Whenever you see one of those yellow cars or motorcycles laden with spare wheels and manned by efficiently deliberate young professionals with no allegiance or favour to any one rider, take a moment to reflect on the oft-overlooked pioneer of the neutral service as we know it today, M. Jacques Mavic.
Usually only sighted once a year in July, Jacques would appear out of the thin air of the Alps, armed with his trusty Silca and a set of nail clippers, offering assistance to any rider that needed it. Most of the time, they didn’t, but they knew when that mad glint lit up in his eyes, there was no course of action beyond waiting for the police to arrive while Jacques manically pumped an already inflated tyre while yelling “Mes têtards émigrent”.
The last known sighting of M. Mavic (which translates literally as “replace me”) was around 1957 around Grenoble. The only remaining evidence of Jacques’ and his innovative service work is his oil-stained raincoat and a matchbox containing a 3/16 ball bearing tangled in hair, now housed in the Plumbers Museum in Oudenaarde. With only patchy anecdotal history to go by, the life of Jacques is still one of mystery, violence and paté.
*What do you know of Jacques’ history?
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
Whats not commonly know about Mad Jacques is that he performed burlesque of a night time in the tour village tent. As evidenced in the main photo by an ample brassiere slung over his shoulder in readiness for that nights performance.
Also known as "M.Jacques Mavic the versatile"
"Where is my banana car" hahahaha
"Son sur la route à la recherche de Cadel Monsieur Mavic"
Bahahahahaha
@Mikael Liddy
That is a good point. But if Shimano was officially providing the NS, surely they would have been obliged to carry some Campy in the wagon? Or does someone know if they actually had none? If that were the case, would it be fair to say that it would have pre-11 speed on both sides and the 10 speed Campy/Shimano integration was a bit hit & miss? I've ridden a Shimano cassette in 10 speed Record and it worked though.
Incredible! I've just read his autobiography - "Jacky Mavvy - Under Pressure."
Amazing story. One of eight children adopted at birth by a turnip farming couple from Turnais who hated kids but needed "shoveleurs". But he sliced off all the toes of his right foot in a freak turnip digging accident. No longer any use in the fields he was regected by the family and confined to the machinery barn. By the time he was 10 his only friend was a rusty compressor. It was here that he started his love affair with pumping.
Oh dear! I see rules 31, 37 & 83 are being terribly dishonoured. I'm not sure I can bare to look at this photo any longer.
@the Engine
He retired to Surrey as he didn't quite "fit" in with the Chipping Norton set.
I have to say, the afflicted rider is showing levels of calmness not repeated until Tommeke in Paris-Roubaix in 2011. Of course, I doubt he can get a word in edgeways as I'll bet Mad Jacques talked like a mad fucker on speed.
Wow, what a cool picture.
@wiscot
Jesus Brother! Now that you mention it, I think that I must be a bit of a descendant of Mad Jacques, esp after an espresso ot two!!!!
@Buck Rogers
Yep, Mad Jacques liked his coffee as thick and as black as unrefined oil.
BTW, the cars behind are parked - parked because they don't want Mad Jacques messing with their tires.