Bernard Hinault Biography

Bernard Hinault is a former French cyclist counted among the best cyclists of all times. A five-time winner of the prestigious Tour de France, he is also one of the only six cyclists to have won all three Grand Tours: Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. A dedicated professional to the core, he dominated the sport of cycling for a major portion of the 1970s and 1980s, and remains the last Frenchman to win the Tour de France. A charismatic personality, he was famous for his leadership skills and utter dedication to his profession. When Hinault made his professional debut in 1974, the Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx—considered to be the greatest pro-cyclist of his time—was at the peak of his career. The year proved to be a very exciting one for cycling enthusiasts as the current superstar of the game was soon overshadowed by an emerging young one. Once Hinault made his entry into professional cycling, many of the sport’s existing records were rewritten. He started displaying great character and determination while still young and went on to surpass many of Merckx’s records. Hinault eventually secured more than 200 victories in 12 years, cementing his place among the greatest pro-cyclists of all times.