Jacques Anquetil

JACQUES ANQUETIL d1987. French road racing cyclist and the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times (in 1957) and from 1961-1964. He stated before the 1961 Tour that he would gain the yellow jersey on day one and wear it all through the tour (a tall order with two previous winners in the field ; Charly Gaul and Federico Bahamontes) but he did it. His victories in stage races were built on an exceptional ability to ride alone against the clock in individual time trial stages which lent him the name "Monsieur Chrono". He won eight Grand Tours in his career which was a record when he retired and has only since been surpassed by Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault. He died in Rouen of cancer aged 53 on November 18th 1987