Alcyon
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bicycle, motorcycle, and automobile manufacturing |
| Founded | 1903 |
| Founder | Edmond Gentil |
| Defunct | 1954 |
| Fate | Merged into Peugeot |
| Headquarters | Neuilly, Seine (initially) , France |
| Products | Bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles |
The Alcyon company was a French manufacturer specializing in bicycle, automobile, and motorcycle production from 1903 until 1954.
Origins
Around 1890, Edmond Gentil initiated bicycle manufacturing in Neuilly, Seine, marking the beginning of Alcyon. The firm expanded into motorcycle production in 1902, and by 1906, it unveiled its inaugural automobiles at the Paris "Salon de l'Automobile". That same year, the professional Alcyon cycling team was established, remaining active until 1955 and achieving six victories in the Tour de France.
Motorcycle racing
In 1912, Alcyon entered the Isle of Man TT Junior race with motorcycles powered by 348cc single-cylinder engines equipped with two intake and two exhaust valves; unfortunately, both machines did not complete the race. Throughout the 1920s, Alcyon earned regional acclaim in France through riders such as Marc Jolly, Marcel Mourrier, Jean Durand, and Lucien Lemasson. The brand gained the moniker "l'intrépide Alcyon" during this era.
Voiturettes before World War I
Alcyon's 1906 lineup included two vehicles: a lightweight two-seater featuring a single-cylinder 950 cc engine and a larger four-seater powered by a 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine, both developed by Gentil. These sophisticated models incorporated 3-speed transmissions and shaft drives. By 1912, production ceased for single-cylinder variants while introducing larger engines up to 2120 cc—primarily supplied by Zurcher—and the company moved operations to Courbevoie, Seine. In 1954, Alcyon was merged into Peugeot.
Cyclecars between wars
In 1914, the firm adopted the name Automobiles Alcyon. Following World War I, it released a four-cylinder model with a 1914 cc engine; some versions were enhanced and marketed by its Lyons dealer as Alycon-GLs, which demonstrated strong performance in competitions. Due to disappointing sales figures, Alcyon pivoted in 1923 to manufacture cyclecars powered by 500 cc two-stroke flat-twin engines inspired by SIMA-Violet designs. A subsequent single-cylinder cyclecar did not succeed commercially, and after the company's failure in 1928, automobile production was discontinued.
Trophée Gentil (1946-1963)
Established in 1946 to commemorate Cycles Alcyon's founder, the Gentil Trophy honored the "achievement of the year" with a sculpture created by Carlo Sarrabezolles. The award was determined by votes from National Federations requiring a minimum of 70% approval.
List of winners
- 1946: Émile Masson
- 1947: Fausto Coppi
- 1948: Briek Schotte
- 1949: Reginald Harris
- 1950: Ferdi Kübler & Hugo Koblet
- 1951: Not awarded
- 1952: Fausto Coppi
- 1953: Jacques Anquetil
- 1954: Louison Bobet
- 1955: Stan Ockers
- 1956: Ercole Baldini
- 1957: Roger Rivière
- 1958: Charly Gaul
- 1959: Rik Van Looy
- 1960: Jacques Anquetil
- 1961: Jean Jourden, Henri Belena & Jacques Gestraut
- 1962: Jo de Roo
- 1963: Jacques Anquetil
Additionally, Alcyon sponsored the Grand critérium Alcyon, an event tailored for independent and emerging riders under U.V.F. regulations.