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Posted 2 years ago

Cycling General

The legacy of Brian Robinson, Britain’s first Tour de France stage winner

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British cycling pioneer Brian Robinson, who sparked his nation’s interest in cycling and the Tour de France, passed away last week at the age of 91. While Robinson was not Britain’s first cyclist to participate in the Tour de France, he,and fellow cyclist Tony Hoar, were the first to finish it.

Subsequently, Robinson was a regular at the Tour de France and other international races for the next 6 years, where he participated solo and with a team. Soon after he was successfully winning stages of the Tour de France. Other barriers he broke included being the first from Britain to finish in the top 3 at a Monument event, with a third-place position at Milan-San Remo in 1957.

He was also the first British to win the Criterium du Dauphine, which ranks as France’s second toughest race after the Tour. It is thus clear to that Robinson forged a position for Britain in Europe’s elite cycling events, one race at a time.

Robinson’s entry into competitive cycling is a tale of exploration. As a teenager, he helped his father, who was an undertaker, lay out corpses and was introduced to cycling through a magazine that his brother brought him.

When he finally became a cyclist, he and his teammates had to fight against all odds to compensate for the lack of experience, which included reading and learning from various sources, including journalists, prior to competitive events.

The lackof preparation and other challenges caused several of Robinson’s teammates to drop out of the Tour de France, which he ultimately went on to finish as one of first two people to do so.

The financial benefits were another motivation for Robinson to do well, as an individual who then had a modest income of a builder. Furthermore, his determination allowed him to spend extended periods of time away from his home, and though this ultimately made him retire at the age of 31, his mark on British cycling has lasted ever since.

Robinson’s achievements also inspired fellow cyclists, who learnt to believe that they could take a shot at elite cycling events, given that Robinson had not enjoyed a star status before his advent to the game.

Even after his retirement, the British veteran remained an avid cyclist who kept training until his eighties. He also played a major role in promoting the sport after his retirement, with the Tour de France visiting Yorkshire, Robinson’s hometown, in 2014, for which he served as the ambassador.

He was also elected president of the Dave Rayner Fund, which promotes international cycling amongst British cyclists. While Robinson’s journey has ended, his legacy lives on.