French cycling champion who won three consecutive Tour de France titles from 1953 to 1955, a consistent and determined performer who elevated French cycling during its greatest mid-century era.
Louison Bobet was France's first cycling superstar of the post-war era, winning three consecutive Tour de France titles from 1953 to 1955 and becoming a national hero. Known for his technical excellence and exceptional time trialling, Bobet represented a new professionalism in cycling and was among the sport's most celebrated athletes before Jacques Anquetil supplanted him.