- Hugo Koblet
Infobox Cyclist
ridername = Hugo Koblet
fullname = Hugo Koblet
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date|1925|03|21
dateofdeath = death date and age|1964|11|06|1925|03|21
country = SUI
height =
weight =
currentteam =
discipline = Road
role = Rider
ridertype =
amateurteams =
amateuryears =
proyears =
proteams =
majorwins = 1950 Giro d'Italia 1951 Tour de France
updated =May 24 ,2008 Hugo Koblet (
March 21 ,1925 –November 6 ,1964 ) was a Swiss championcyclist .Born in Zürich, Switzerland, his professional
cycling career began in 1946. He made his name on the track as a pursuiter, winning the Swiss championship every year from 1947 to 1954. In 1947 he finished third in the world pursuit championship, and took second in 1951 and 1954. He was given the nickname "Pédaleur de Charme" in 1951 by Jacques Grello a writer forParisien Libéré .After winning the 1950 Swiss road championship, Koblet gained became the first non-Italian to win the
Giro d'Italia . In 1951 he defeatedFausto Coppi to win the "Grand Prix des Nations ," anindividual time trial considered the unofficial world championship. The most important victory came that year at theTour de France , during which he captured five stages and won the overall title.Hugo Koblet was a handsome man whose fame brought beautiful women and a lifestyle that affected his career. Although he competed with success, including two second-place finishes at the Giro d'Italia, he never regained the level achieved in 1951-52 and retired in 1958.
Six years after his retirement, Koblet died at 39 in a car crash, with speculation that his death may have been a
suicide . Witnesses saw Koblet driving his whiteAlfa Romeo at speed between Zürich and Esslingen. Weather and road conditions were ideal, but the vehicle reportedly drove into a tree without any attempt to avert the crash.Major Road Racing Records
;1947:SUI national track pursuit champion;1948:SUI national track pursuit champion:Six days of Chicago (with
Walter Diggelmann );1949:SUI national track pursuit champion:Six days of New York (withWalter Diggelmann );1950:SUI national track pursuit champion:Giro d'Italia::: Winner overall classification:: Winner mountains classification::Winner stages 6 and 8:Tour de Suisse ;1951:SUI national track pursuit champion:Critérium des As:Tour de France::: Winner overall classification::Winner stages 7, 11, 14, 16 and 22:Grand Prix des Nations :Giro d'Italia:::Winner stage 19::6th place overall classification;1952:SUI national track pursuit champion:1stZüri-Metzgete :Giro d'Italia:::8th place overall classification;1953:SUI national track pursuit champion:Tour de Suisse:Tour de Romandie :Giro d'Italia:::2nd place overall classification::Winner stage 7B;1954:Züri-Metzgete:Giro d'Italia:::2nd place overall classification::Winner stages 15 and 21;1955:Tour de Suisse:flagicon|SUI 1st Swiss Road Race Championship :Giro d'Italia:::10th place overall classification::Winner stage 21;1956:Vuelta a España:::Winner stage 9External links
*cyclingwebsite|8440
* [http://www.letour.fr/HISTO/TDF/riders/us/3200.html Official Tour de France results for Hugo Koblet]
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