Hugo Koblet

Swiss cyclist nicknamed 'the charming pedaler', who in 1951 became the first non-Italian rider to win the Tour de France, having also won the Giro d'Italia the year before.

Born on 21 March 1925 in Zürich, Hugo Koblet worked as a bakery delivery boy and trainee mechanic before his talent on the bike was spotted after winning a local hill-climb race. His elegant, stylish riding earned him the nickname 'Le Pédaleur de Charme' — the charming pedaler. Koblet's breakthrough came at the 1950 Giro d'Italia, where he became the first Swiss rider and first non-Italian to win the race. The following year, at the 1951 Tour de France, he cemented his legend with one of the sport's great solo breakaways, escaping alone for roughly 135 kilometres on the stage from Brive-la-Gaillarde to Agen and staying clear despite a full-throttle chase from rivals including Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali, becoming the first non-Italian to win the Tour. Koblet added three Tour de Suisse titles (1950, 1951, 1955) and the 1951 Flèche Wallonne to his palmarès, winning 70 races across his professional career, and also competed in track cycling's six-day and pursuit events. He was received by the Pope at the Vatican alongside the rest of the 1951 Tour field, despite being Protestant rather than Catholic. Koblet's personal life was marked by controversy and speculation. He died in a car accident on 6 November 1964 at age 39, amid speculation that he had taken his own life.

Elegant all-rounder with exceptional time-trialing ability

Remembered for his stylish riding and one of the great solo breakaways in Tour de France history