Léon Houa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Léon Houa (8 November 1867 - 31 January 1918) was a Belgian road bicycle racer famous for winning the first three editions of Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 1892-1894. The race has become to be known as La Doyenne ("the oldest woman"), and is one of the five 'Monuments' of the European professional road cycling calendar, and the oldest.

The first two editions of Liège-Bastogne-Liège were amateur races. On May 29, 1892, he bested 32 amateur riders over 250 km to finish the race in 10 hours, 48 minutes and 36 seconds and become the first Liège-Bastogne-Liège champion. On May 28, 1893, he finished in 10 hours, 40 minutes and ahead of 25 other riders. Also in 1893, Houa won the amateur version of the Belgium National Road Race Championship.

Houa went onto to win the first professional version of the race held in 1894 in 8 hours, 52 minutes and 5 seconds over a distance of 223 km. Also in 1894, Houa captured the elite men's version of the Belgium National Road Race Championship.