Rouen Hospital, early November 1987: Raymond Poulidor visits his eternal rival Jacques Anquetil at the clinic where he spends his last days. A colon cancer will kill him a few days later. Since both stopped cycling, they have become friends.
Raymond Poulidor and Jacques Anquetil
They talk about the past and when Poulidor says goodbye after a while and is on his way to the door, Anquetil calls him back and says the following words: I will be 1st this time too. Poulidor has told this event several times in his life, each time with the necessary emotions.
8 times on the podium of the Tour de France
Raymond Poulidor, the chouchou of the French public and known as the eternal 2nd, also has an impressive record and that is sometimes often forgotten. He was on the podium of the Tour de France no less than 8 times and the fact that he never won it tempted him to make the following statement at the start of the Tour de France in Brussels in 2019 when he, together with Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain was honored: together we have won the Tour de France 15 times.
Poulidor on the Tour de France podium with Eddy Merckx
Poulidor was much loved by the French public, which led to the nickname Poupou. French love that. Jalabert was called Jaja, Trousselier Troutrou and Pingeon Pinpin. His honors list of 2nd places has ensured that in any sport someone who always comes in 2nd is called a Poupou.
Poulidor never really resented that nickname and accepted without any problems, despite having won more victories than 2nd places: 7 stages in the Tour de France, final classification Vuelta 1964, Milan Sanremo 1961, the Walloon Arrow 1963, The Grand Prix Lugano 1963, French champion in 1961, 2 times Paris Nice, final classification Dauphiné Libéré 1969, etc. A career that many dream of.
Not a single day in the yellow jersey
Especially in the Tour de France Poupou has made a name for himself. He took part no less than 14 times and was on the podium 8 times. However, he never wore the yellow jersey, unbelievable when you see which other riders without great honors have worn it.
Poulidor in the yellow jersey during the Tour de France but after his career
2 times Poulidor came very close: in the prologue of 1967 he stranded 6 seconds behind Errandonea and in 1973 just 1 second behind Joop Zoetemelk.
Poulidor has undoubtedly had the disadvantage that he has had to lose out to clappers throughout his career. In his early years against Bobet, Bahamontes and Anquetil. Later against Merckx and Gimondi and at the end of his cycling career against Bernard Hinault. He was on stage for the first time in 1962 and the last time in 1976 at the age of 40.
Another remarkable fact about Raymond Poulidor is that he rode for the Mercier cycling team his entire career (1960 – 1977). His pink Mercier bicycle has now become a collector's item.
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FYI: Raymond Poulidor died on November 13, 2019 and was the father-in-law of Adrie van der Poel and therefore grandfather of David and Mathieu van der Poel.
