Talk:Raymond Poulidor

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Contents 1 Last words 2 What have I done wrong? 2.1 The Merckx years 2.2 Other races 2.3 Retirement

[edit] Last words

I have heard Poulidor talk many times about Anquetil's death but never have I heard the line about "Raymond, you're second again". The bit about the Puy is well confirmed but I'm convinced, if only through absence of confirmation, that the "second again" line is apocryphal. If it's not challenged, I'll remove it, I think. Les woodland (talk) 11:49, 20 December 2007 (UTC)les woodland

[edit] What have I done wrong?

I've done something foolish and I am looking for a saint and general good-guy to sort me out. When I press "edit this pag", I can see the whole article. When I go to "article", the last part is missing. I'm sure there's a good reason but I don't know what it is.

The missing section is:

[edit] The Merckx years

The end of the Anquetil era presented opportunities for Poulidor to finally win the Tour de France. This was not to be due to injuries in 1967 and 1968, and the arrival of Eddy Merckx in 1969. Poulidor was no match for Merckx, although he offered much resistance.

In the 1973 Tour Poulidor almost lost his life on the descent from the Col de Portet d'Aspet when he plunged into a ravine, taking a serious blow to the head and crawling out with the help of the race director, Jacques Goddet.

[edit] Other races

Raymond Poulidor was an accomplished rider outside the Tour de France. His first year as a professional was marked by victory in the 1961 Milan-Sanremo Classic and the French road race championship. He also won the La Flèche Wallonne and the Grand Prix des Nations individual time trial in 1963, the Vuelta a España, Critérium International and the Super Prestige Pernod in 1964. He then won the Critérium de Dauphiné Libéré, and again the Critérium International in 1966. He had good showings in the Critérium International, winning it again in 1968, 1971 and 1972, and also in Paris-Nice.

[edit] Retirement

Poulidor has several times accepted that his career was handicapped by a lack of ambition and by the psychological domination of Jacques Anquetil. Poulidor said in an interview in 1992:

I knew straight away that I was getting places everywhere. I got all the leaders' jerseys but I used to lose them. Tonin [Magne] said to me "Raymond, you're always in a daydream!"

And was that true? Were you distracted?

It was true. I thought what was happening to me was already marvellous enough. I never thought of winning. Never, ever, did I get up in the morning with the idea of winning!^[1]

On 25 January 1973 Poulidor was made a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur. He also has a rose named after him, reflecting his love of gardening in general and roses in particular.

He lives in St-Léonard-de-Noblat, east of Limoges, where he makes short trips on his mountain bike.

When asked about his longevity compared to fellow cyclists, Poulidor said he took things in moderation and did not overstretch himself. He did in fact contest the UK TV program, Superstars, and gave a creditable performance unlike other pro cyclists.

Poulidor has written several biographies, the first of which was Gloire sans le Maillot Jaune, written in 1964. Poulidor Intime was published in May 2007 by Éditions Jacob-Duvernet in France. In 2004 he helped write Poulidor par Raymond Poulidor with the radio reporter Jean-Paul Brouchon. The preface is by Eddy Merckx.

To any passing Samaritan, thanks! Les woodland (talk) 14:12, 21 December 2007 (UTC)les woodland

Y Done - a reference tag wasn't closed. I've also just played around with your text above so the talk page and table of contents makes sense. Regards, Severo^TC 14:24, 21 December 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for that! I thought I'd lost the whole lot. Les woodland (talk) 17:16, 21 December 2007 (UTC)les woodland