The Michaux Company bicycle manufacturer company wanted stage a race – the first one ever to go between two cities – to show off the popularity two-wheeled vehicles. They chose a course from Paris to Rouen. It was not the easiest route, given the 76 mile distance that went over some rather steep hills, but close enough to major population centers to ensure wide participation. And 25 years later it would be followed in another first in racing — this one for motored vehicles.

On this day, July 22, in 1894, the the Parisian magazine Le Petit Journal sponsored a race for what was called a “Competition for Horseless Carriages” (Concours des Voitures sans Chevaux.) The race was opened to all comers, with the only restrictions that the vehicle be “not dangerous, easy to drive, and cheap during the journey.”

Not all 102 competitors would be allowed to participate in the main event: a shorter selection race was held — with just 69 cars able to make it for the start, and 25 deemed worthy of participating in the actual race. The winner, with a time of 6 hours and 48 minutes, was Count Jules-Albert de Dion. His average speed of 19 miles per hour and total time were considerably better than the 10h 40m put in by the fastest bicyclist in 1869.