Marshall ‘Major’ Taylor Broke Down Barriers And Was A World Champion

Marshall ‘Major’ Taylor was a history maker. In 1899 and 1900 Taylor won the prestigious World Cycling Championship.

In 1896 at the tender age of 18, Taylor entered into the six-day bicycle race held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He placed 8th riding a total of 1,732 miles! That is roughly the distance from NYC to Houston, Texas. It was Marshall’s first professional race and he was the only African American in competition. This race would set Taylor up for the future and helped him become one of the most respected cyclists of his time.

Taylor would travel around the globe taking on the best cyclists head-to-head and beating them. In Europe and France Marshall was revered, especially in France where cycling was huge.

Please watch the two videos and learn more about Marshall, where he came from, how he got his start in the cycling world, and what a grueling race the 6-day marathon really was.

The Story Of Marshall ‘Major’ Taylor

(Cover photo courtesy of New York Amsterdam News, 2nd photo Good Reads, videos courtesy of Hennesy US and Road Bike Culture, source ESPN)