Bernard Hinault

Bernard Hinault - Sportspersons, Career and Facts

Violet FieldHome › FrenchBernard HinaultNovember 14, 1954623 views

0 based on 0 rates
Bernard Hinault Biography Stories 

Bernard Hinault's Personal Details

Bernard Hinault is a former French cyclist, a five-time winner of the Tour de France

InformationDetail
BirthdayNovember 14, 1954
NationalityFrench
FamousSportspersons, Cyclists
SpousesMartine
Siblingsand Pierre, Gilbert, Josiane
Known asLe Patron, Le Blaireau
Birth PlaceBrittany, France
Height174
GenderMale
FatherJoseph
MotherLucie
Net Worth$215 million as of Jan 2017
Sun SignScorpio
Born inBrittany, France
Famous asCyclist

// Famous Sportspersons

Ted Williams

Ted Williams

Ted Williams was an American baseball player. Read this biography to learn more about his profile, childhood, life and timeline.

Jürgen Klopp

Jürgen Klopp

Jürgen Klopp is a German football manager, and a former professional football player. Check out this biography to know more about his childhood, family, personal life, etc.

Yao Ming

Yao Ming

Yao Ming is a retired Chinese basketball player who played for Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Bernard Hinault's photo

Who is Bernard Hinault?

Bernard Hinault is a former French cyclist counted among the best cyclists of all times. A five-time winner of the prestigious Tour de France, he is also one of the only six cyclists to have won all three Grand Tours: Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. A dedicated professional to the core, he dominated the sport of cycling for a major portion of the 1970s and 1980s, and remains the last Frenchman to win the Tour de France. A charismatic personality, he was famous for his leadership skills and utter dedication to his profession. When Hinault made his professional debut in 1974, the Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx—considered to be the greatest pro-cyclist of his time—was at the peak of his career. The year proved to be a very exciting one for cycling enthusiasts as the current superstar of the game was soon overshadowed by an emerging young one. Once Hinault made his entry into professional cycling, many of the sport’s existing records were rewritten. He started displaying great character and determination while still young and went on to surpass many of Merckx’s records. Hinault eventually secured more than 200 victories in 12 years, cementing his place among the greatest pro-cyclists of all times.

// Famous Cyclists

Chris Froome

Chris Froome

A professional cyclist, he is renowned for ‘Tour de France’ win in 2013 and has won the ‘Tour de Oman’ and ‘Tour de Romandie’ twice. To know more about the childhood, career, profile and timeline of Chris Froome read on.

Andy Schleck

Andy Schleck

This famous Luxembourgian professional cyclist is the ‘2010 Tour de France’ winner and has received the ‘Best Young Rider’ winner thrice. To know more about the childhood, career, profile and timeline read on

Peter Sagan

Peter Sagan

Peter Sagan is a professional cyclist who has emerged as the highest scorer winning the green jerseys at the Grand Tours. To know more about his childhood, career, profile and timeline read on the following biography

Childhood & Early Life

He was born on 14 November 1954 in Brittany, France at the house of his grandparents. His father Joseph was a small farmer who grew onions and beans, and his mother’s name was Lucie. He has three siblings: Gilbert, Josiane, and Pierre.

His town was already a cycling heartland at the time of his birth though Bernard’s initial plans were not to be a cyclist. As a youngster he harbored the dream of becoming a farmer.

As a child he was very mischievous, stubborn and bold, and was in the habit of picking up fights with his siblings and the other children. He hated school and had no interest in studying.

When he finally passed his school certificate examination, his parents gifted him with a bike. He started riding the bike along with one of his cousins, a cycling enthusiast, and soon realized that this was what he wanted to pursue as a career.

Career

He started professional cycling in 1974 at the age of 19. He joined the Gitane team and his income was fixed at 2,500 francs a month—the minimum legal wage. He finished seventh overall in the first major stage race of the season.

He scored an early victory in Paris-Camembert in 1976 by demonstrating his time trial strength as he maintained a thin lead to the finish. By this time he had become friends with Cyrille Guimard, a former professional cyclist, who advised the youngster on professional issues.

Bernard looked to participate in the 1978 Tour de France as he had been advised not to enter in 1977 in order to practice on his technique. Before the tour he demonstrated his talent by beating many of the favorites in the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré rode his first grand tour, the Vuelta a España. He eventually won the 1978 Tour de France on his debut.

He was hailed for winning the prestigious title on his maiden attempt and he lived up to his reputation by winning the Tour again in 1979. He again rode in the 1980 Tour de France, but had to abandon the race due to knee problems.

However, he was determined to re-capture the title. In 1981 he won the Paris–Roubaix and went on to clinch the first place in the Tour as well—a success he repeated at the 1982 Tour de France. However, his knee problems continued and he had to miss the Tour in 1983.

His career soared during the 1980s and he became associated with the Swiss coach Paul Koechli and the La Vie Claire team. He participated in the Tour in 1984 but lost to fellow French rider Laurent Fignon who beat Hinault by over 10 minutes. Undaunted, he learnt meditation and relaxation techniques from Koechli and returned to the Tour in 1985, this time winning it again.

He rode in the 1986 Tour de France in which he made a suicidal solo attack to demoralize the opposition. Ultimately the race was won by LeMond, the first American to win the Tour, with a winning margin of three minutes and ten seconds over Hinault. He retired shortly after the Tour.

In addition to the five Tour de France titles, he had also won the Giro d'Italia in 1980, 1982.

