Abdel-Kader Zaaf
Abdel-Kader Zaaf (27 January 1917 – 22 September 1986) was an Algerian cyclist.[1] He participated four times in the Tour de France, in 1948, 1950, 1951 and 1952. He finished in last place in the 1951 Tour de France.[2]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Abdel-Kader Zaaf |
| Born | 27 January 1917 Blida, Algeria |
| Died | 22 September 1986 (aged 69) |
| Team information | |
| Discipline | Road |
| Role | Rider |
| Professional teams | |
| 1948 | Volta |
| 1949 | Duralca |
| 1950–1955 | Terrot–Wolber |
1950 Tour de France
As a professional rider, Zaaf was best known for stage 13 of the 1950 Tour de France. The stage, from Perpignan to Nîmes, reached temperatures of 40 °C. With about 200 km to go in the stage, Abdel-Kader Zaaf attacked with compatriot Marcel Molinès.
They built up an impressive lead nearing 30 minutes. Abdel-Kader accepted a bottle from a supporter alongside the road (some sources say a second bottle was also accepted) which allegedly contained wine or some other form of alcohol.
The alcohol combined with the heat had an immediate effect on Abdel-Kader, who started zigzagging and had to interrupt the stage. He rested under a tree, where he fell asleep. He was awakened a short while later by supporters claiming the peloton was fast approaching.
Abdel-Kader jumped on his bicycle and accelerated away, but in the wrong direction.
He was taken to hospital, while Molines won the stage.
Major results
- 1948
- 1st Stage 2 Circuit des six provinces
- 1949
- 1st Stage 13 Tour d'Algérie
- 1950
- 1st Stages 8 & 16 Tour d'Algérie
- 1st Stage 4, 7, 9, 11 & 14 Tour du Maroc
- 1951
- 10th Elfstedenronde
- 1952
- 1st Stage 11 Tour du Maroc
- 1953
- 1st Stage 9 Tour d'Algérie
- 1st Stage 8 Tour du Maroc
- 1955
- 1st Stage 10b Tour du Maroc
- 3rd Manche-Océan
- 10th Grand Prix des Nations
References
- "Abdel-Kader Zaaf". Cycling Archives. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- "Abdel-Kader Zaaf". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 21 April 2014.