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{{otheruses|Alcyon (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Alcyon 1904.jpg|thumb|right|233px|An Alcyon bicycle constructed in 1904]]
The '''Alcyon''' was a French [[bicycle]], [[automobile]] and [[motorcycle]] manufacturer between 1903 and 1954.

== Origins ==
Alcyon originated from about 1890 when [[Edmond Gentil]] started the manufacture of [[bicycles]] in [[Neuilly]], [[Seine]]. In 1902, this was complemented by [[motorcycle]] production and in 1906, the first cars were shown at the "Salon de l'Automobile" in Paris, France. Also in 1906 it founded the professional [[Alcyon (cycling team)|Alcyon cycling team]] which was active until 1955, including winning the [[Tour de France]] 6 times.

==Motorcycle racing==
In 1912 Alcyon competed at the [[1912 Isle of Man TT|Isle of Man TT]] races with a 348cc [[single-cylinder engine]] featuring two inlet valves and two exhaust valves.<ref>{{cite book |last1 =Tragatsch| first1 =Erwin |last2= Ash |first2= Kevin |authorlink2= Kevin Ash  |title=The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Motorcycles|year=2000|publisher=Quantum Publishing|location=London|isbn= 1-86160-342-8|pages=119}}</ref> Both bikes failed to finish the Junior TT race.<ref>{{cite web|title=TT 1912 Junior TT Results|url=http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/Events/Races.aspx?meet_code=TT12&race_seq=1|work=Isle of Man TT|accessdate=28 April 2012}}</ref>

Alcyon had local success in France during the 1920s, with riders such as Marc Jolly, Marcel Mourrier, Jean Durand and Lucien Lemasson winning races.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hammond|first=Laurence|title=1920-1929 results|url=http://roadracingquestions.wordpress.com/1920-1929/|work=Road Racing Questions|accessdate=28 April 2012}}</ref> During this time too, this bicycle brand got its nickname "l'intrépide Alcyon".

== Voiturettes before the World War I ==
Two models were shown in 1906, one a two-seat light car with single-cylinder 950&nbsp;cc engine and a larger four seat model with  1.4-litre four-cylinder engine. Both engines were bought in from Gentil. The cars were advanced models with 3-speed gearboxes and shaft drive. However, the single-cylinder models were dropped in 1912 and larger models of up to 2120&nbsp;cc were added to the range. By then, most of the engines were obtained from [[Zurcher]].

The company moved to [[Courbevoie]], [[Seine]] in 1912.

In 1954 [[Peugeot]] absorbed Alcyon.

[[File:1930sAlcyonAlcyonette-Barber.jpg|thumb|1930s Alcon "Alcyonette" 98cc motorcycle on display at the [[Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum]], Birmingham, Alabama.]]
[[File:Alcyon 1908.JPG|thumb|An Alcyon from 1908]]
[[File:Alcyon 1921.JPG|thumb|An Alcyon from 1921]]
== Cyclecars between wars ==
[[File:Alcyon Touriste 350 JAP 1925.jpg|thumb|right|233px|A 1925 Alcyon Touriste 350 JAP motorcycle]]
In 1914, the company's name was changed to ''Automobiles Alcyon''.  After the war, the first model was a 1914&nbsp;cc four-cylinder model, some examples of which were tuned and sold by the Lyons agent as Alycon-GLs and performed quite well in competition.  However, the car was not a success and did not sell well, so in 1923, Alcyon moved into the production of [[cyclecar]]s, using 500&nbsp;cc [[two-stroke]] [[flat-twin]] engines in a design bought from [[SIMA-Violet]].  Later the company manufactured another cyclecar of similar design, thought this one featured a single-cylinder engine.  This proved a complete flop, and the company failed in 1928. Alcyon never sold cars again.

== Trophée Gentil (1946-1963) ==
In 1946, the "Gentil Trophy" was created in memory of the founder of Cycles Alcyon, who died that year. It was awarded for the "achievement of the year", and took the form of a work of art created by [[Charles Marie Louis Joseph Sarrabezolles|Carlo Sarrabezolles]]. Each National Federation expressed its choice and the winner had to obtain 70% of the votes to obtain this honorary title.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 October 2023 |title=Trophée Gentil |url=http://www.sitiodeciclismo.net/wedstrijdfiche.php?wedstrijdid=2364 |website=sitiodeciclismo.net |language=it}}</ref>

=== List of winners ===
*1946: {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Émile Masson (cyclist)|Émile Masson]]
*1947: {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Fausto Coppi]]
*1948: {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Briek Schotte]]
*1949: {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Reginald Harris]]
*1950: {{flagicon|SUI}} [[Ferdi Kübler]] & [[Hugo Koblet]]
*1951: Prize not awarded
*1952: {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Fausto Coppi]]
*1953: {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jacques Anquetil]]
*1954: {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Louison Bobet]]
*1955: {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Stan Ockers]]
*1956: {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Ercole Baldini]]
*1957: {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Roger Rivière]]
*1958: {{flagicon|LUX}} [[Charly Gaul]] 
*1959: {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Rik Van Looy]]
*1960: {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jacques Anquetil]]
*1961: {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jean Jourden]], [[Henri Belena]] & [[Jacques Gestraut]]
*1962: {{flagicon|NED}} [[Jo de Roo]]
*1963: {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jacques Anquetil]]

The company also gave its name to a race, the Grand critérium Alcyon, open to independent and aspiring riders under U.V.F. regulations.

== See also ==
* [[Alcyon (cycling team)]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://perso.wanadoo.fr/holtzy/ Alcyon motorcycles (in French)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060821233557/http://membres.lycos.fr/aalenia/alcyon.htm Alcyon motorcycles (in French)]

{{French bicycle manufacturers}}

[[Category:Cycle manufacturers of France]]
[[Category:Cyclecars]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1890]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1954]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of France]]
[[Category:1890 establishments in France]]
[[Category:1954 disestablishments in France]]
[[Category:Companies based in Île-de-France]]