Ian Steel facts for kids

John "Ian" Steel (born December 28, 1928 – died October 20, 2015) was a famous Scottish bicycle racer. In 1952, he won the Peace Race, a big cycling event in central Europe. This race went through cities like Warsaw, Berlin, and Prague.

Ian Steel was the only British person, and the only rider from an English-speaking country, to ever win the Peace Race. He was also the first British cyclist to win any major international race. He also won the Tour of Britain as a semi-professional rider.

Early Life and Cycling Journey

Growing Up in Scotland

Ian Steel was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1928. His parents, John and Jane, owned a dairy shop. Ian grew up in Glasgow and Dunoon.

During World War II, he and his sister were sent to live with their grandparents for safety. This was part of a plan to move children away from cities during the war.

Starting His Cycling Career

In 1946, when he was 18, Ian joined the Glasgow United cycling club. A friend named John Brierley introduced him to the sport. His very first race was a 25-mile (40 km) time-trial.

Ian quickly became a strong rider. He won many time trials over different distances. He also won races that lasted for 12 hours.

Joining the Glasgow Wheelers

At that time, there was a disagreement between two main cycling groups in Britain. One group, the National Cyclists Union, did not allow mass-start races on public roads. The other group, the British League of Racing Cyclists (BLRC), did.

In 1951, Ian Steel moved to the Glasgow Wheelers club. This club supported the BLRC. The BLRC helped send British teams to races in other countries.

Racing for Scotland

In 1951, Ian rode for Scotland in a race called Paris-Lens. He finished in second place. His strong performance caught the eye of a team sponsored by Viking Cycles. This team was semi-professional, meaning riders could earn some money.

The BLRC allowed semi-professional riders to compete in the Tour of Britain. Ian Steel won the 1951 Tour of Britain, including three of its stages. This was his first time racing in England. The next year, he won another stage and became the national champion.

Life After Racing

Ian Steel married Peggy, whose brother-in-law was his mechanic. After his cycling career, Ian and Peggy traveled a lot. They lived in France, Spain, and Gibraltar. They even crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a yacht!

Later, they explored North America in a motorhome. They eventually settled in Largs, Scotland. For part of the year, they ran a bed and breakfast while still traveling. They were married for 62 years. Ian Steel passed away on October 20, 2015.

Winning the Peace Race

A Major Victory

The 1952 season was Ian Steel's most successful year. He won a stage in the Tour of Britain, but his biggest win was the Peace Race. This race was held in communist countries in Europe after World War II. It was meant to bring people together through sport.

The BLRC sent a British team to this race. The other main cycling group in Britain had turned down the invitation.

The Race Details

The Peace Race took place from April 30 to May 13. It covered a huge distance of 2,138 kilometers (about 1,328 miles). Riders averaged a speed of 37.5 kilometers per hour (about 23.3 mph). Much of the race was on rough roads. Only two stages finished on smooth surfaces; the rest ended on tracks made of shale or cinders.

Ian Steel took the lead on the eighth stage. This stage was very hilly and ended in Chemnitz. He finished nine minutes ahead of the previous leader, a Czech rider named Jan Veselý. Ian won the entire race in 57 hours, 6 minutes, and 17 seconds. Veselý was second, about two and a half minutes behind. Ian also led the British team to victory in the team competition.

Prizes and Recognition

The British team won about £2,000 worth of goods. Since there was no professional racing behind the Iron Curtain (a term for the political division between Western and Eastern Europe), prizes were not money. They received items like briefcases, watches, cameras, radios, and toiletries. Ian Steel won a bicycle, which he gave to another Scotsman living in Prague.

Impact on British Cycling

Ian Steel's victory had a big effect on cycling in Britain. The magazine Cycling Weekly said his win was "never officially acknowledged" by some. However, his success in 1952 helped force the two main British cycling groups to work together.

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), which is the world governing body for sports cycling, recognized the BLRC because of Steel's win. The other British group was upset. But the UCI was tired of the arguments in British cycling. They threatened to remove the upset group if they didn't find a solution. Eventually, the BLRC and the other group joined together to form the British Cycling Federation.

Fifty years after his Peace Race win, Ian Steel was honored by the Association of the British League of Racing Cyclists.

Later Career and Retirement

Racing for Viking Cycles

Ian Steel rode for Viking Cycles from 1951 to 1955. In 1955, he joined the first British team to enter the Tour de France. Many riders on this team were from a rival British team sponsored by Hercules. The team manager was also from Hercules.

During a mountain stage, Ian was riding very well. However, the manager told him to slow down and help a teammate. Ian felt this would hurt his own chances. He argued and was threatened with being sent home. He eventually left the race, feeling very disappointed.

Moving to a Swiss Team

Only two British riders finished that Tour de France. One of them, Brian Robinson, got a contract to ride for a Swiss team called Cilo-St Raphaël. Ian Steel joined him, along with two other British riders. The team's star rider was Hugo Koblet.

However, it was not a very strong team. Most riders, including Robinson, only received a bike, a jersey, and money for expenses. They had to rely on winning prizes for more income.

Retirement from Racing

Ian Steel returned to Britain and rode his last season in 1956, again for Viking Cycles. He then became the team's manager. It was difficult to go back to being an amateur rider. Ian retired from competitive cycling at the end of that season. His best years were 1951 and 1952. He did not win any races from 1953 to 1956.

Awards and Commemoration

The Golden Book

In the 1990s, Ian Steel's achievements were celebrated. The magazine Cycling Weekly gave him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling. This book honors important figures in cycling history.