Rider Obituary: Federico Bahamontes kicked the bucket on the age of 95 at the morning of Tuesday eighth of August. In 1959, the ‘Eagle of Toledo’ used to be the primary Spanish rider to win the Excursion de France and a six-time winner of the KOM classification. He used to be the oldest residing Excursion de France winner.
Within the fifties and sixties, Bahamontes used to be a rider with (among many others) the Belgian Faeme staff and Margnat-Paloma of France, at a time when Spanish riders didn’t generally tend to race with ‘international’ groups and now not such a lot outdoor of Spain. Along with the total victory within the Excursion de France, he used to be additionally 2nd at the back of Jacques Anquetil in 1963 and 3rd in 1964 at the back of Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor. In addition to his Excursion de France King of the Mountains, he additionally gained the KOM of the Vuelta in 1957 and 1958 and the Giro d’Italia in 1956. He has 11 Grand Excursion degree victories: Seven within the Excursion, 3 in l. a. Vuelta and one Giro degree.
In Excursion yellow
His six King of the Mountains classification wins, in 1954, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963 and 1964 had been equaled by way of Lucien van Impe. Their file used to be crushed by way of Richard Virenque, he handed them by way of taking seven polka-dot jersey. He used to be additionally Spanish nationwide highway champion in 1958.
Bahamontes and Virenque in 2003
Bahamontes used to be noticed much less and not more in public. In 2019 he visited the nineteenth degree of the Vuelta a España, which completed in his place of birth of Toledo. He joined general chief, Primoz Roglič at the podium.
The Eagle of Toledo, Federico Bahamontes and Primoz Roglič – Vuelta España 2019 degree 19 in Toledo
The mayor of Toledo introduced the scoop on social media on Tuesday morning. “These days we mourn the lack of Federico Martín Bahamontes, a benchmark within the recreation who has taken our town’s title to the highest. He’s the primary Spaniard to win the Excursion de France and is a part of the carrying historical past in our nation, with greater than 74 victories to his title.”
Bahamontes and Raymond Poulidor
“Fede extremely joyful us together with his strange climbs and his motorcycle store in Plaza de l. a. Magdalena used to be a spot of pilgrimage for all enthusiasts. We can honour his reminiscence with two days of respectable mourning, as an indication of ache and acknowledgment from all of the population of our Toledo. All of us gained the Excursion because of him. Our inner most sympathy is going out to his family members. Would possibly he relaxation in peace.”
The ‘Eagle of Toledo’ in complete flight
Bahamontes used to be the oldest residing winner of the Excursion de France. Now the 83 year-old Jan Janssen has that honour.
Descanse en paz Fede.
The statue of Federico Bahamontes in his house the town of Toledo
Everybody at PEZ sends their condolences to his friends and family.
A homage to Federico Bahamontes by way of RTVE (in Spanish):
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