Raymond Impanis facts for kids
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Impanis in 1949
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 19 October 1925 | ||
| Died | 31 December 2010 (aged 85) | ||
| Team information | |||
| Discipline | Road | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Raymond Impanis (born October 19, 1925 – died December 31, 2010) was a famous Belgian professional cyclist. He raced from 1947 to 1963. Raymond was known for winning some of the toughest races. These included Paris–Roubaix, the Tour of Flanders, and Gent–Wevelgem. He also won three stages in the famous Tour de France.
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Raymond Impanis's Cycling Career
Raymond Impanis started his professional cycling career on October 2, 1946. He joined the Alcyon team. In his first year, 1947, he did very well. He finished second in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He also placed fourth in Paris-Roubaix.
Early Tour de France Success
In July 1947, Raymond took part in his first Tour de France. He was part of the Belgian team. He won a very long time trial stage. This stage was between Vannes and Saint-Brieuc. He finished almost five minutes ahead of the second-place rider. Overall, he ended up in sixth place in the race.
The next year, 1948, he won two more stages in the Tour de France. He finished tenth in the general ranking. He also won the Gent-Wevelgem race twice, in 1952 and 1953.
His Best Year: 1954
In 1954, Raymond Impanis joined the Mercier team. This year was his best. In March, he won Paris-Nice. He took the lead in the second stage, which he also won.
In early April, he won the tough Tour of Flanders race. Just one week later, he added another big win. He won Paris-Roubaix. He attacked near the end of the race. He crossed the finish line about 100 meters ahead of the next rider. Another famous cyclist, Ferdi Kübler, said Raymond was "a plane" and "flew away."
Later Career and Retirement
Raymond Impanis continued to achieve great results. He finished third in the 1956 Tour of Spain. In 1957, he won Flèche Wallonne. He won Paris-Nice for a second time in 1960.
His last season was in 1963. That year, he rode in his sixteenth Paris-Roubaix race. This was a record for many years. Other cyclists later equaled or broke his record.
Raymond Impanis passed away on December 31, 2010. He was 85 years old.
Honours and Legacy
Raymond Impanis is still remembered today. Since 1982, a bike race called GP Raymond Impanis has been held in his honour.
In 1999, he was made an honorary citizen of Kampenhout. This is a special title given to important people. In 2012, a statue of him was put up in Berg, his hometown.
Major Cycling Achievements
Raymond Impanis had many important wins and high finishes during his career. Here are some of his biggest achievements:
- Tour de France: He won three individual stages in 1947 and 1948. He also finished 6th overall in 1947 and 8th overall in 1950.
- Paris–Nice: He won this stage race twice, in 1954 and 1960.
- Tour of Flanders: He won this famous one-day race in 1954.
- Paris–Roubaix: He won this very tough one-day race in 1954.
- La Flèche Wallonne: He won this classic race in 1957.
- Gent–Wevelgem: He won this race twice, in 1952 and 1953.
- Vuelta a España: He finished 3rd overall in 1956.
He also achieved many other podium finishes and stage wins in various races throughout his career.
See also
In Spanish: Raymond Impanis para niños
