Jimmy Michael (18 August 1877 – 21 November 1904) was a Welsh world cycling champion and one of the top riders in the sport for several years.

Mal Rees, writing in Sporting Cyclist after an interview with Michael's brother, Billy, said: The crowd laughed to see such a 'David' having the temerity to start in a race of that length against so many six-footers.

Cycling chroniclers of the day, reporting on the event, were astounded as the Welsh boy matched every attack in the hectic early stages.

Michael turned professional in 1895 for the Gladiator bicycle company, where he joined Arthur Linton, another rider from his town.

[2] Linton's brother, Tom, made some comment in 1896 that prompted this newspaper letter from Michael:[3] Seeing that Tom Linton has been boasting in the South Wales papers that he can beat me, and that he would be willing to ride me any time, and also that his brother Arthur was 'champion of the world,' I will ride either of them, and will give them two laps in 100 kilometres, three in 100 miles, or four laps in six hours for £100 a-side and all gate receipts, race to be ridden at Buffalo or Winter track in Paris.

I am, &c., Jimmy Michael, 19 Avenue Phillipe le Boucher, Neuilly, Paris The match may never have happened.

Later known as the chain matches, these races at the Catford track in London attracted huge crowds estimated between twelve and twenty thousand in June 1896.

But stories start with Michael taking a drink offered to him by Warburton[6] and end with his riding poorly to his falling off his bike, remounting and setting off in the wrong direction.

Warburton died two years later and the report of his death in the New York Times concluded: Michael is said to have accused Warbuton of poisoning him, and a suit for libel was instituted by the trainer, who later consented to an amicable settlement, although during the past season frequent rumors have come from London that Michael was to be returned to England to appear in the case.

Michael had drawn the attention of an American agent called Bliss who had offered him exhibition races in the USA.

Manufacturers were prepared to spend large amounts of money to hire star riders to advertise their bicycles and tires, and spectators lined up at the box office.

[10]Michael lost almost all of it by 1899 in gambling and by becoming a horse-race owner and jockey,[6] having been persuaded by the French champion, Fernand Charron, with whom he was friendly.

They drove to a public house close by the Arc de Triomphe Michael was in an armchair near the bar, visibly drunk.

Gougolz persuaded him to fulfil his commitment and the race was started an hour late with Michael among the riders.

[15] Michael was drawn by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the French Art Nouveau artist, for a poster to advertise the Simpson Chain Company.