Julio Jiménez (cyclist)

Julio Jiménez Muñoz (28 October 1934 – 8 June 2022)[2] was a Spanish professional road racing cyclist.

Julio Jiménez
Jiménez on a 1969 Emirate of Ajman postage stamp
Personal information
Full nameJulio Jiménez Muñoz
NicknameLa pulga de Ávila (The Flea of Ávila), El Relojero de Ávila (The Watchmaker of Ávila)[1]
Born28 October 1934 (1934-10-28)
Ávila, Spain
Died8 June 2022 (2022-06-09) (aged 87)
Ávila, Spain
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeClimber
Professional teams
1959Bilbao–Goyoaga
1960–1961Catigene
1962–1963Faema
1964–1965KAS–Kaskol
1966Ford France–Geminiani
1966KAS–Kaskol
1967–1968Bic
1969Eliolona
Major wins
Spain National Road Race Champion
Giro d'Italia, 4 stages
Tour de France, 5 stages
King of the Mountains, 3 times

Vuelta a España, 3 stages

King of the Mountains, 3 times

Early life

Jiménez's father was an ambulance driver during Spain’s Civil War, and later a chauffeur for a general in the Spanish army, who gave Jiménez his first bike as a gift. As an amateur rider, he won a stage at the 1960 Volta a Catalunya, which helped him earn his first professional contract. [3]

Career

Known as a climbing specialist, he won the King of the Mountains title six times at Grand Tours. He won five stages of the Tour de France in his career; stage 20 of the 1964 Tour de France was one of the most famous stages in TDF history due to the battle up the Puy-de-Dôme between Anquetil and Poulidor. This stage was won by Jiménez, who was able to cross the line 0:11 ahead of Spanish climber Federico Bahamontes, 0:57 ahead of Poulidor, 1:30 ahead of Vittorio Adorni and 1:39 ahead of Anquetil.[4] Although beaten by Bahamontes in the Mountains classification at the 1964 Tour, Jiménez would win the Mountains classification at the next three Tours de France, also finishing second overall in 1967. In 1965, he became one of (now) four riders to complete the Tour/Vuelta double by winning both Tour's mountains competition in the same year. He also wore the leaders jersey at the 1964 Vuelta; and the 1966 and 1968 Giro d'Italia. He retired after the 1969 season, returning to his home town of Avila where he opened a nightclub and restaurant.[5] A short, steep pedestrianised street in Ávila, Cuesta de Julio Jiménez, is named in his honour.

Major results

1963
King of the Mountains – Vuelta a España
1964 – Kas–Kaskol
King of the Mountains – Vuelta a España
2 stages – Vuelta a España
Tour de France
2nd, King of the Mountains
7th, General Classification
2 stages
1965 – Kas–Kaskol
Tour de France
Winner Mountains classification
2 stages
King of the Mountains – Vuelta a España
1 stage – Vuelta a España
1966 – Ford–France–Hutchinson
Tour de France
Winner Mountains classification
1 stage
Giro d'Italia
2 stages
1967 – Spain
Tour de France
Winner Mountains classification
2nd overall
1968 – Spain
Giro d'Italia
2 stages
Tour de France
3rd, King of the Mountains
30th, General Classification

References


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