Today is a sad day for world cycling. At the age of 95, Federico Martín Bahamontes, the first Spaniard to win the Tour de France in 1959, has passed away.
The 'eagle of Toledo' was born in Santo Domingo-Caudilla in 1928 and made it big in the Grande Boucle at a time when being Spanish and excelling was very complicated. There is no doubt that he is one of the best climbers of all time. In his first Tour de France as a professional, in 1954, he won the first of his six best climber's jerseys.
In addition to winning the yellow jersey in '59, he finished with seven stage victories in the best stage race in the world. He came close to glory again in the 1963 Tour, but on that occasion he was unable to beat Jacques Anquetil, whom he had been able to defeat in '59.
He also won high mountain stages in the Vuelta and the Giro d'Italia and of course the mountain classification of both races. Beyond that, Bahamontes has been a key man in the history of Spanish cycling, initiating a path that still survives today. He retired with 41 partial victories and a legacy that will be remembered forever. Rest in peace, Águila de Toledo;
CyclingUpToDate would like to extend it's condolences to friends and family of Frederico.
