From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Super Prestige Pernod International was a season-long comnpetition in road bicycle racing between 1958 and 1988.
Disagreements between the organisers of the Challenge Desgrange-Colombo led to its demise and a gap in season-long competitions. The Super Prestige Pernod International, launched in 1958 based upon the results of French races only, filled this gap in 1961 when it became a Europe-wide season-long competition. Points were awarded in a series of both classic races and stage races and the winner of the overall points classification was given an award at the end of the season. This continued until 1988 when France introduced a ban on sports sponsorship by alcohol brands, including Pernod.
Like its predecessor, the Super Prestige Pernod International was won by some of the greatest names in professional cycle racing. The first winner, in 1961 was France's Jacques Anquetil (who later won it three more times); Belgian Eddy Merckx won it a record seven times (1969-1975 inclusive); Bernard Hinault equalled Anquetil's total with his fourth consecutive victory in 1982; while the final four years were dominated by Ireland: Seán Kelly won three times (1984-1986) and Stephen Roche won in 1987.
The first three years of the competition was based upon results in French races only; in 1961 it became a wider competition.
[edit] Palmarès
Road cycling season long competitions
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