Hugo Koblet

Hugo Koblet , born the March 21st 1925 with Zurich and accidentally dead the November 6th 1964 with Esslingen, commune of Egg close to Zurich, is regarded as one of best the racing cyclists of Suisse.

Biography

After having failed to become Baker and confectioner in the family small shop, then Ironworker, it began his professional path like pistard in 1946. Between 1947 and 1954, it gained all the championships of Switzerland in continuation. In this discipline, it was third with the championship of the world in 1947 and twice second in 1951 and 1954. After it had gained in 1950 the Swiss championship on road, all Europe knew its name when he had been the first not-Italian to allocate the Giro. Shortly after it gained the Tour of Switzerland.

In 1951, it beat the Italian racing cyclist Fausto Coppi in the Grand Prix of the Nations, which one then looked at like the championship of the semi-official world of against the watch. But the greatest success of its career was its victory in the Tour de France in 1951, where it gained moreover five stages.

If it could not renew its victory in the Tour de France, its successes did not stop therefore. Thus it was twice second of Giro (1953 and 1954), and twice moreover gained the Turn of Switzerland (1953 and 1955), twice the Trophy of Zurich (1952 and 1954) and once the Tour of Romandie (1953). Unfortunately, after its victory with the championship of Switzerland over road in 1955, its level dropped clearly: it could not gain any more that tests of second order and it was withdrawn in 1958.

Because of his pace and his elegance, one called it “Pédaleur of charm”. After the main efforts its tiredness did not prevent it from looking after its presentation, on this point it was all the opposite of its rival Ferdi Kubler. Often, it gave itself a blow of comb little before the winning post to be able to give of him a more advantageous image on the photograph.

Six years after having taken down, Koblet died at the 39 years age in an car accident; the assumption of a suicide is not excluded. Eyewitnesses ensure that it rolled to sharp pace in its Alfa Romeo white on the road between Zurich and Esslingen. The weather conditions and circulation were perfect. But the vehicle moved right against a tree without Koblet trying to avoid the shock.

Successive teams

Hugo Koblet was engaged in various teams:
  • 1946: Amberg and Draper-R.Lapebie
  • 1947: Fuchs and Amberg-Helvetia
  • 1948: Tebag
  • 1949: Cilo
  • 1950: Cilo and Guerra
  • 1951: Guerra
  • 1951: Cilo
  • 1951 to 1952: The Pearl-Hutchinson
  • 1952: Cilo and Guerra-Ursus
  • 1953 to 1954: Cilo, Guerra and the Pearl-Hutchinson
  • 1955: The Pearl-Hutchinson and Cilo
  • 1956: Cilo - Saint-Raphael
  • 1957: Cilo
  • 1958: Cilo - Toscanelli and Ghigi-Coppi

Prize list

  • Nice Edmond Trophy (exploit cyclist of the year): 1950

  • Tour de France: 1951 - winner of 5 stages and 11 days with the yellow jersey
  • Turn of Italy: 1950
  • Turn of Switzerland: 1950,1953,1955
  • Turn of Romandie: 1953,1957
  • Grand Prix of the Nations: 1951
  • Critérium of the Aces: 1951
  • World champion of continuation on track: 1951
  • 3rd of the Desgrange-Colombo Challenge: 1950

Results on the Tour de France

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