Switzerland’s first winner of the Tour de France Ferdinand Kubler has died aged 97.
ADVERTISEMENTSwitzerland’s first winner of the Tour de France Ferdinand Kubler has died aged 97.
The Zurich native died in hospital following a series of health problems.
Kubler turned pro in 1940 and was 31 when he won cycling’s most prestigious race the Tour de France in 1950.
The following year he won the world championship and became one of Europe’s top cycling stars along with compatriot Hugo Koblet, who won the Tour in 1951.
Kubler won more than 400 races, including Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Flèche Wallonne, Tour de Romandie, and the Tour de Suisse on three occasions.
He was also a five-time national road race champion.
Kubler retired from professional cycling in 1957.