Marshall 'Major' Taylor portrait
Major Taylor on the track
Major Taylor archival photo
Major Taylor racing imagery
Major Taylor historic cycling image
Black History Month

Marshall “Major” Taylor

World champion cyclist. Trailblazer. Indianapolis legend. The kind of athlete who didn’t just win races — he changed what was possible.

Why he matters

Major Taylor (born in Indianapolis in 1878) became a global cycling superstar in the middle of the Jim Crow era — when simply being allowed to compete wasn’t guaranteed, let alone winning.

  • 1899: World champion in track cycling’s one-mile sprint — the first Black world champion in cycling and the second Black world champion in any sport.
  • Fastest of his era: A dominant sprinter who set multiple world records and drew big crowds on multiple continents.
  • Raced through racism: Banned, threatened, and targeted — and still showed up with skill, strategy, and composure.
  • Legacy that rides on: His name is on tracks, clubs, and jerseys — and his story keeps bringing people into cycling.

Watch

The Six Day Race: The Story of Marshall “Major” Taylor

A great on-ramp if you’re new to him. You get the speed, the spectacle, and the reality of what it cost to be that good in that time.

Major Taylor: Champion of the Race

This PBS documentry leans into the bigger picture — how a cyclist became a symbol, and why his career still matters to anyone who cares about sport, courage, or dignity.

Hennessy — Major Taylor

Some of you may remember this great ad - it debuted during the Super Bowl in 2019. A modern nod to an old truth: some stories don’t age out — they get louder. Quick, stylish, and a reminder that his legacy is bigger than cycling.

Legacy in motion

A few links that connect the dots — from Indy to the track, to today’s riders and culture.

Major Taylor Velodrome ↗

Outdoor track in Indianapolis named for Major — and a real community hub for racing.
Nelson Vails ↗

Olympic medalist. Track legend. One of those names you should know if you love cycling.
Reggie Miller ↗

Yes, that Reggie — a legit cyclist, still out here putting in miles and talking culture.
Maize Wimbush ↗

Young talent with momentum — proof the sport’s future can look different than its past.
Justin Williams ↗

A modern face of American criterium racing — fast, visible, and building community.
Cory Williams ↗

Another pillar of the same movement — racing hard and widening the lane for others.

A personal note

I lived and rode/raced in Indianapolis for several years, and I spent time racing at the Major Taylor Velodrome. I’ve also trained and raced with Nelson Vails and Reggie Miller. That’s part of why Major Taylor’s story feels so close — it’s not abstract. His fingerprints are all over the cycling culture that shaped me.

Still ahead of his time

Major Taylor wasn’t just “good for his era.” He was great, full stop — and he did it while carrying the weight of things most athletes never have to think about.