Kübler reminiscing about his exploits in 1999
Keystone
Ferdinand "Ferdy" Kübler, the first Swiss to win the Tour de France, has died at the age of 97. He was the oldest living winner of the most famous cycling road race.
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The cycling legend, who was named the “Swiss sportsperson of the century” in 1983, died in a Zurich hospital on Thursday. He was admitted on account of a severe cold.
Kübler entered professional cycling in 1940 but took a while to reach elite status. He won the Tour de France in 1950 at the age of 31 and the World Road Race a year later. A native of Marthalen in canton Zurich, he won the Tour de Suisse three times, in 1942, 1948 and 1951.
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The life of Ferdy Kübler
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These historic images show some of Kübler’s greatest sporting moments.
He said his greatest regret was not winning the Tour de France in 1949. He got a puncture while in the lead and had to wait 20 minutes until a rescue vehicle turned up because his own vehicle had met with an accident.
He had rivalry going on with fellow Swiss Hugo Koblet, who became the first non-Italian to win the Giro d’Italia in 1950 and went on to win the Tour de France the year after Kübler. They remain the only Swiss to have won the Tour de France.
Kübler retired from cycling in 1957. The mantle of the oldest living Tour de France winner now passes to Frenchman Roger Walkowiak, who won the race in 1956. He is 89 years old.
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