Roger Pingeon
Roger Pingeon ( born August 28, 1940 in Hauteville ) is a former French cyclist.
Roger Pingeon completed an apprenticeship as a plumber; During his education he came into contact with the cycling and drove initially successful amateur race. His cycling career was interrupted by his military service, which he spent mainly in Algeria. In 1964 he finished in second place in the race Polymultipliée lyonnaise amateur and won the next day the open race, which was attended by professionals. He was then taken by the team Peugeot to the eventual champion Tom Simpson under contract.
Roger Pingeon was until 1974 a professional cyclist. In his first year as a pro, 1965, he was twelfth in the overall standings of the Tour de France. The following year, however, he wanted to withdraw from cycling because he had just have to give up one after the other in Paris-Nice and the Critérium du Dauphiné, but he was persuaded by fellow athletes to continue driving.
1967 Pingeon won the Tour de France; the victory was overshadowed by the death of his teammate Tom Simpson. Overall Pingeon started seven times in this tour. In 1966 he was eighth, fifth in 1968, second in 1969 and 1974 eleventh. He also won a total of four stages. In 1969, he decided the Tour of Spain for himself and won two stages. In the last years of his sporting career, he had to deal with health problems.
Today Pingeon comments for Swiss television, the Tour de France. His brother is former racing cyclist René Pingeon; while the victory of Roger Pingeon at the Vuelta 1969, he was his team mate. Every year the Every man race L' HERAULTAISE Cyclosportive Roger Pingeon will be held in the department of Hérault.