Hugo Koblet

Hugo Koblet (March 21, 1925 – November 6, 1964) was a Swiss champion cyclist. March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). ... 1925 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... 1964 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... A cyclist is a person who engages in cycling whether as a sport or rides a bicycle for recreation or transportation. ...

Born in Zürich, Switzerland, his professional cycling career began in 1946. He initially made his name on the track as a pursuiter, winning the Swiss championship every year from 1947 to 1954. In 1947 he finished third in the World Pursuit Championships and took second place in 1951 and again in 1954. Zürich IPA (in English often Zurich, which is also the standard French form of the name) is the largest city in Switzerland (population: 364,558 in 2002; population of urban area: 1,091,732) and capital of the canton of Zürich. ... Cycling is a recreation, a sport, and a means of transport across land. ...

After winning the 1950 Swiss road championship, Koblet gained fame across Europe when he became the first non-Italian to win the Giro d'Italia. In 1951 he defeated the great Italian cyclist, Fausto Coppi to win the "Grand Prix des Nations," an individual time trial that at the time was considered the unofficial world championship. However, the most important victory of his road bicycle racing career came that same year at the Tour de France during which he captured five stages. World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... The Giro dItalia, also simply known as the Giro, is a long distance road bicycle race for professionals held over three weeks in May or early June in and around Italy. ... Fausto Coppi (September 15, 1919 in Castellania (Province of Alessandria), Italy, - January 2, 1960 in Tortona, Italy) was an Italian bicycle racer. ... In many racing sports an athlete will compete in a time trial against the clock to secure the fastest time. ... Road bicycle racing is a popular bicycle racing sport held on the road (following the geography of the area), using racing bicycles. ... The (Le) Tour de France (French for Tour of France), also simply known as Le Tour, is an epic long distance road bicycle racing competition for professionals held over three weeks in July in and around France. ...

Hugo Koblet was a very handsome man and his fame brought a bevy of beautiful women and a lifestyle that affected his career. Although he competed with reasonable success, including two second-place finishes at the Giro d'Italia, he never regained the level of performing achieved in 1951/52 and retired from competition in 1958.

Eight years after his retirement, Koblet died at the age of 39 in car crash under circumstances that caused speculation his death may have been a suicide rather than an accident. Eye witnesses to the incident saw Koblet driving his white Alfa Romeo at high speed on the highway between Zürich and Esslingen. Weather and road conditions were ideal but the vehicle reportedly drove straight into a tree without any attempt by the driver to avert the crash. Suicide (from Latin sui caedere, to kill oneself) is the act of intentionally ending ones own life; it is sometimes a noun for one who has committed, or attempted the act. ... Alfa Romeo is an Italian automobile manufacturing company, founded as Darracq Italiana by Cavaliere Ugo Stella, an aristocrat from Milan in partnership with the French automobile firm of Alexandre Darracq. ... Esslingen is a village in the municipality of Egg, Switzerland, in the canton of Zürich. ...

Major Road Racing Record:

• 1950: 1st Giro d'Italia, 1st Tour de Suisse
• 1951: 1st Tour de France, 1st Grand Prix des Nations
• 1952: 1st Championship of Zurich
• 1953: 1st Tour de Suisse, 1st Tour de Romandie, 2nd Giro d'Italia
• 1954: 1st Championship of Zurich, 2nd Giro d'Italia
• 1955: 1st Tour de Suisse, 1st Swiss Road Race Championship