Michelin subjects its tyres to real-world testing in competition. Racing remains the best laboratory for testing technological innovations in extreme conditions. And winning provides a powerful incentive for progress.

The Michelin system in action:
Michelin began racing in 1891 with Charles Terront’s victory in one of cycling’s greatest races: the 1200km Paris-Brest-Paris. Finishing in 71 hours and 18 minutes, with nearly a 9-hour lead over second place, Terront proved the advantages of the Michelin demountable tyre.

Then as now, Michelin assigns a development team to each form of racing. Throughout the Tour de France, a Michelin technician, acting as an interface between the riders and engineers, continually analyzes the tyre situation for the teams. Every morning and afternoon, he collects their opinions, advises them on tyre choice and optimal pressure, and answers questions before communicating his analyses to the Michelin development team, which correlates this data for further development. Michelin is the only tyre manufacturer that regards bicycle racing on the same level as MotoGP or Formula 1. This scientific approach to research and development is directly responsible for Michelin’s successes, and for the innovations that eventually appear in consumer tyres.

2007 Michelin partner teams:

• Bouygues Telecom
• AG2R Prevoyance