Bernardo Ruiz facts for kids
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Ruiz at the 1954 Tour de France
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bernardo Ruiz | ||
| Born | 8 January 1925 Orihuela, Spain |
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| Team information | |||
| Current team | Retired | ||
| Discipline | Road | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Rider type | All-rounder | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Bernardo Ruiz Navarrete (born 8 January 1925) is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer. He was a very successful cyclist. He won the overall race and the best climber award at the 1948 Vuelta a España.
Bernardo was also the first Spanish cyclist to win two stages in one Tour de France, which he did in 1951. The next year, he became the first Spaniard to finish in the top three overall at the Tour de France. In 1955, he made history again by being the first Spaniard to win a stage in the Giro d'Italia.
Contents
Early Life and First Bike
Bernardo Ruiz was born in Orihuela, Spain. His family faced difficulties after the Spanish Civil War. His father was not allowed to have a regular job. The family had to grind flour and sell it in Valencia using a donkey and cart.
One of Bernardo's older brothers was injured while serving in the army. He received money that helped him buy Bernardo's first bicycle, an Alcyon. This bike replaced the family's donkey, which had died in an accident. The bicycle became an important way for the family to travel and work.
Becoming a Cycling Star
Bernardo Ruiz started cycling almost by accident. As a teenager, he once joined a group of riders without knowing they were in a race. He just decided to follow them! He soon showed great talent.
He won a big regional championship in Valencia while still a teenager. This success helped his family, and the difficulties they faced began to ease.
First Big Wins
In 1945, when he was 20, Bernardo won the Volta a Catalunya. This was Spain's most important bike race at the time. It was his first race outside his home region and helped him become a professional cyclist. That same year, he raced in the Vuelta a España for the first time. He finished 23rd, and he later said the race felt "terrifying."
Three years later, in 1948, he won the entire 1948 Vuelta a España. He took the lead after another rider had bad luck with flat tires. After winning, he was supposed to receive his trophy. However, he decided to leave instead of waiting for a long time for a football match to finish.
Tour de France Adventures
In 1949, Bernardo Ruiz competed in the Tour de France with the Spanish national team. The team faced some challenges and decided to leave the race early. Because of this, Spain was not invited to the Tour the next year.
However, a Spanish team, including Ruiz, returned in 1951. Bernardo won two stages, which were the first stage wins for Spain since the Civil War. He finished ninth overall in that race. The next year, in the 1952 Tour de France, he finished third overall. He was behind famous cyclists Fausto Coppi and Stan Ockers. Bernardo later said he was very careful going downhill on Mont Ventoux. This caution made him lose some time, but he was worried about his tires getting too hot.
Life After Racing
After he stopped racing, Bernardo Ruiz became a team manager, known as a directeur sportif. He managed the Faema team, where he worked with another famous Spanish cyclist, Federico Bahamontes. Even though they had some disagreements in the past, they learned to work together.
Bernardo Ruiz's Legacy
Bernardo Ruiz raced during a time when Spain was facing economic challenges. This meant he often had to use heavier and less advanced equipment. Despite this, he achieved amazing things.
He is one of the few cyclists to complete all three major cycling races, known as Grand Tours (the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España), in a single season. He did this three times! Only two other riders have done it more often. Throughout his career, he rode in a total of 21 Grand Tours and finished 12 of them in a row.
Many people see Bernardo Ruiz as a pioneer for Spanish cycling. His international success helped open the way for other Spanish cyclists like Federico Bahamontes. Bernardo Ruiz turned 100 years old on January 8, 2025.
Major Achievements
Bernardo Ruiz had many important wins and high finishes during his career. Here are some of his biggest achievements:
- 1945: Won the overall Volta a Catalunya
- 1946: Won the National Road Race Championship
- 1947: Won the overall Vuelta a Burgos
- 1948: Won the overall 1948 Vuelta a España and the Mountains classification. He also won three stages.
- 1950: Won a stage in the 1950 Vuelta a España
- 1951: Won the National Road Race Championship. He also won two stages in the 1951 Tour de France.
- 1952: Finished third overall in the 1952 Tour de France.
- 1954: Won the overall Vuelta a Asturias
- 1955: Won a stage in the 1955 Giro d'Italia
- 1957: Won the overall Vuelta a Levante and finished third overall in the 1957 Vuelta a España.
See also
In Spanish: Bernardo Ruiz para niños
