Mariano Díaz (cyclist) facts for kids

Mariano Díaz Díaz (born September 17, 1939 – died April 5, 2014) was a famous Spanish professional road bicycle racer. He was known for his strong climbing skills. Mariano competed in many important races, including the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. He won several stages and even a special "mountains classification" title. This means he was the best at cycling up hills and mountains. He also represented Spain in the 1964 Summer Olympics in cycling events.

Mariano Díaz: A Cycling Star

Mariano Díaz was born in Villarejo de Salvanés, Spain. He became a professional cyclist in 1965. His career lasted until 1971. During these years, he rode for several teams. These included Ferrys, Fagor, La Casera–Peña Bahamontes, and Orbéa–O.A.R. He was especially good at climbing hills. This made him a "climber" in the cycling world.

Olympic Games and Early Wins

Before turning professional, Mariano Díaz competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He took part in two cycling events. These were the individual road race and the team time trial. Competing in the Olympics is a big achievement for any athlete.

In 1967, Mariano had a great year. He won a stage in the 1967 Vuelta a España. This is one of the three biggest cycling races in the world. He also won the mountains classification in that race. This award goes to the cyclist who collects the most points on mountain climbs. It shows how strong he was on uphill sections.

Big Victories and Achievements

Mariano Díaz had many important wins throughout his career. He often won the overall title in smaller stage races. A stage race is a cycling competition that takes place over several days. Each day is a different "stage" or race.

• 1963: He won the overall title at the Vuelta a Navarra.
• 1964: He won the Vuelta a Navarra again.
• 1965: He won the Tour de l'Avenir overall. He also won two stages and the mountains classification in this race. He won the Vuelta a Navarra for a third time.
• 1966: He won the overall title at the Vuelta a los Valles Mineros. He also won stages in other races like the Eibarko Bizikleta.
• 1967: He finished 9th overall in the 1967 Vuelta a España. He won Stage 11 and the mountains classification.
• 1968: He won the overall titles at the Vuelta a Levante and the Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme.
• 1969: This was a very successful year for Mariano.
  • He won the overall title at the 1969 Volta a Catalunya. This is a major Spanish stage race.
  • He won Stage 7 of the 1969 Tour de France. Winning a stage in the Tour de France is a huge accomplishment for any cyclist.
  • He also won Stage 15 of the 1969 Vuelta a España.
  • He won Stage 7 of the 1969 Tour de Suisse.

Mariano Díaz was a talented cyclist who achieved great success in his career. He was especially remembered for his climbing ability and his wins in major races.