Arthur Linton
Early cyclist
1896 Winner of the Bordeaux - Paris race. He died the same year.
Arthur Linton held innumerable British records at distances up to 200 miles
His brothers Tom Linton and Sam Linton were also cyclists
Arthur Linton began to race locally and by 1892 was well known throughout South Wales.
During the 1893 season he established himself nationally and was signed as a professional to ride a ‘Gladiator’ cycle under the tutelage of the trainer ‘Choppy’ Warburton.
In 1894 Arthur defeated Dubois, the French Champion, in Paris and was narrowly defeated by the Italian Champion Bonnic, who thereafter refused to race him again. He was given the title of ‘Champion Cyclist of the World’ and when he returned to Aberaman in December he was given a hero’s welcome, a public banquet was held in the Lamb and Flag public house and he was presented with an illuminated address.
1895 was a less successful year for Arthur. He suffered a knee injury and split from his trainer ‘Choppy’ Warburton.
During the 1896 season he won the Bordeaux to Paris Race in which he defeated Riviere.
It seems that this race took too much of a toll on his body and Arthur Linton died of Typhoid Fever in June 1896, only some six weeks after the race. He was just 24 years old.