Louison Bobet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Louis Bobet

Bobet at the 1951 Tour de France
Personal information
Full name	Louis Bobet
Nickname	Louison, Zonzon
Born	(1925-03-12)12 March 1925 Saint-Méen-le-Grand, France
Died	13 March 1983(1983-03-13) (aged 58) Biarritz, France
Team information
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France General classification (1953, 1954, 1955) Mountains classification (1950) 11 Stages Giro d'Italia Mountains classification (1951) 2 Stages Stage races Paris–Nice (1952) Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré (1955) Tour de Luxembourg (1955) One-day races and Classics World Road Race Championships (1954) National Road Race Championships (1950, 1951) Milan–San Remo (1951) Tour of Flanders (1955) Paris–Roubaix (1956) Bordeaux–Paris (1959) Giro di Lombardia (1951) Critérium International (1951 & 1952) Grand Prix des Nations (1952)

Louis "Louison" Bobet (pronounced: [lwi.zɔ̃ bɔ.be]; born March 12, 1925 – died March 13, 1983) was a famous French professional road racing cyclist. He was a very important rider after World War II. He made history by being the first person to win the Tour de France three times in a row, from 1953 to 1955. He also won many other big races like the World Road Championship in 1954.

Early Life and First Races

Louis Bobet was born in a small town called Saint-Méen-le-Grand, in France. His father owned a bakery. When Louis was only two years old, his father gave him a bicycle. He learned to ride it very quickly! To avoid confusion with his father, who was also named Louis, young Louis was called "Louison," which means "little Louis" in French.

Louison enjoyed many sports. His sister played table tennis, and his brother, Jean, played football (soccer) and later became a cyclist too. Louison was even a Brittany champion in table tennis! But it was his uncle, Raymond, who led a cycling club, who convinced him to focus on cycling.

Louison's first bike race was when he was 13. It was a 30-kilometer (about 18.6 miles) race, and he finished second in a close sprint! He kept racing locally and won four events in 1941. In 1943, he competed in a big youth championship called the Premier Pas Dunlop and finished sixth. The winner of that race was Raphaël Géminiani, who would later become a teammate and a friendly rival.

During World War II, Bobet is said to have helped the French Resistance by carrying messages. After the war ended, he joined the army and served in eastern France before returning home in December 1945.

Becoming a Professional Cyclist

After leaving the army, Bobet got a racing license. By mistake, he received a special license that allowed him to race against both amateurs and professionals. This was a big advantage! He quickly showed his talent, finishing second in the Brittany championship. Then, he won the national championship in Paris, beating experienced professional riders. After this, he officially became a full-time professional cyclist for a team called Stella.

First Tour de France Races

Louison Bobet's team, Stella, was small. But in May 1947, he won a race in Paris by a huge six minutes! This amazing win earned him an invitation to ride in the Tour de France. Back then, teams were made up of riders from different countries or regions.

His first Tour de France in 1947 was very tough. He had to quit on the ninth day in the Alps because it was so hard. He even cried, which earned him the nickname "cry-baby" from other riders. But he learned a lot from this experience and became stronger.

In the 1948 Tour de France, Bobet returned. He took the lead early in the race and even wore the famous yellow jersey! He held a big lead of 20 minutes over the Italian champion, Gino Bartali. However, Bartali made an incredible comeback, winning three stages in a row and eventually the Tour. Even though Bobet lost the lead, he had worn the yellow jersey twice and won two stages. With his prize money, he bought a shop for his wife in Paris.

Winning the Mountains Classification

Bobet didn't finish the 1949 Tour de France, but in 1950 Tour de France, he was back stronger. He had just won the French national championship again. In this Tour, he rode with his old rival, Géminiani. They had a friendly rivalry, often arguing but remaining good friends. Géminiani even gave Bobet another nickname, "Zonzon," which Bobet didn't like but put up with.

Bobet finished third overall in the 1950 Tour and won the mountains classification. This meant he was the best climber in the race!

Becoming a Tour de France Champion

After a year without the Tour, Bobet returned for the 1953 Tour de France. This was his year! On a tough mountain stage, he rode away from everyone. He climbed the famous Col d'Izoard all by himself. He won that stage by over five minutes and took the yellow jersey. He then won a time trial (a race against the clock) and finished the Tour with a huge 14-minute lead! He was greeted in Paris by Maurice Garin, the very first Tour winner from 1903, as they celebrated the Tour's 50th anniversary.

Bobet at the 1954 Tour de France

The 1954 Tour de France was even more challenging. Bobet took the lead early, lost it, and then regained it by dominating in the mountains again, especially on the Izoard. He won another time trial and arrived in Paris with a 15-minute lead, winning his second Tour de France! A few weeks later, he achieved another huge goal: he became the world champion in Germany.

In 1955 Tour de France, Bobet completed his amazing hat-trick, winning his third Tour de France in a row! That same year, he also won the Tour of Flanders and the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, two other very important races. He won the Tour despite suffering from painful saddle sores that needed surgery later.

Bobet's last Tour de France finish was in 1958, where he came seventh.

Personality and Habits

Louison Bobet was known for being very ambitious and wanting to look elegant, almost like a movie star. This sometimes led to other French riders teasing him. His teammate Géminiani said Bobet's polite and refined manner made him less popular in his home region than other more down-to-earth riders.

Bobet was very particular about hygiene and his clothing. He once refused to wear his first yellow jersey because it wasn't made of pure wool, which he believed was the only healthy material for a sweating rider. The race organizers had to make him a special jersey overnight! His focus on hygiene was partly because he often had problems with saddle sores.

Bobet was also one of the first cyclists to hire a personal helper, called a soigneur. This person would help him with massages and other care. He even had a secretary and a driver!

Life After Cycling

Louison Bobet's cycling career mostly ended after a car crash in 1960, which also involved his brother Jean.

After he stopped racing, Bobet tried different businesses, including a clothes shop. But he became most famous for investing in and developing a special health treatment called thalassotherapy, which uses seawater. He had used this treatment himself to recover from his car crash. He opened a big center called the Louison Bobet center by the sea in France.

Sadly, Louison Bobet became ill and passed away from cancer the day after his 58th birthday in 1983. He is buried in his hometown, Saint-Méen-le-Grand, where there is also a museum dedicated to his memory.

Career Achievements

Major Race Wins

Grand Tour Results Over the Years

Images for kids

• 

  A road named for Louison Bobet

See also

• Jean Bobet