18 Facts About Christophe Bassons

Christophe Bassons was born on 10 June 1974 and is a French former professional road racing cyclist.

Christophe Bassons's career ended when he spoke out about doping in the Tour de France.

Christophe Bassons was born in Mazamet, France, in the Tarn department.

Christophe Bassons started racing on the road in 1992 and won the Tour du Tarn et Garonne in 1995.

Christophe Bassons turned professional in 1996 for Force Sud and then, when the team failed, for Festina, a watch and clock maker.

Two convicted riders, Armin Meier and Christophe Moreau, said that Bassons was the only rider on the team not taking drugs.

Christophe Bassons wrote in Velo, a French monthly, that riders who spoke out against quarterly medical checks imposed by the sports ministry after the Festina trial were hypocrites.

Christophe Bassons only heard about this because a mechanic from his team told him.

Christophe Bassons decided he was "fed up" and decided to ride ahead of the others.

Christophe Bassons grabbed my by the shoulder, because he knew that everyone would be watching, and he knew that at that moment, he could show everyone that he was the boss.

Christophe Bassons stopped me, and he said what I was saying wasn't true, what I was saying was bad for cycling, that I mustn't say it, that I had no right to be a professional cyclist, that I should quit cycling, that I should quit the tour, and finished by saying [*beep*] you.

Christophe Bassons cracked, saying he had not wanted to leave the race but his nerves could not stand it anymore.

Christophe Bassons moved to a smaller team, Jean Delatour, but the mistreatment continued.

Christophe Bassons had quit the race partway through, and by the time he heard he was one of the riders chosen for testing, it was too late to get back to the race site for the test.

Christophe Bassons's suspension was reduced to one month on appeal.

Christophe Bassons took the FFC to court and they found in his favour ruling that the governing body owed him compensation.

Christophe Bassons told Willisher of Guardian in 2012 that he considered his career to be as a sports professor, not his six years of cycling.

Christophe Bassons said that he was "not bitter" against Armstrong, and was content with his situation, comparing it to what Armstrong was going through in the wake of the 2012 USADA report.