Hugo Koblet

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Hugo Koblet
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Hugo Koblet

Hugo Koblet (March 21, 1925 – November 6, 1964) was a Swiss champion cyclist.

Born in Zürich, Switzerland, his professional cycling career began in 1946. He initially made his name on the track as a pursuiter, winning the Swiss championship every year from 1947 to 1954. In 1947 he finished third in the World Pursuit Championships, and took second place in 1951 and again in 1954.

After winning the 1950 Swiss road championship, Koblet gained fame across Europe when he became the first non-Italian to win the Giro d'Italia. In 1951 he defeated the great Italian cyclist, Fausto Coppi to win the "Grand Prix des Nations," an individual time trial that at the time was considered the unofficial world championship. However, the most important victory of his road bicycle racing career came that same year at the Tour de France, during which he captured five stages and won the overall title.

Hugo Koblet was a handsome man whose fame brought a bevy of beautiful women and a lifestyle that affected his career. Although he competed with reasonable success, including two second-place finishes at the Giro d'Italia, he never regained the level of performance achieved in 1951-52, and retired from competition in 1958.

Six years after his retirement, Koblet died at the age of 39 in a car crash, under circumstances that caused speculation that his death may have been a suicide rather than an accident. Eye witnesses to the incident saw Koblet driving his white Alfa Romeo at high speed on the highway between Zürich and Esslingen. Weather and road conditions were ideal, but the vehicle reportedly drove straight into a tree without any attempt by the driver to avert the crash.

Major Road Racing Records:

Preceded by
Ferdinand Kübler		 Winner of the Tour de France
1951		 Succeeded by
Fausto Coppi
Preceded by
Fausto Coppi		 Winner of the Giro d'Italia
1950		 Succeeded by
Fiorenzo Magni
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