French was born in Burnie and did his early racing in Tasmania before moving to Victoria to continue his career on the North Essendon board track.

He was then influenced by Sid Patterson to try his hand in Europe where he won the world motor paced championship in Denmark in 1956.

Former cycling commentator Harold ``Tiger'' Dowling said that he had fond memories of growing up in Burnie when French was forging his career.

``He was a household name and the best cyclist we had seen between the end of World War II and the early 1950s,'' he said.

Dowling said that French was a ruthless competitor whose will to win often upset other cyclists but off the bike he was ``a really good bloke''.

``He was my hero and his trainer Elvin Von Bibra was our next door neighbour.

``Elvin used to send Graeme into the bush for six weeks at a time where he was required to cut 100 tonnes of wood a week.

``It was designed to toughen him up and was good preparation for the bike,''.

After his move to Victoria French won 14 consecutive scratch races at Essendon and the record stood until Sid Patterson returned from his European campaign.

``Sid took one look at Graeme and convinced him to try his luck in Europe,'' he said.

Dowling described French as a tough and unrelenting rider who often rode well from the front bunch and this was how he beat two former world champions in his 1956 motor paced title.

French led all the way over the 100-kilometre distance beating three-time champion Dof Verschurer from Belgium and Spain's Geraldo Tominer.

``Danny Clark was our next world motor paced champion 30 years later and Graeme French was still remembered as being a Tasmanian,'' Dowling said.

French moved to the Gold Coast in retirement where he died last Friday.

Australian cycling also lost prominent Victorian official Wal Smith at the weekend.

Smith spent plenty of time in Tasmania officiating on the Tour of Tasmania, the Herald Sun Tour and Tattersall's Cup races.

He was a life member of Cycling Victoria and a member of its Hall of Fame.

He died in Bendigo on Sunday aged 84.