(I got the book as a crimbo present ) Review.? Still reading
He also sang a song titled Vel D Hiv also one called La Bicyclette
The name of "Yves Montand" comes from his childhood: his Italian mother used to yell at him "Ivo, monta" ("come upstairs, Ivo" in Tuscan dialect) when it was time to go home.
Dated famous French singer Édith Piaf from 1944 to 1946
Montand went on to international recognition as a singer and actor, starring in numerous films. His recognizably crooner songs, especially those about Paris, became instant classics
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