Raphaël Géminiani

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Raphaël Géminiani (born June 12, 1925) is a French former road bicycle racer. He obtained a total of 6 podium finishes in the Grand Tours.

He is successful both as a professional bicycle racer and as a directeur sportif, notably of Jacques Anquetil and the St. Raphael team.

His strong personality earned him the nickname of Le Grand Fusil.

[edit] Career as professional rider

In 1951 he finished 2nd in the Tour de France, and won the polka-dot jersey as King of the Mountains. He would also earn that jersey again in 1952 and 1957.

In 1955 Géminiani was 3rd in the Vuelta a España, and in 1958 came in 3rd in the Tour de France.

[edit] Career as directeur sportif

After his retirement as a rider, he became well-known as the directeur sportif of Jacques Anquetil's St. Raphael team. It was with Géminiani that Anquetil won many of his most memorable wins, such as the back-to-back wins in the 1965 Dauphiné Libéré and Bordeaux-Paris.

In 1985, Géminiani became the directeur sportif of the La Redoute team of Stephen Roche and was behind the third place finish in the 1985 Tour de France of Roche. He told Roche to attack on the 18th stage when he first saw the route of that year's Tour. At the end of that year the La Redoute team retired from the sport, Roche was unable to take Géminiani with him to his new team Carrera and for 1986 Géminiani was the manager of the Café de Colombia team.