Hinault’s retirement at the relatively young age of 32 might have come as a surprise to many of his fans. In fact, he quit while at the peak of his career—but not before rewriting cycling history and cementing his name among the greatest pro-cyclists to have ever existed.

Personal Life & Legacy

He met Martine at a cousin’s wedding and fell in love with her within a day. The couple got married in December 1974 when Bernard was just 20.

Trivia

This famous French cyclist was nicknamed ‘Le Blaireau’, meaning ‘The Badger’.

// Famous Scorpio Celebrities peoples

Teddy Zois

Teddy Zois

Teddy Zois is an American Musical.ly star and social media personality. Let’s have a look at his family and personal life including age, date of birth, net worth, and fun facts.

Kyla Cole

Kyla Cole

Kyla Cole is a Slovak glamour model and former television presenter. This biography profiles her childhood, life, modeling career, achievements and timeline.

Dominic Tracy

Dominic Tracy

Dominic Tracy is an American YouTube Star. Let’s take a look at his family & personal life including age, date of birth, girlfriends, net worth, and fun facts.

Bernard Hinault biography timelines

  • // 14th Nov 1954
    He was born on 14 November 1954 in Brittany, France at the house of his grandparents. His father Joseph was a small farmer who grew onions and beans, and his mother’s name was Lucie. He has three siblings: Gilbert, Josiane, and Pierre.
  • // 1974
    He started professional cycling in 1974 at the age of 19. He joined the Gitane team and his income was fixed at 2,500 francs a month—the minimum legal wage. He finished seventh overall in the first major stage race of the season.
  • // Dec 1974
    He met Martine at a cousin’s wedding and fell in love with her within a day. The couple got married in December 1974 when Bernard was just 20.
  • // 1976
    He scored an early victory in Paris-Camembert in 1976 by demonstrating his time trial strength as he maintained a thin lead to the finish. By this time he had become friends with Cyrille Guimard, a former professional cyclist, who advised the youngster on professional issues.
  • // 1978
    Bernard looked to participate in the 1978 Tour de France as he had been advised not to enter in 1977 in order to practice on his technique. Before the tour he demonstrated his talent by beating many of the favorites in the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré rode his first grand tour, the Vuelta a España. He eventually won the 1978 Tour de France on his debut.
  • // 1979
    He was hailed for winning the prestigious title on his maiden attempt and he lived up to his reputation by winning the Tour again in 1979. He again rode in the 1980 Tour de France, but had to abandon the race due to knee problems.
  • // 1980 To 1982
    In addition to the five Tour de France titles, he had also won the Giro d'Italia in 1980, 1982.
  • // 1981 To 1983
    However, he was determined to re-capture the title. In 1981 he won the Paris–Roubaix and went on to clinch the first place in the Tour as well—a success he repeated at the 1982 Tour de France. However, his knee problems continued and he had to miss the Tour in 1983.
  • // 1985
    His career soared during the 1980s and he became associated with the Swiss coach Paul Koechli and the La Vie Claire team. He participated in the Tour in 1984 but lost to fellow French rider Laurent Fignon who beat Hinault by over 10 minutes. Undaunted, he learnt meditation and relaxation techniques from Koechli and returned to the Tour in 1985, this time winning it again.
  • // 1986
    He rode in the 1986 Tour de France in which he made a suicidal solo attack to demoralize the opposition. Ultimately the race was won by LeMond, the first American to win the Tour, with a winning margin of three minutes and ten seconds over Hinault. He retired shortly after the Tour.

// Famous French peoples

Simone Signoret

Simone Signoret

Simone Signoret was a French actress who became the first French person to win an Academy Award. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and other facts related to her life.

Jade Weber

Jade Weber

Scroll down this bio to find out everything about French model Jade Weber. Be it fun facts, birthday, trivia or details of her personal and family life, you’ll find everything here.

Micheline Roquebrune

Micheline Roquebrune

Micheline Roquebrune is a petite Moroccan-French painter best known as the third wife the legendary Scottish actor Sir Sean Connery. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.

Alex Lange

Alex Lange

Alex Lange is a French-South African model, who is quite popular on Instagram. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Tina Kunakey

Tina Kunakey

Tina Kunakey Di Vita is a model and wife of the French actor Vincent Cassel. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.

Jeanne Calment

Jeanne Calment

Jeanne Calment was a French supercentenarian who had the longest confirmed lifespan in human history. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family, personal life, death, etc.

Bernard Hinault's FAQ

  • What is Bernard Hinault birthday?

    Bernard Hinault was born at 1954-11-14

  • Where is Bernard Hinault's birth place?

    Bernard Hinault was born in Brittany, France

  • What is Bernard Hinault nationalities?

    Bernard Hinault's nationalities is French

  • Who is Bernard Hinault spouses?

    Bernard Hinault's spouses is Martine

  • Who is Bernard Hinault siblings?

    Bernard Hinault's siblings is and Pierre, Gilbert, Josiane

  • How tall is Bernard Hinault?

    Bernard Hinault's height is 174

  • Who is Bernard Hinault's father?

    Bernard Hinault's father is Joseph

  • Who is Bernard Hinault's mother?

    Bernard Hinault's mother is Lucie

  • What is Bernard Hinault's sun sign?

    Bernard Hinault is Scorpio

  • How famous is Bernard Hinault?

    Bernard Hinault is famouse as Cyclist