The Rise and Fall of Peugeot Cycles: The 20 Million Franc Disaster That Changed Everything

For generations, Peugeot Cycles was more than a bicycle maker — it was one of the great names of European cycling. Long before Peugeot became famous around the world for automobiles, the company was building bicycles in France. From the roads of Europe to the brutal climbs of the Tour de France, Peugeot bicycles became symbols of racing heritage, engineering, and a brand whose famous lion seemed almost impossible to defeat. But even an industrial giant could stumble. Behind decades of victories and worldwide recognition came mounting pressure, fierce competition, changing markets, and a financial crisis that would reshape Peugeot’s bicycle business. At the center of the story was a staggering 20 million franc loss — a warning sign that the old model could no longer survive unchanged. In this documentary, we trace the rise and fall of Peugeot Cycles: from its early manufacturing roots and racing glory to mass production, international expansion, financial trouble, restructuring, and the decisions that changed one of France’s most recognizable bicycle empires forever. How did Peugeot become such a dominant force in cycling? What went wrong when the market began to change? And how did a company with more than a century of history find itself fighting to preserve its place in the bicycle industry? This is the story of Peugeot Cycles — an empire built on two wheels, and the 20 million franc disaster that changed everything. #Peugeot #PeugeotCycles #BicycleHistory #CyclingHistory #VintageBicycles #FrenchBicycles #TourDeFrance #Cycling #BikeHistory #IndustrialHistory #RiseAndFall #Documentary