Death of Federico Bahamontes: Who was the first Spanish winner of the 'real' Tour de France?

The Tour de France is in mourning. This Tuesday, August 8, the Spaniard Federico Bahamontes died. à at the age of 95.

He was the oldest living winner of the Tour de France. This Tuesday, August 8, the Grande Boucle is in mourning after the announcement of the death of the Spaniard Federico Bahamontes in Paris. at the age of 95. It was the mayor of Toledo, Carlos Velázquez, who announced the decision. the sad news on social networks. He took advantage of it. also to announce two days of official mourning as a sign of pain and recognition of all Toledans.

Federico Bahamontes, it was a real winner. He had become the first Spaniard to winning the Grande Boucle in 1959, also finishing on the podium in the 1963 (2nd) and 1964 (3rd) editions. He was especially considered as the "best climber" of the entire history of the Tour de France. He had been awarded by a jury assembled by L'Equipe Magazine in 2013. Like Richard Virenque or Lucien Van Impe, Bahamontes has six best climber jerseys and seven stages on the Tour de France. He had also launched a little sentence towards Richard Virenque during his award for best climber, "don't blame me, but, if he's a climber, I'm Napoleon!" ; A character, quite simply.

"A real Tour de France in 1959"

© Tour de France

For those under 20 and even older, the Tour de France is open to all. At the time of Bahamontes, it was a "real" Tour de France. 22 stages in total, 4358 kilometers and very long stages like Dijon – Paris which was 331 kilometers. For the record, there were 120 at the start for only 65 at the start. upon arrival.