1969 Trophy for the best under-25 French professional - Cyrille Guimard

If this trophy reminds you of a deluxe bag of fries, you are definitely on the wrong track. Pernod is an aniseed-flavoured aperitif, pastis if you will. The beverage's name is linked to three regularity criteria. As a successor to the Challenge Desgranges-Colombo, the Super Prestige Pernod has been awarding a trophy to the best rider of the year ever since 1959. Whoever wins the most points in a selection of international competitions is entitled to return home with the trophy. The Prestige Pernod - minus the 'super' - is bestowed upon the best French rider. And finally, the Promotion Pernod is earmarked for the best Frenchman under 25. Cyrille Guimard - who became a celebrated team leader later on - was awarded the Promising Young Cyclist Trophy in 1969, the same year that he won the Genoa-Nice race. He had a serious car accident the day after his Côte d'Azur victory. but managed to recover enough to go on to finish seventh in the Paris-Roubaix race. At the Roubaix velodrome, he won the sprint with large group of riders, just ahead of Patrick Sercu.