Jean Bidot

Jean Bidot (1905 - 1986) was a French professional cyclist from 1926 to 1939 and was nicknamed the "Strategist". Winner of the Criterium des Aiglons in 1926, aged 21, he won the Circuit de Paris in 1928. In 1929 he was second in the French national road championship behind his brother Marcel. In 1930 traveled to Australia, finishing 3rd in the Sydney to Melbourne and the Tour of Tasmania.In 1931 he won Paris-Belfort and Paris-Vichy, a race he won again in 1932, along with Paris-Angers. In 1933, he won the circuit of Deux-Sèvres. Bidot won the Tour de Vaucluse in 1934 and 1935. He managed the French team in 1950 and 1951.

Jean Bidot professional career commenced in 1926 by winning the Criterium des Aiglons, a race reserved for professional riders under 30 who had not yet won a major race. He finished in 2nd place the following year by winning the first stage of the race. In 1928, he won the Circuit de Paris, was 3rd in the Circuit de Champagne and Paris-Le Havre and participated in his first Tour de France where he finished 22nd overall and in second place in the last stage in Paris.

In 1930 Bidot traveled to Australia with Joseph Mauclair to compete in two stage races, the Sydney to Melbourne covering 700 miles (1,100 km) and the Tour of Tasmania covering 303 miles (488 km). Bidot finished 3rd behind Mauclair and Hubert Opperman in the Sydney to Melbourne and 3rd behind Opperman and Mauclair in the Tour of Tasmania where he won the second stage.

He had two victories in 1931, winning Paris-Belfort and Paris-Vichy.He won Paris-Vichy again the following year, as well as Paris-Angers.In 1933, he won Paris-Troyes and twice won the Tour de Vaucluse in 1934 and 1935.

Jean Bidot managed the French national team in 1950 and 1951. France insisted that the managers of its national teams had no interest in any of the riders' sponsors so when he accepted a job with the Simplex derailleur company, he had to give up managing the team. His brother Marcel took his place in 1952.