Career
Adolescence
Cyril Peacock took up cycle-racing when he was 15 and working as a scientific surgical instrument maker. in south London. He was a member for two years before he rode his first race. His first track, or velodrome, race was at Slough, west of London, on 22 June 1947.
He came third.
He joined the army for compulsory national service at the end of the year and spent two years as a physical training instructor but did not ride a bike. Until then he had raced on the track on a road bike stripped of brakes and gears. He bought his first true track machine from money saved while with the Army.
Early career
Peacock rejoined Kingston Road Club and rode the 1951 national sprint championship, where he was beaten in the quarterfinal by Lloyd Binch of Nottingham.
The news magazine The Bicycle wrote: "The last meeting of 1951, the NCU Meeting of Champions, provided a first-class sensation. In the Robbialac Bowl sprint, he was in a disputed finish with January Hijselendoorn of Holland, who almost fell on Peacock as they reached the line.
Peacock lost the decision - but he gained a lot of admiration."
That brought selection for Britain in the Olympic Games in Helsinki. He came fourth of 27 behind Enzo Sacchi of Italy, Lionel Cox of Australia and Werner Putzenheim of Germany.
They were the last British winners before Chris Hoy in 2008.
Peacock and Harris featured on Player"s cigarette cards in 1957. Professional
Peacock became a professional for Raleigh in January 1955. In March he was awarded the Bidlake Memorial Plaque for service to cycling.
