Lucien Van Impe

Lucien Van Impe

Lucien Van Impe, born October 1946 in Belguim, was a professional bicycle racer from 1969 through the year 1987. He is best known for his ability to climb mountains on his bike.

He gives another great climber, Spainiard Federico Bahamontes, credit for his professional career. Bahamontes used his influence to get Van Imp a contract as a professional, after Van Impe won the climbers jersey as an amateur in the 1968 Tour l'Avenir. 

Van Imp is best known for his 1976 win of the Tour de France and winning the "King of the mountains" title six times at the Tour. His mentor, Federico Bahamontes, was the first rider to win  the climbers competition six times. Lucien Van Imp was critical of Richard Virenque when he broke the record with seven "King of the mountains" titles. Van Impe said he had refrained from breaking Bahamontes' record himself out of respect. 

In 1981 Van Imp was second place in the Tour de France and won the climbers' competition.

At the Giro d'Italia he won the mountain classification twice during his career.

Lucien Van Impe started fifteen Tour de Frances and reached the finish in Paris every time. He certainly would have had more Tour de France victories if so much of career hadn't over lapped with the great racer Eddy Merchx. 

During or after his professional career, Van Impe has never tested positive, refused a doping test or confessed having used doping.

In recent years he has been head of the Veranda Willems professional cycling team. 

Lucien Van Impe lives Impe, Belgium. His house is called Alpe D'Huez after the French mountain where he took the yellow jersey (of the leader in the Tour de France) in 1976.

Lucien Van Impe 1974

Lucien Van Imp 1976

Lucien Van Impe breaking away during the 1977 Tour de France

Lucien Van Impe 1980

Lucien Van Impe 1981

Lucien Van Impe wearing the best climber's jersey in the 1983 Tour de France

Click here to learn more about Frederico Bahamontes.

Francesco Camusso

Francesco Camusso

Francesco Camusso (1908 - 1995) was an Italian professional road racing cyclist  from 1930 through 1938. He is considered by many to be one of the best Italian climbers ever.

 In 1931, his second year racing as a professional, he won the Giro d' Italia. He won the 11th stage of the race on his way to victory.

 His best results in the Tour de France came in 1932. He won the 10th stage of the Tour de France and finised in 3rd place overall in the general classification.

In 1934 Francesco Camusso won the first stage of the Giro d' Italia and finished in 2nd place in the overall general classification.

He won two more stages in the Tour de France in his career. In 1935 he won stage 7 and in 1937 he won the 13th stage. 

Francesco Camusso finished in 4th place in the general classification of the 1937 Tour de France.

His last victory as a professional bicycle racer was in 1938. He won Nice - Mont Agel.

Francesco Camusso wins the 1931 Giro d'Italia

.Francesco Camusso making an unsuccessful attack during the 1937  Milan - San Remo.