Born Jean-Apôtre Lazaridès in Marles-les-Mines, Pas-de-Calais of Greek ancestry (he became French in 1929).

During the German military administration in occupied France during World War II, Lazaridès used his cycling to transport supplies to the French Resistance.

Nicknamed "Apo", a short version of his middle name, he competed in races throughout France during the war.

In 1946 Lazaridès finished fifth in the "Ronde de France", then won the most important competition of the year, the "La Course du Tour de France", a 1316 km race from Monaco to Paris.

Lazaridès died in Cannes in 1998 and was buried there in the Cimetière du Grand Jas.