Bernard Thévenet facts for kids
Thévenet at the 2011 Six Days of Grenoble
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bernard Thévenet | ||
| Nickname | Nanard | ||
| Born | 10 January 1948 Saint-Julien-de-Civry, France |
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| Team information | |||
| Current team | Retired | ||
| Discipline | Road | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Rider type | All-rounder | ||
| Major wins | |||
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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. He also famously ended the winning streak of Eddy Merckx, who had won the Tour five times. Bernard Thévenet also won the Dauphiné Libéré race in both 1975 and 1976.
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Early Life and Dreams
Bernard Thévenet grew up on a farm in Burgundy, France. His family lived in a small village called Le Guidon, which means "The Handlebar" – a fitting name for a future cyclist! In 1961, when he was 13, he saw the Tour de France for the very first time. The race passed near his home.
He remembers how special it was. The village priest even changed the time for church Mass so everyone could watch the cyclists. Bernard was amazed by the riders, calling them "modern-day knights." This moment made him even more determined to become a professional cyclist.
Bernard started riding bikes early. At age six, he rode on the back of his sister's bike to school. A year later, he got his own bike and rode 10 kilometers each day. When he was 14, he received a sporty new bike as a gift for passing his school exams.
His parents were not very keen on him racing. They needed his help on the farm. But Bernard loved cycling. He entered his first race without telling them. His parents found out when they read about it in the local newspaper! After a talk with his club president, his parents agreed to watch his next race. Bernard won it, showing his talent.
He became the champion of Burgundy in 1965 and 1966. In 1968, he was the French junior champion. A famous cycling club, ACBB, invited him to join their team. This club was known for helping young riders become professionals, especially for the Peugeot team.
Becoming a Professional Cyclist
Bernard Thévenet became a professional cyclist in 1970. He joined the Peugeot-BP-Michelin team. His first Tour de France was in 1970, and it was a last-minute decision! Two riders on his team got sick, so Bernard was chosen just two days before the race began.
He had to get advice from an old friend who had ridden the Tour in 1929. Bernard felt nervous but also very proud. He received new gear, but not a new bike, because he wasn't originally on the team list.
In that first Tour, Bernard won a tough mountain stage in the Pyrenees. This win was very important for him. He realized he had secured his place on the team and his future in cycling.
In the 1972 Tour, Bernard had a bad crash. He temporarily lost his memory. When he started to remember, he saw his Peugeot jersey and wondered if he was a cyclist. When he recognized his team car, he shouted, "I'm riding the Tour de France!" He refused to quit the race. Just four days later, he won a stage over the famous Mont Ventoux.
In the 1973 Tour, he finished second overall. In 1974, he had to leave the Tour early due to illness.
Tour de France Victories
Bernard Thévenet's biggest wins came in the Tour de France.
In the 1975 Tour, he made a famous attack on the col d'Izoard mountain. This was on July 14, France's national day. He attacked Eddy Merckx, who was the reigning champion. Merckx was struggling with stomach pain. Bernard took the lead and never lost it. He went on to win the Tour de France that year. It was also the first time the Tour finished on the famous Champs-Élysées in Paris. Merckx finished second, three minutes behind.
Bernard Thévenet won his second and final Tour de France in 1977.
After his second Tour win, Bernard faced health challenges. He was hospitalized with a liver problem. This health issue affected his performance in later races. He had trouble finishing even smaller races.
He left the Peugeot team in 1979 and joined a Spanish team called Teka. He won two races and a six-day race with an Australian rider named Danny Clark. In his final year, 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. He managed the La Redoute team in 1984 and then the RMO team in 1986 and 1987.
He also became a television commentator, sharing his knowledge of cycling with viewers. He started his own company that sells cycling clothes. When asked if being a racing cyclist was hard, he famously replied that being a French farmer was even harder!
In 2010, Bernard Thévenet became the race director for the Critérium du Dauphiné, a major cycling event.
Honors
Bernard Thévenet was recognized for his achievements. On July 14, 2001, he was made a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur. This is a very high honor in France.
Major Cycling Achievements
Here are some of Bernard Thévenet's most important wins and achievements:
- Tour de France:
- Overall Winner: 1975, 1977
- Stage Wins: 9 stages between 1970 and 1977
- Vuelta a España:
- 1 stage win: 1973
- Tour de Romandie: Overall Winner: 1972
- Volta a Catalunya: Overall Winner: 1974
- Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré: Overall Winner: 1975, 1976
- French National Road Race Championships: Winner: 1973
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 |
| — | Did not compete |
|---|---|
| DNF | Did not finish |
See also
In Spanish: Bernard Thévenet para niños
