Raymond Poulidor, also known as "Poupou" or the "Eternal Second," was a French professional cyclist who left a lasting impact on the world of cycling. He was a three-time runner-up in the Tour de France, earning him the nickname "Eternal Second" due to his consistent performance as a top contender, including Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx, but never quite able to claim the top prize. Despite this, Poulidor's enduring determination and never-give-up attitude earned him a devoted fan base.
In his 18 years as a professional cyclist, Poulidor raced alongside other notable riders such as Louison Bobet, Federico Bahamontes, Rik Van Looy, Felice Gimondi, Joop Zoetemelk, and Bernard Hinault. The rivalry between Anquetil and Poulidor is one of the most well-known in the history of French sports and even transcended the personalities involved. The public saw Poulidor as representing an archaic, generous, and maniacally dedicated France, while Anquetil represented a modernizing, calculating France where success in cycling was a means of rapid social ascent.
After Anquetil, Raymond Poulidor faced another dream-crusher, Eddy Merckx. In 1975, at the age of 38, Poulidor managed to distance himself from the Belgian cannibal on the Saint Lary climb in the Pyrenees, but he was unable to wear the yellow jersey. This reinforced his image as a never-resigned, never-defeated rebel in the face of the greats, even though he ultimately admitted defeat and never disputed his status as the "little guy."
Poulidor represented the traditional way of understanding cycling in the post-war decades: a continuous presence on the bike from February to October, through classics, Grand Tours, the world championship, and short stage races.
Poulidor's legacy lives on through his talented nephew, Mathieu van der Poel, who is currently making waves in the cycling world. Van der Poel has already claimed numerous victories, including the Amstel Gold Race and the World Cyclocross Championships, and is considered one of the top riders in the sport.
🔥🔥THE GIVEAWAY🔥🔥
At Heroes on Bike, we are proud to include Pou-Pou in our collection of NFTs, which are available in our Heroesonbike packs.
Poulidor's determination and perseverance, even in the face of defeat, inspire us, and we are honored to celebrate his contributions to the world of cycling through our NFTs.
To show our appreciation for Poulidor and all he has done for the world of cycling, we are giving away a "heroesonbike BLENDS pack" to three lucky winners!
Inside the pack you have a chance to find Pou-Pou. Plus there is one more legendary character to discover.
To enter:
Leave a comment below with your WAX address.
You have until December 31 at midnight!
If you don't yet have a WAX wallet, you can get here
https://go.getwombat.io/FWwE
Don't miss out on this chance to get your hands on a piece of cycling history with Heroes on Bike's Poulidor NFTs.
Good luck!
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