John Beasley (13 July 1930 â 31 January 2017) was an Australian racing cyclist and rode in the 1952 and 1955 Tour de France.
Beasley was born on 13 July 1930 in Footscray, Victoria. He was the son of John Joseph "Jack" Beasley who was a leading rider in the 1920s. His brothers Clinton and Vin and sons John and Russell have made significant contributions to Australian cycling.
In 1947, he started professional cycle racing as 17 year old and as a result never raced as an amateur. In 1951 the Sporting Globe organised a public fundraising scheme to help send Beasley, Dean Whitehorn, Peter Anthony, and Eddie Smith to Europe to race. In 1952, he raced in the ParisâÂÂNice race and finished 28th. He subsequently was offered a contact by the Luxembourg international team and raced in the 1952 Tour de France. He was eliminated from the race after Stage 2 after having a fall and mechanical problems. In 1955 Tour de France, Beasley and fellow Australian Russell Mockridge were part of the Luxembourg international team. Beasley withdrew after Stage 3 after suffering the effects of food poisoning after a seafood meal in Le Havre just prior to the race.
In 1951 Beasley rode in the Tour of the West, a five-stage race over in the Hartley Team with Clinton Beasley, and Keith and Max Rowley. John won stage 3 and the general classification.
Beasley retired in 1961 after winning the Wonthaggi 140 mile Handicap Race. In 1961, he took over running the family business Beasley Cycles in Footscray, Victoria after his father died. He was a mechanic for the Australian teams at 1982 Commonwealth Games and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
In 2000, he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal.