Biography
Taylorwas born in 10th arrondissement of Paris to English parents and grew up there.
Taylor began his career at the age of 15, managed by Cuthbert Waddy. His first success came in August 1896 in the Paris-Cabourg race. That same year, he became a professional and made his debut at the first Vélodrome d'Hiver, where he performed creditably in motor-paced events. The public nicknamed him Le Gosse Rouge ("The Red Kid") because of the color of his jersey.
In 1897 and 1898, he spent several months racing in the United States. The 1899 season was his best: Taylor won several major prizes as a stayer, became French champion and, for the first time, set a record for the kilometre in one minute behind a pacer. He competed successively against all the leading riders in his specialty, including Jimmy Michael, Harry Elkes, Albert Champion, Émile Bouhours, Constant Huret, Tom Linton, Alphonse Baugé, Fred Armstrong, Albert Walters, Lucien Lesna, Henri Contenet, Bor, Lartigue, Edmond Jacquelin, Thaddäus Robl, Arthur Adalbert Chase, and others. He was defeated only by Harry Elkes, in the match between the two riders on 13 May 1900 at the Parc des Princes.
He broke the paced hour record in 1898, covering 54.45 km (33.83 mi), and again in 1900, covering 59.486 km (36.963 mi). He subsequently covered 62.313 km (38.720 mi) behind a motorcycle.
In 1900, he competed at the Paris Olympic Games in professional races that were not recognized as Olympic events. He won the 100-mile race. In 1901, he went to the United States to race for six months.
After finishing third in the professional stayer event at the 1902 Track Cycling World Championships, he was forced to retire from racing because of illness and became manager of Swiss cyclist Jean Gougoltz.
In 1903, Taylor died of tuberculosis at his grandmother's home in Le Perreux. He was buried in Nogent-sur-Marne.
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French champion in motor-paced racing (1899)
