This studio portrait taken in Paris following Arthur's controversial victory in the Bordeaux-Paris race of May 1896. He was popularly acclaimed as World Champion there being no official championship race at the time. The trophies were accumulated during his five-year stay in Paris, mainly for races on enclosed tracks. The inaugural Paris - Roubaix race, these days the most coveted single day race on the professional calendar was next on his agenda. The race would pass through the coal mining area of Northern France, almost a homecoming.