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Jacques (Jock) BoyerFormer professional cyclist
Date of Birth: 08.10.1955
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Jonathan (Jacques) Boyer
- Tour de France and Successes
- Other Achievements
- Later Life and Humanitarian Work
Biography of Jonathan (Jacques) Boyer
Early Life and CareerJonathan Boyer, also known as Jacques Boyer, was born on October 8, 1955, in Moab, Utah. He grew up in Monterey, California, where he became a member of the local cycling club. In 1973, Boyer joined the 'ACBB' club in Boulogne-Billancourt, a suburb of Paris, and began participating in European races as an amateur. The club had a history of producing professional riders for the 'Peugeot' team since the 1960s, under the leadership of British cyclist Tom Simpson. Boyer turned professional in 1977, riding for the 'Lejeune-BP' team, sponsored by a Parisian bicycle company and an international oil giant.
Tour de France and Successes
In 1981, Boyer became the first American to participate in the renowned 'Tour de France'. The race organizer, Félix Lévitan, suggested that Boyer wear a jersey with the stars and stripes of the United States flag to attract American attention and sponsorship. Boyer competed in the 'Tour de France' five times and achieved his best finish, 12th place, in 1983 while riding for the Jean de Gribaldy Sem team. Boyer stood out for his vegetarian diet, carrying a substantial amount of nuts and fruits during races. He was often described as a "marginal" by French manager Cyrille Guimard, referring to his unconventional lifestyle and religious convictions.
Other Achievements
In addition to his participation in the 'Tour de France', Boyer won the 'Coors Classic' race in 1980 and took part in the 'Race Across America' in 1985, completing the 3,120-mile (5,021 km) course in 9 days, 2 hours, and 6 minutes. Throughout his career, Boyer achieved 87 victories as an amateur and 49 victories as a professional cyclist. In 1998, he was inducted into the United States Cycling Hall of Fame.
Later Life and Humanitarian Work
In November 2002, Boyer was found guilty of indecent behavior with minors and sentenced to one year in prison and five years of probation. However, he successfully completed his probation in January 2006, and his supervising officer recommended an early release. In 2006, Boyer competed in the 'Race Across America' once again, this time in the new 'Solo Enduro' category. He employed a different strategy than his competitors, using more rest time earlier in the race. Despite this approach, Boyer emerged as the winner in his category.
From 2007, Boyer resided in Rwanda, where he served as the head coach of the national cycling team and contributed to the 'Project Rwanda' initiative, which aimed to provide bicycles and support to the local population. In 2010, former professional cyclist Scott Nydam and three-time US cyclo-cross champion Clark Natwick joined Boyer in Rwanda. Their efforts helped Rwandan cyclist Adrien Niyonshuti earn a spot on the country's team for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
In 2009, Boyer embarked on a motorcycle journey from South Africa to Rwanda on a BMW motorcycle.
