A belated happy birthday to Julio Jiménez, who was born on October 28, 1934, and died on June 8, 2022.
The Spanish rider is best known for winning three consecutive Mountains Jerseys in the Tour de France (1965, 1966, and 1967), while finishing 2nd in the 1967 race behind Roger Pingeon of France.
Additionally, Jiménez also won three consecutive Mountains Jerseys in the Vuelta a Espana (1963, 1964, and 1965), making him one of only four riders to complete the Tour/Vuelta double by winning the mountains competition in both Grand Tours during the same year.
Jiménez was born in Ávila, Spain and began his professional career in 1959, riding for the Bilbao-Goyoaga team.
Lean and lanky, the former watchmaker quickly established himself as a formidable climber, later earning himself the nickname, La pulga de Ávila (The Flea of Avila), for his ability to leap into action.
While Jiménez is mostly known for his successes in Grand Tour events, he also racked up an impressive list of palmares after winning numerous lesser-known races in and around Spain and Europe such as the Subida a Arrate, Subida Urkiola, Chanteloup-les-Vignes, Ronde van Luxemburg, Sévignac, Sévignac, Bernos-Beaulac, Bernos-Beaulac and the Spanish National Championship Road and Hill Climbing titles.
During his 10-year career, Jiménez rode for such well-known teams as Catigene, Faema, Kas-Kaskol, Ford-France-Geminiani, Bic and Eliolona.
After his retirement in 1969, a postal stamp was issued in his honor, commemorating his achievements as one of Spain’s greatest cyclists.
Sadly, Jiménez was killed in a car crash in Ávila on June 8, 2022.
Feliz cumpleaños Julio!
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