Bernard Thévenet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bernard Thévenet

Thévenet at the 2011 Six Days of Grenoble
Personal information
Full name	Bernard Thévenet
Nickname	Nanard
Born	(1948-01-10) 10 January 1948 (age 77) Saint-Julien-de-Civry, France
Team information
Current team	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	All-rounder
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France General classification (1975, 1977) 9 individual stages (1970–1973, 1975, 1977) Vuelta a España 1 individual stage (1973) Stage races Tour de Romandie (1972) Volta a Catalunya (1974) Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (1975, 1976) One-day races and Classics National Road Race Championships (1973)

Thévenet in Montreal in 1974

Bernard Thévenet (born 10 January 1948) is a famous French cyclist who is now retired. He is best known for winning the Tour de France twice, in 1975 and 1977. He also became famous for ending the winning streak of Eddy Merckx, who had won the Tour de France five times. Bernard Thévenet also won the Dauphiné Libéré race in both 1975 and 1976.

Early Life and Cycling Dreams

Bernard Thévenet grew up on a farm in Saône-et-Loire, a region in Burgundy, France. His family lived in a small village called Le Guidon, which means "The Handlebar" in French!

In 1961, when he was 13, he saw the Tour de France for the very first time. The race passed through his village on a stage from Nevers to Lyon. He was a choirboy at the church, and the priest even changed the time for Mass so everyone could watch the cyclists.

Bernard was amazed by the riders. He said they looked like "modern-day knights" with the sun shining on their bikes. This magical sight made him even more determined to become a professional cyclist.

First Bike and Races

Bernard started riding a bike to school at age seven, traveling 10 kilometers each day. When he was 14, he received his first proper bike as a gift for passing his school exams. His parents needed his help on the farm, so they were not very keen on him racing.

However, Bernard was determined. He rode his first race without telling his parents. They only found out when they read about it in the local newspaper! After a small argument, the club president invited his parents to watch his next race. Bernard won that race, which helped his parents understand his passion.

He became the champion of Burgundy in 1965 and 1966. In 1968, he won the French junior championship. After that, he joined the ACBB club, which was known for helping young cyclists become professionals. He then completed his military service in 1969.

Professional Cycling Career

Bernard Thévenet became a professional cyclist in 1970, joining the Peugeot-BP-Michelin team. His first Tour de France was in 1970, and he joined at the last minute because two other riders were sick. He was very excited and a bit scared to start such a big race.

First Tour de France Win

In his first Tour, Bernard won a mountain stage that finished at La Mongie in the Pyrenees mountains. This win was very important for him, as it helped him secure his place on the team.

In the 1972 Tour, he had a bad crash and temporarily lost his memory. When he started to remember things, he saw his Peugeot jersey and wondered if he was a cyclist! When he recognized his team car, he realized he was riding in the Tour de France. Even after the crash, he refused to give up and won another stage just four days later.

In the 1973 Tour, he finished second overall. However, in 1974, he had to leave the Tour early because he became ill.

Winning the Tour de France

The 1975 Tour de France was a very important race for Bernard Thévenet. On France's national day, 14 July, he attacked Eddy Merckx on a tough mountain climb called the col d'Izoard. Merckx, who was feeling unwell, tried to fight back but lost his lead to Thévenet.

Many people remember this moment as the end of Eddy Merckx's long winning streak in the Tour de France. Bernard Thévenet went on to win the Tour that year. It was also the first time the Tour de France finished on the famous Champs-Élysées in Paris. Merckx finished second, three minutes behind Thévenet.

Bernard Thévenet won his second and final Tour de France in 1977. After this, he faced some health challenges. He was hospitalized with a liver problem, which he later said was due to using certain substances during his career. This experience made him speak out about the importance of fair play and health in sports.

He left the Peugeot team in 1979 and joined a Spanish team called Teka. In his final year as a professional, 1981, he returned to a French team and won a stage in the Circuit de la Sarthe race.

Life After Racing

After retiring from racing, Bernard Thévenet became a team manager for cycling teams like La Redoute and RMO. He also worked as a television commentator, sharing his knowledge of cycling with viewers. He even started his own company that sold cycling clothes.

Bernard Thévenet once said that being a French farmer was harder than being a racing cyclist, showing his humble roots. In 2010, he became the race director for the Critérium du Dauphiné, a major cycling event.

Awards and Recognition

On 14 July 2001, Bernard Thévenet was given a special honor: he was made a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur. This is a very high award in France, recognizing his achievements and contributions.

Major Results

Grand Tours General Classification Results Timeline

Grand Tour	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981
Vuelta a España	—	44	—	3	DNF	—	—	—	—	—	14	—
Giro d'Italia	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	31	—	—
Tour de France	35	4	9	2	DNF	1	DNF	1	DNF	—	17	37

See also

In Spanish: Bernard Thévenet para niños