 Jean de
Gribaldy (July 18, 1922 - January 2, 1987) was a French road cyclist
and directeur sportif.
Born in Besançon, former professional racing cyclist from
1945
to 1954 (three Tour de France in 1947, 1948 and 1952), he was French
vice-champion on the road in September 1947, an
excellent
cyclocross rider and one of the best climbers. Jean de
Gribaldy
began a successful career as a directeur
sportif in the mid-1960s.
Called le Vicomte ("the Viscount"), he discovered in particular
Seán Kelly, Joaquim Agostinho, Michel Laurent, Bernard
Thévenet and Éric Caritoux. He gave a second
chance to
many riders dropped by other teams. Most saw their career take a new
dimension under Jean de Gribaldy.
A street in Besançon, city in which he was a shopkeeper
(Place
du Marché), has been named "Montée Jean de
Gribaldy"
since
1994. Each year a bike race, "la Montée Jean de
Gribaldy" is organized in Besançon, from
the business
center "the City" to the "Chaudanne fort". He created l'"Amicale
Cycliste Bisontine", the main cycling club in
Besançon, with his friend André Seltier
in 1964.
Jet pilot, stars friend, businessman, Jean de Gribaldy was a man out of
the common. He was a strong influence on international cycling,
sportive and
commercial Besançon activity.
The book
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