Jacques Anquetil Photo Gallery
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Jacques Anquetil (January 8, 1934 - November 18, 1987) is often considered the most perfect pedaling machine in the sport's history. His flat back, toes pointed down time trial position was emulated by generations of cyclists.
He was the first rider to win the Tour de France five times and was the first to win all three Grand Tours. His style of containing his opponents in the mountains and smashing them in the time trial led some to believe his climbing skills were not world class. They misunderstood Anquetil, who saw no point in racing harder than necessary to win a race. In 1963 the Tour organization reduced the time trialling and designed the mountains stages to favor climbers. In response Anquetil delivered a climbing masterclass.
Anquetil's time trialing prowess allowed him to enter and win the Grand Prix des Nations (sometimes called the world championship of time trialing) nine times, starting with his first victory at the age of 19 in 1953.
Much of Anquetil's career was enlivened by his rivalry with Raymond Poulidor. While Poulidor was generally outsmarted by Anquetil, Poulidor remained the French race fans' favorite.
Major victories:
1953: Grand Prix de Nations, GP de Lugano
1954: Grand Prix de Nations, GP de Lugano
1955: Grand Prix de Nations
1956: Grand Prix de Nations, World Hour Record
1957: Tour de France with 4 stage wins, Paris-Nice, Grand Prix de Nations
1958: 4 Days of Dunkirk, Grand Prix de Nations
1959: 4 Days of Dunkirk, GP de Lugano, Critérium des As
1960: Giro d'Italia with 2 stage wins, Critérium des As
1961: Tour de France with 2 stage wins, Critérium National, Paris-Nice, Grand Prix de Nations, GP de Lugano
1962: Tour de France with 2 stage wins, Trofeo Baracchi (with Rudi Altig)
1963: Tour de France with 4 stage wins, Vuelta a España, Critérium National, Paris-Nice, Dauphiné Libéré, Critérium des As
1964: Tour de France with 4 stage wins, Giro d'Italia, Gent-Wevelgem
1965: Bordeaux-Paris, Critérium National, Paris-Nice, Grand Prix de Nations, GP de Lugano, Trofeo Baracchi (with Jean Stablinski), Critérium es As
1966: Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Paris-Nice, Tour of Sardinia, Grand Prix des Nations
1967: Critérium National, Volta a Catalunya
1968: Trofeo Baracchi (with Felice Gimondi)
1969: Vuelta al Pais Vasco
Professional Teams:
1953 - 1955: La Perle-Hutchinson
1956 - 1957: Helyett-Potin
1958: Helyett-Potin-Hutchinson
1959: Helyett-Fynsec
1960: Helyett-Leroux-Fynsec-Hutchinson-ACBB
1961: Helyet-Fynsec-Hutchinson
1962: St. Raphaël-Helyett-Hutchinson
1963: St. Raphaël-Gitane-Géminiani
1964: St Raphaël-Gitane-Dunlop
1965: Ford France-Gitane
1966: Ford France-Hutchinson
1967 - 1969: Bic
Photos:
Anquetil riding the 1956 GP d'Europa in Ravenna, Italy
Anquetil wins stage 3B in the 1957 Tour de France
1957 Tour de France, stage 16: Anquetil at the front on the Col de Tosas
1960 Giro d'Italia: Anquetil passes Charly Gaul in one of the time trials.
Anquetil wins the 1960 Giro d'Italia. That should be teammate and world champion André Darrigade next to him.
1961 Tour de France, stage 16: From left, Charly Gaul, Jacques Anquetil and Hans Junkermann on the climb to Superbagnères
1961 Tour de France, stage 17: Anquetil, center, climbs the Tourmalet.
Anquetil in 1961
Undated picture of Jacques Anquetil with his wife Jeanine
1963 Tour de France, Stage 10 on the Tourmalet: Raymond Poulidor has Anquetil on his left with Federico Bahamontes and José Pérez-Francés following.
Anquetil wins the field sprint (Rik van Looy finished 37 seconds ahead of the pack) in stage 13 of the 1963 Tour de France. That should be Federico Bahamontes obscured, behind and on Anquetil's right.
Anquetil and Gianni Motta in the 1964 Giro d'Italia
1964 Giro: Anquetil in pink
1964 Tour de France, stage 14: Anquetil guides a group on a descent.
1964 Tour de France, stage 20: Anquetil and Poulidor in their famous race up Puy de Dôme. Anquetil narrowly saved his lead..
Anquetil leads Franco Bitossi in the 1966 Giro d'Italia
1966 Tour de France, stage 11: Raymond Poulidor leads Anquetil up the Portillon.
1966 Tour de France, stage 16: Anquetil (right) and Raymond Poulidor
Jacques Anquetil in 1967
Anquetil's last big win, the Tour of the Basque Country in 1969.
Jacques Anquetil's grave at Quincampoix, France. Les Woodland photo.
Jacques Anquetil wayside memorial at Quincampoix, near Rouen. Les Woodland photo.