Claude Rouer’s amateur cycling career took off in 1951, when he came in third at that year’s Paris-Tours Espoirs. In 1952, he was the French runner-up in the road race, behind Jacques Anquetil, and was selected to represent his country in that event at the Helsinki Olympics. Although he was only 23rd individually, he took bronze with the team alongside Anquetil, Alfred Tonello, and Roland Bezamat. He then turned professional and raced from 1953 through 1955, with his most notable placing at this level being as the lanterne rouge (last place finisher) in the 1953 Tour de France, when riding for Mercier.
France