Elsy Jacobs

Elsy Jacobs
Personal information
Full name Elsy Jacobs
Born 5 March 1933
Garnich, Luxembourg
Died 28 February 1998 (aged 64)
Guémené-sur-Scorff, Luxembourg
Team information
Discipline Road
Role Rider
Rider type Endurance
Amateur team(s)
Gitane
Major wins
World Champion
Luxembourg National Champion x15

Elsy Jacobs (4 March 1933 – 28 February 1998) was a Luxembourgian road bicycle racer. She became the first ever women's Road World Champion when she won the inaugural race on 30 August 1958. Later the same year she broke the women's hour record on 9 November, riding 41,347 km on the Vigorelli velodrome in Milan; the record stood for 14 years.

Biography

Elsy Jacobs' bicycle at the Centre Sportif Elsy Jacobs in Garnech.

Born in Garnich, Luxembourg, Elsy Jacobs was one of many children; three of her brothers were also racing cyclists, Roger, Raymond and Edmond Jacobs (who competed in the Tour de France).

Both a sports centre and hall were named in her honour. The Grand Prix Elsy Jacobs was established and is based in her home town of Garnich. Since 2008, ten years after her death, the race has appeared on the UCI women's elite cycle racing calendar.

Palmàres

1957
2nd Circuit Lyonnais-Auvergne
1958
Hour record - 41,347 km
1st UCI Road World Championships
1959
2nd Pursuit, UCI Track Cycling World Championships
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships
1960
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships
1961
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships
3rd UCI Road World Championships
1962
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships
1963
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships
1964
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships
1965
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships
1966
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships
4th UCI Road World Championships
1967
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships
1968
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships
4th UCI Road World Championships
1970
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships
1971
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships
1972
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships
1973
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships
1974
1st Luxembourg Luxembourg National Road Race Championships

References