Who was the black athlete who became bicycle racing world champion for three successive years starting in Montreal in 1899?

BRY2K

Major Taylor. Mr. Taylor had electrified the bicycle racing world by winning a sensational string of races, including the world championship at Montreal in 1899. He later toured England, France and Australia, beating the best riders they had to offer, and winning a worldwide reputation. http://www.telegram.com/article/20080515/COLUMN21/805150409/-1/COLUMN Jun 25 08, 12:11 PM

truefaithmom

Marshall Walter "Major" Taylor Champion Cyclist 1878-1932 He was almost certainly the first black athlete to be a member of an integrated professional team, the first to have a commercial sponsor, and the first to establish world records. He was the first black athlete to compete regularly in open, integrated competition for an annual American championship. http://www.bridgew.edu/HOBA/Taylor.cfm Jun 25 08, 12:18 PM

ltolman

The question contains a factual error that has been picked up and repeated multiple times. Major Taylor won the world championship, in the 1-mile sprint, in 1899 only. Not 1900, not 1901, not ever again. In fact, he didn’t even compete at the world championships again until 1909, when his career was in decline. This was largely because the worlds were typically held on Sunday, and Taylor, a devout Baptist, for many years refused to race on the Sabbath. Lynne Tolman info@majortaylorassociation.org http://www.majortaylorassociation.org Jun 26 08, 8:09 PM