Charly Grosskost
Encyclopedia
Charly Grosskost was a French
racing cyclist who in 1968 won the prologue time-trial of both the Giro d'Italia
and the Tour de France
. He won stages of the Tour de France and of the Giro d'Italia and on the track was French pursuit champion nine times.
Grosskost came to notice when he was 19, when he won a stage of the Route de France - amateur counterpart of the Tour de France - and then won Strasbourg-Campagne by nearly 10 minutes after riding ahead of the race for more than 50 km.
In 1965, he won the Route de France and five of its seven stages and became favourite for the still bigger race, the Tour de l'Avenir. There, however, he dropped out in the Pyrenees. A drug test that followed his retirement - it has entered cycling legend that other riders pushed him off his bike for his own safety as he began foaming at the mouth and riding erratically - led to his being suspended for a year. To his death, Grosskost insisted that he had been drugged by a team helper.
Grosskost turned professional for Peugeot on May 1, 1966, alongside Eddy Merckx
of Belgium, whom he beat to win his Giro prologue. He then moved to the Bic team alongside Jacques Anquetil
.
In 1968 he won the prologue of the Giro d'Italia
and became the third Frenchman to wear the leader's pink jersey after Louison Bobet
and Raphaël Géminiani
. That same year, Grosskost won the prologue time-trial of the Tour de France
at Vittel and then the first conventional stage. He wore the leader's yellow jersey for three days and finished the Tour in 17th place.
In retirement he became a cycle dealer.
Grosskost died in 2004, after he was hit by a car while cycling with friends.
1967
1968
1969
1970
1974
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
racing cyclist who in 1968 won the prologue time-trial of both the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
and the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
. He won stages of the Tour de France and of the Giro d'Italia and on the track was French pursuit champion nine times.
Grosskost came to notice when he was 19, when he won a stage of the Route de France - amateur counterpart of the Tour de France - and then won Strasbourg-Campagne by nearly 10 minutes after riding ahead of the race for more than 50 km.
In 1965, he won the Route de France and five of its seven stages and became favourite for the still bigger race, the Tour de l'Avenir. There, however, he dropped out in the Pyrenees. A drug test that followed his retirement - it has entered cycling legend that other riders pushed him off his bike for his own safety as he began foaming at the mouth and riding erratically - led to his being suspended for a year. To his death, Grosskost insisted that he had been drugged by a team helper.
Grosskost turned professional for Peugeot on May 1, 1966, alongside Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
of Belgium, whom he beat to win his Giro prologue. He then moved to the Bic team alongside Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil was a French road racing cyclist and the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times, in 1957 and from 1961 to 1964...
.
In 1968 he won the prologue of the Giro d'Italia
1968 Giro d'Italia
The 1968 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 51st edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 20 May to 11 June 1968. It consisted of 22 stages and was won by Eddy Merckx.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:- Other jerseys:...
and became the third Frenchman to wear the leader's pink jersey after Louison Bobet
Louison Bobet
Louis 'Louison' Bobet was a French professional road racing cyclist. He was the first great French rider of the post-war period and the first rider to win the Tour de France in three successive years, from 1953 to 1955...
and Raphaël Géminiani
Raphael Geminiani
Raphaël Géminiani is a French former road bicycle racer. He had six podium finishes in the Grand Tours. He is one of four children of Italian immigrants who moved to Clermont-Ferrand. He worked in a cycle shop and started racing as a boy...
. That same year, Grosskost won the prologue time-trial of the Tour de France
1968 Tour de France
The 1968 Tour de France was the 55th Tour de France, taking place June 27 to July 21, 1968. It consisted of 22 stages over 4684.8 km, ridden at an average speed of 34.894 km/h...
at Vittel and then the first conventional stage. He wore the leader's yellow jersey for three days and finished the Tour in 17th place.
In retirement he became a cycle dealer.
Grosskost died in 2004, after he was hit by a car while cycling with friends.
Major victories
1966- national pursuit champion (track)
1967
- national omnium champion (track)
1968
- national pursuit champion (track)
- national omnium champion (track)
- Prologue Paris–Nice
- Giro d'Italia1968 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1968 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 51st edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 20 May to 11 June 1968. It consisted of 22 stages and was won by Eddy Merckx.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:- Other jerseys:...
: Prologue - Tour de France1968 Tour de FranceThe 1968 Tour de France was the 55th Tour de France, taking place June 27 to July 21, 1968. It consisted of 22 stages over 4684.8 km, ridden at an average speed of 34.894 km/h...
- overall classification: 17th
- winner of prologue and stage 1
- wore yellow jerseyYellow jerseyThe general classification in the Tour de France is the most important classification, the one by which the winner of the Tour de France is determined. Since 1919, the leader of the general classification wears the yellow jersey .-History:...
for 2 days
1969
- national pursuit champion (track)
1970
- national pursuit champion (track)
- Prologue and stage 3B of Etoile des espoirs
1974
- national pursuit champion (track)