February 11, 1973 (age 51) Saint-Ouen, Seine-Saint-Denis, France (
1973-02-11
)
1990
MCS Bicycle Specialties (Europe)
BMX 1991 ABA Grands - A Pro Mains - Christophe Leveque / Milham / Ellis / Foster
Christophe Lévêque (born February 11, 1973 in Saint-Ouen, Seine-Saint-Denis) is a French professional "Mid/Current School" Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1990-2003. His nicknames are "C"-Dog with "C" referring to the first letter of his given name; and "The Flying Frenchman" for his technical skill on the track and his nationality.
Started racing: 1987 at 14 years of age. He went to see a friend race one week. Christophe liked what he saw and raced a week later. He won.
Sanctioning body:
First race result: First Place in 14 novice.
First win (local):
First sponsor:
First national win:
Turned Professional: December 1990
First Professional race result (France/Europe):
First Professional race result (US):
First Professional win (France/Europe):
First Professional win (US): In "A" pro at the ABA Fallnationals in Yorba Linda, California on October 27, 1991.
First Junior Pro* win (France/Europe):
First Junior Pro* win (US): See "First Professional win (US)"
First Senior Pro** race result (France/Europe):
First Senior Pro** race result (US): Eighth (last) in "All Pros" (formerly "A" Pro) at the NBL Christmas Classic nationals in Columbus, Ohio on December 26, 1991 (Day 1).
First Senior Pro win (France/Europe):
First Senior Pro win (US): At the non-sanctioned charity Fifth Annual Race Against Drugs at the Desert Hot Springs BMX track in Palm Springs, California. His competition included Eric Carter, Jamie Staff, Todd Corbitt and Todd Blaser in the main.
Retired: Mid 2005 due to accumulated injuries, particularly a broken heel suffered in March 2004 that refused to respond to therapy. The ABA Silver Dollar National in Reno, Nevada on January 9, 2005 was his last "AA" pro race. He came in fourth place.
Height & weight at height of his career (1995–2006): Ht:5'10" Wt:190 lbs.
Amateur
MCS (Moto Cross Specialties) Bicycle Specialties(European Division): April 1990-August 1990
Sunn/Chipie BMX August 1990-December 1996. Lévêque would turn pro with this sponsor.
Professional
Sunn/Chipie BMX: August 1990-December 1996
Sunn/Nike: January 1997-August 1998
Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.: August 1998 – 2000
Specialized/Mountain Dew: 2000-December 2001
GT Bicycles/Speed Stick: January 2002-December 2005
USProBikes: January 2006 – Present
Amateur
11 times French Champion
Association Francaise de Bicrossing (AFdB)
La Fédération Française de Bicrossing (FFB)
Fédération Française de Cyclisme (FFC)
1994 Superclass and Supercruiser Champion of France
National Bicycle Association (NBA)
None
National Bicycle League (NBL)
None
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
None
United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
None
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)*
1989 15 Expert European Challenge Cup VI Champion
1990 17 Expert & 16-17 Cruiser World Champion.
Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)*
United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
None
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)*
1991 Superclass 24" European Challenge Cup VIII Champion
1991 Superclass 24" European Champion
1991 Superclass 20" World Champion
1992 Superclass 20" & 24" European Challenge Cup IX Champion
1992 Superclass 20" Silver Medal World Champion
1993 Superclass 24" European Challenge Cup X Champion**
1993 Superclass 20" & 24" European Champion
1993 Superclass 24" World Champion
1994 Superclass 20" European Champion
1995 Superclass 20" World Champion
Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)*
None
Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)†*
1995 Elite Men World Cup Champion
1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 Elite Cruiser World Champion
Independent Invitationals and Pro Series Championships
Notable accolades
Won the 2001 ABA Golden Crank award for Pro of the Year.
During one of his bouts of injury he started an international BMX distribution company, US Pro Bikes in 2003.
Significant injuries
Broke wrist riding for recreation at Sheep Hills on or around January 5, 1995. He flew back home to France to have surgery on his wrist. He raced a few large events in France before returning to the United States. He was back racing at the ABA Winternationals in Scottsdale, Arizona on March 18, 1995.
Injured shoulder at the NBL Summer Nationals in South Park, Pennsylvania on July 20, 1996 He slipped his pedals coming out of the first turn over a jump that was at the turn's exit, flying over the handlebars and slamming his arm and shoulder into the dirt. He was scheduled to be laid up six weeks, but he was determined to make the NBL grands exactly six weeks later. This was not to be since he ended up missing both the UCI World Championships and the NBL Grandnational.
Hurt back at the ABA Fall Nationals in Perris, California in late October 1998. He was laid up for five months.
Separated his shoulder in a crash during the third AA pro main of the ABA Grandnational in Tulsa, Oklahoma on November 28, 1999.
Hurt his back at the NBL Easter Classic National in Sarasota, Florida on Friday, March 29, 2002. After a few weeks attempting to rest it on his own, he flew back to his native France for treatment. He was at first confident of a relatively quick recovery; instead it led to several back surgeries to repair and then eventually replace a ruptured disc. He was out for the entire season. He returned to racing in mid-2003.
Broke foot at a no-clips race in France in early October 2003. He was laid up until the 2003 ABA Grand Nationals.
Broke foot, shattering his heel in March 2004. Was laid up for eight months, due in part to complications in the healing process, until the ABA Grand Nationals on November 23, 2004. This would ultimately prove to be a career-ending injury due to its refusal to respond to physical therapy.
FAMILY MAN
Happliy married and have two beautiful children. Wife: Mikim P. Leveque, anniversary February 24, 2005. Son: Jordan Reed Leveque born December 21, 2007. Daughter: Zéa Jaden Leveque born November 10, 2009.
BMX press magazine interviews and articles
"Double Interview: Christophe Leveque & Brian Foster" BMX Plus! April 1996 Vol.19 No.4 pg.66 two separate non-interactive interviews with the pros Foster and Lévêque.
"The New NBL #1 Pro Speaks" BMX Plus! December 1997 Vol.20 No.12 pg.42 Mini Interview of the 1997 NBL pro No.1 Lévêque.
"Inside the Pro's Bikes" BMX Plus! July 1998 Vol.21 No.7 pg.93 Article about the racing machines of Lévêque and John Purse.
"Specialized Signs Chris Lévêque" BMX Plus! January 1999 Vol.22 No.1 pg.92
"The Pro Upset of the Year...Christophe Leveque: ABA & NBL #1 Pro." BMX Plus! March 1999 Vol.22 No.3 pg.28
"The French Invasion" Snap BMX Magazine May 1999 Vol.6 Iss.3 No.31 pg.40 Joint interview with fellow countryman and racer Thomas Allier.
"Q&A: If you could race one race over again, which would it be?" Snap BMX Magazine December 1999 Vol.6 Iss.10 No.38 pg.42 Single question interview asked of Lévêque and four other professional racers including Randy Stumpfhauser, Michelle Cairns, Neal Wood, and Jamie Lilly.
"Christophe Leveque" Snap BMX Magazine January 2000 Vol.7 Iss.1 No.39 poster back
