Laurent Dufaux facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 20 May 1969 Montreux, Switzerland |
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| Height | 1.69 m | ||
| Weight | 60 kg (132 lb; 9 st 6 lb) | ||
| Team information | |||
| Current team | Retired | ||
| Discipline | Road | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Rider type | Climber | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Laurent Dufaux (born 20 May 1969) is a former professional road cyclist from Switzerland. He raced from 1991 to 2004. He was known as a strong climber, which means he was very good at cycling up hills and mountains.
Laurent Dufaux won the Swiss National Road Race title in 1991. He also won important races like the Critérium du Dauphiné twice (in 1993 and 1994) and the Tour de Romandie in 1998. He even won a tough one-day race called Züri-Metzgete in 2000.
He had great results in the biggest cycling races, known as Grand Tours. He finished 4th overall in the Tour de France twice (in 1996 and 1999). He also placed 2nd and 3rd in the Vuelta a España in 1996 and 1997. During his career, he won one stage in both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.
In 1998, his team, Festina, faced issues during the 1998 Tour de France related to rules about fair play in sports. Because of this, Laurent and some teammates admitted to not following all the rules. He was then suspended from racing for seven months.
Contents
Early Career and First Wins
Laurent Dufaux started his professional cycling career in 1991. In his first year, he won the Swiss National Road Race Championships. This showed he was one of the best riders in his home country. He also won the Route du Sud and the Coppa Placci that year.
In 1992, he continued to show his talent by winning the Grand Prix Pino Cerami. He also finished well in several other races, often placing in the top 10. These early wins helped him become a well-known cyclist.
Major Victories and Grand Tour Success
Laurent Dufaux was especially good in stage races, which are races that take place over several days. He won the Critérium du Dauphiné in both 1993 and 1994. This race is often seen as a warm-up for the Tour de France.
In 1995, he won the overall title at the Route du Sud again. He also won the Vuelta a Burgos in Spain, showing his strength in different types of races.
His best years in the Grand Tours were in the mid-1990s. In 1996, he had an amazing year. He finished 4th overall in the 1996 Tour de France and won a stage. Later that year, he finished 2nd overall in the 1996 Vuelta a España and won another stage.
In 1997, he continued his strong performances, finishing 9th overall in the 1997 Tour de France and 3rd overall in the 1997 Vuelta a España. He also won the À travers Lausanne race that year.
Later Career and Achievements
In 1998, Laurent Dufaux won his home region race, the Tour de Romandie. He also won the Midi Libre race. These wins showed he was still a top rider.
After a period of challenges, he returned to strong form in 1999, finishing 4th overall in the 1999 Tour de France again. He also placed 4th in the Tour de Suisse.
In 2000, he won the Züri-Metzgete, a famous one-day race. This was a special win because he was known as a climber, but he managed to win a race that often ends in a sprint.
He continued to race until 2004. In 2002, he won the Trofeo Melinda. Laurent Dufaux was a consistent rider who achieved many great results throughout his career.
Grand Tour Results Overview
This table shows how Laurent Dufaux finished in the biggest cycling races:
| Grand Tour | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Giro d'Italia |
— | — | — | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | — | — | — |
 Tour de France |
DNF | — | 35 | 19 | 4 | 9 | DNF | 4 | DNF | — | DNF | 21 | 67 |
/ Vuelta a España |
— | 37 | — | — | 2 | 3 | DNF | DNF | DNF | — | — | — | — |
| — | Did not compete |
|---|---|
| DNF | Did not finish |
Images for kids
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The jersey for the Swiss National Road Race champion.
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An orange jersey, often worn by the leader in some races.
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A yellow and blue jersey, like those worn by leaders in certain races.
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A violet jersey.
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A green jersey, sometimes for the points classification leader.
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A yellow jersey, the most famous in cycling, worn by the leader of the Tour de France.
See also
In Spanish: Laurent Dufaux para niños
- List of doping cases in cycling
- List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences
