René Vietto
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | René Vietto |
| Date of birth | February 17, 1914 |
| Date of death | October 14, 1988 |
| Country |  France |
| Team information | |
| Current team | Retired |
| Discipline | Road |
| Role | Rider |
| Rider type | Climber |
| Major wins | |
| Tour de France 1934: Polka dot jersey Parice-Nice 1935 |
|
| Infobox last updated on: | |
| March 15, 2007 | |
René Vietto (February 17, 1914 - October 14, 1988) was a French cyclist, born in Rocheville-Le Cannet (France).
In the Tour de France of 1934, René Vietto, then relatively unknown, suddenly got wings on the mountains. This was not a complete surprise, because he had already won the Grand Prix Wolber. He was prepared for the roads on the Alps, and won easily on the steepest terrain. Although he liked to remain silent, his star kept on rising after each mountain climb. After he had won the two mayor Alp stages, the journalists reported that this 'boy' could grow to be the purest mountain climber that France ever knew. In the Pyrenees, his captain Antonin Magne suffered from a broken tire. Vietto sacrified his own chances, and gave his wheel to Magne. This generous deed made him a star in France. The image of a 20-year old boy that sacrified his chance of winning the Tour the France, doubled his popularity. Vietto still won the polka dot jersey in that Tour for being best climber. Vietto finished 5th place in that tour, almost 1 hour behind winner Antonin Magne. Vietto never won the Tour de France. He was closest in 1939, when he received the yellow jersey in Lorient in one of the first stages and kept it a long time, but high in the mountains, what used to be his favorite place, he was left behind by Belgian cyclist Sylvère Maes. After that Tour, WWII broke out and the race wasn't held for several years.
In 1947, when the Tour de France has started again, Vietto is still loved by France. Vietto, who wants to show that he still has the same capabilities, attacks from the second stage. As a result, he receives the yellow jersey in Brussels, to lose it only 1 day before the Tour finishes, in a time trial of 139 kilometers.
[edit] Major Victories
Grand Prix Wolber 1934
Circuit du Midi 1943
Grand Prix de la République 1946
King of the Mountains – Tour de France 1934 (polka dot jersey)
- 1934 Tour de France: 5th place (winning 7th, 9th, 11th and 18th stage)
- 1935 Tour de France: 8th place (winning 6th and 9th stage)
- 1936 Tour de France: left the race after 6th stage
- 1938 Tour de France: left the race after 2nd stage
- 1938 Tour de France: 2nd place (holding the yellow jersey for 11 consecutive days)
- 1947 Tour de France: 5th place (winning 2nd and 9th stage, holding the yellow jersey for 15 non-consecutive days)
- 1948 Tour de France: 17th place
- 1949 Tour de France: 28th place
