Career He is known for setting the motor-paced world speed record. He was professional cyclist from 1928 to 1942. His nickname was "le diable rouge".
Achievements From 1930 to 1938 he reached 20 victories on the "six-day racing" races in the United States of America and Canada. He also had 4 victories in National Championship, United States of America, in years 1932, 1933, 1934 and 1935. On 22 October 1938, Alfred Letourneur was able to beat the motor-paced world speed record on a bicycle, reaching 147.058 km/h at a velodrome in Montlhéry, France, riding behind a motorbike. On 17 May 1941 he broke the record again, reaching 175.29 km/h (10892 mph) on a Schwinn bicycle riding behind a specially equipped midget racer, on a freeway near Bakersfield, California.