Hugo Koblet

Nicknamed 'Le Pédaleur de Charme,' Koblet dominated the 1951 Tour with a solo 130km stage win and died in a car crash in 1964 amid suicide speculation.

Hugo Koblet's solo breakaway of roughly 135 kilometres on Stage 11 of the 1951 Tour de France — staying clear despite an all-out chase from Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali — remains one of the most audacious acts of individual dominance in the race's history. His elegant, stylish riding earned him the nickname 'Le Pédaleur de Charme' — the charming pedaler. Koblet's breakthrough came at the 1950 Giro d'Italia, where he became the first Swiss rider and first non-Italian to win the race. The following year, at the 1951 Tour de France, he cemented his legend with one of the sport's great solo breakaways, escaping alone for roughly 135 kilometres on the stage from Brive-la-Gaillarde to Agen and staying clear despite a full-throttle chase from rivals including Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali, becoming the first non-Italian to win the Tour. Koblet added three Tour de Suisse titles (1950, 1951, 1955) and the 1951 Flèche Wallonne to his palmarès, winning 70 races across his professional career, and also competed in track cycling's six-day and pursuit events. He was received by the Pope at the Vatican alongside the rest of the 1951 Tour field, despite being Protestant rather than Catholic. Koblet's personal life was marked by controversy and speculation. He died in a car accident on 6 November 1964 at age 39, amid speculation that he had taken his own life.

Elegant all-rounder with exceptional time-trialing ability

Remembered for his stylish riding and one of the great solo breakaways in Tour de France history

• Giro d'Italia 1950
• Tour de France 1951
• Grand Prix des Nations 1951
• Tour de Suisse 1950, 1953, 1955