Bernard Hinault

Bernard Hinault ( born November 14, 1954 in Yffiniac in Brittany ) is a former French cyclist. Between 1978 and 1985, of the French population due to its tactical cleverness Le Blaireau ( " badger " ) called Hinault could achieve as a third driver at all five victories in the Tour de France. Overall, he won there 28 stages and only Eddy Merckx (34 ) has achieved more successes days.

Career

Hinault began in 1974 his professional cycling career. Overall, it reached 28 stage wins (including 13 at time trials ). He has just as Jacques Anquetil (1964 ), Eddy Merckx (1974) and Miguel Indurain (1995 ) five Tour victories (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985), he reached the second place in 1984 and 1986.

As the only professional cyclist Bernard Hinault ever to win all three major stage races in cycling several times: 1980, 1982 and 1985, he won the Giro d' Italia in 1978 and 1983 he won the Vuelta a España.

With more than 200 victories in his twelve-year career Hinault was a genuine all-rounder and was able to prevail in one-day races. In 1980 he won the Road Cycling Championships. Further victories he was able to record with the classics such as Paris -Roubaix (1981 ), Liège -Bastogne -Liège (1977 and 1980) and the Tour of Lombardy (1984). Four times in a row (1978-1981), he was the sports newspaper L' Équipe France's Sportsman of the Year ( " champion of champions" ) selected.

After the active career

Hinault retired in 1986 back from active professional bicycle racing. In the same year he was awarded the highest decoration of France, a member of the Legion of Honour, by François Mitterrand. Today, Bernard Hinault breeds on his farm in Calorguen near Dinan Charolais cattle and works in public relations for the organization team of the Tour de France, making him at the award ceremonies regularly one of the first to congratulate the driver. Of his two sons, no professional cyclists has become, but one of them works as a logistics Responsible also in the organization team.