Sponsorship
Gitane sponsored its first professionals in 1948. From 1953 to 1955 it equipped Jean Stablinski. In 1960 it helped back Rapha-Gitane-Dunlop and Rudi Altig. In 1963 and 1964, Gitane bicycles won the Tour de France, ridden by Jacques Anquetil.
Renault sponsored a professional team in the 1970s and, since it owned Micmo, the company behind Gitane, made Gitane the co-sponsor. Riders on Gitanes included Lucien Van Impe, Bernard Hinault, Laurent Fignon and Greg Lemond, all winners of the Tour de France.
Gitane then sponsored the Système U team led by Laurent Fignon, RMO led by Charly Mottet, and Toshiba led by Jean-François Bernard.
Gitane sponsored mountain-bike teams in the 1990s.
Gitane returned to road cycling after several years' absence, backing La Française des Jeux and BigMat-Auber. For 2010, Gitane sponsored the Saur-Sojasun team with its new line of Definitive Gitane "The One" ISP bicycles. Gitane bicycles are available in Europe only. The aluminum and steel Gitanes are still built in the factories in Machecoul (the original Gitane factory) and the Cycleurope facility at Romilly Sur Seine (the old Peugeot factory) in France, while all carbon bikes are built in Asia.
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