Bolesław Napierała

Bolesław Napierała was a Polish cycling champion, twice winner of the Tour de Pologne. He was born in Marten, Germany to a family of Polish immigrants. When Poland regained independence in 1918, the family moved back to their homeland. However, after a few years, the Napieralas left Poland again, to Lens in France. It was there that Boleslaw for the first time saw cyclists, during Tour de France. Fascinated by them, he decided to take up cycling himself, helped by his famous neighbor, Luxemburg cyclist Nicolas Frantz.