Jacques Anquetil

The first five-time Tour winner, who wore the yellow jersey from day one in 1961 and earned the name 'Monsieur Chrono' for his time-trial mastery.

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Jacques Anquetil (8 January 1934 – 18 November 1987) was a French road racing cyclist and the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times, in 1957 and from 1961 to 1964. He stated before the 1961 Tour that he would gain the yellow jersey on day one and wear it all through the tour, a tall order with two previous winners in the field—Charly Gaul and Federico Bahamontes—but he did it. His victories in stage races such as the Tour were built on an exceptional ability to ride alone against the clock in individual time trial stages, which lent him the name "Monsieur Chrono". He won eight Grand Tours in his career, which was a record when he retired and was later surpassed by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain.

Quick Facts

Nickname: Monsieur Chrono; Maître Jacques
Born: 8 January 1934
Birthplace: Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
Died: 18 November 1987
Place of death: Rouen, France
Weight: 70 kg / 154 lb
Discipline: Road and track
Role: Rider

Lore & Background

Anquetil's first Tour victory came in 1957, and he followed it with four consecutive wins from 1961 to 1964. Before the 1961 Tour, he boldly stated he would take the yellow jersey on the first day and keep it through the entire race—a feat he accomplished despite the presence of two previous winners, Charly Gaul and Federico Bahamontes. His dominance was built on an exceptional ability to ride alone against the clock in individual time trials, earning him the nickname "Monsieur Chrono."

He won eight Grand Tours in his career, a record at the time of his retirement, later surpassed by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain. Anquetil was born on 8 January 1934 in Mont-Saint-Aignan, a suburb of Rouen in Normandy. He received his first bike at age 4, and at 14 he began technical college to become a metalworker, where he met Maurice Dieulois and got into bicycle racing through the AC Sottevillais club under André Boucher. His amateur career included winning the French amateur championships in Carcassonne.

In 1953, still a minor, he signed a two-month contract with La Perle to race the Grand Prix des Nations, which he won by almost seven minutes, coming within 35 seconds of Hugo Koblet's course record. He followed up with a win in the Grand Prix de Lugano in 1954 and a second-place finish in the Trofeo Baracchi alongside Antonin Rolland.

Reader's Guide

Anquetil's Tour de France legacy is defined by his five victories: 1957 and four consecutive from 1961 to 1964. His 1961 Tour was particularly remarkable: he declared before the race that he would take the yellow jersey on day one and wear it all through the tour, and he delivered on that promise despite facing two previous winners, Charly Gaul and Federico Bahamontes. His success was built on an exceptional ability to ride alone against the clock in individual time trials, which earned him the nickname 'Monsieur Chrono.'

He won eight Grand Tours in his career, a record at retirement that was later surpassed only by Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault. Anquetil's early career included winning the Grand Prix des Nations in 1953 by almost seven minutes at age 19, followed by the Grand Prix de Lugano and a second-place finish in the Trofeo Baracchi. His amateur career featured a bronze medal in the team road race at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and the French amateur championships in Carcassonne.

His final amateur season included winning the Tour de la Manche after a stage where rival riders forced him into a ditch, but he was helped by Maurice Pelé and went on to win overall.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Tour de France titles did Jacques Anquetil win?

He claimed the yellow jersey five times: once in 1957, then in four consecutive editions from 1961 through 1964. That run of back-to-back victories cemented his place among the sport's all-time greats.

Who was Jacques Anquetil's most famous rival?

His most iconic rivalry was with Belgian climber Charly Gaul during the 1958 Tour de France, a battle that became one of the sport's most celebrated duels. That contest showcased the clash between Anquetil's flat-land power and Gaul's mountain prowess.