Julio Jiménez (cyclist) explained

Julio Jiménez
Fullname:Julio Jiménez Muñoz
Nickname:La pulga de Ávila (The Flea of Ávila), El Relojero de Ávila (The Watchmaker of Ávila)[1]
Birth Place:Ávila, Spain
Death Place:Ávila, Spain
Currentteam:Retired
Discipline:Road
Role:Rider
Ridertype:Climber
Proyears1:1959
Proteam1:Bilbao–Goyoaga
Proyears2:1960–1961
Proteam2:Catigene
Proyears3:1962–1963
Proteam3:Faema
Proyears4:1964–1965
Proteam4:KAS–Kaskol
Proyears5:1966
Proteam5:Ford France–Geminiani
Proyears6:1966
Proteam6:KAS–Kaskol
Proyears7:1967–1968
Proteam7:Bic
Proyears8:1969
Proteam8:Eliolona
Majorwins: National Road Race Champion
Giro d'Italia, 4 stages
Tour de France, 5 stages

King of the Mountains, 3 timesVuelta a España, 3 stages

King of the Mountains, 3 times

Julio Jiménez Muñoz (28 October 1934 – 8 June 2022)[2] was a Spanish professional road racing cyclist.

Early life

Jiménez's father was an ambulance driver during Spain’s Civil War, and later a chauffeur for a general in the Spanish army, who gave Jiménez his first bike as a gift. As an amateur rider, he won a stage at the 1960 Volta a Catalunya, which helped him earn his first professional contract. [3]

Career

Known as a climbing specialist, he won the King of the Mountains title six times at Grand Tours. He won five stages of the Tour de France in his career; stage 20 of the 1964 Tour de France was one of the most famous stages in TDF history due to the battle up the Puy-de-Dôme between Anquetil and Poulidor. This stage was won by Jiménez, who was able to cross the line 0:11 ahead of Spanish climber Federico Bahamontes, 0:57 ahead of Poulidor, 1:30 ahead of Vittorio Adorni and 1:39 ahead of Anquetil.[4] Although beaten by Bahamontes in the Mountains classification at the 1964 Tour, Jiménez would win the Mountains classification at the next three Tours de France, also finishing second overall in 1967. In 1965, he became one of (now) four riders to complete the Tour/Vuelta double by winning both Tour's mountains competition in the same year. He also wore the leaders jersey at the 1964 Vuelta; and the 1966 and 1968 Giro d'Italia. He retired after the 1969 season, returning to his home town of Avila where he opened a nightclub and restaurant.[5] A short, steep pedestrianised street in Ávila, Cuesta de Julio Jiménez, is named in his honour.

Major results

1963
  • King of the Mountains – Vuelta a España
    1964 – Kas–Kaskol
  • King of the Mountains – Vuelta a España
  • 2 stages – Vuelta a España
  • Tour de France
  • 2nd, King of the Mountains
  • 7th, General Classification
  • 2 stages
    1965 – Kas–Kaskol
  • Tour de France
  • Winner Mountains classification
  • 2 stages
  • King of the Mountains – Vuelta a España
  • 1 stage – Vuelta a España
    1966 – Ford–France–Hutchinson
  • Tour de France
  • Winner Mountains classification
  • 1 stage
  • Giro d'Italia
  • 2 stages
    1967 – Spain
  • Tour de France
  • Winner Mountains classification
  • 2nd overall
    1968 – Spain
  • Giro d'Italia
  • 2 stages
  • Tour de France
  • 3rd, King of the Mountains
  • 30th, General Classification

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: 13 of the strangest nicknames in cycling . Clarke . Stuart. 5 November 2015 . . 11 May 2016.
    2. https://www.marca.com/ciclismo/2022/06/08/62a043a322601d4a1c8b4585.html Muere el exciclista Julio Jiménez, el 'Relojero de Ávila', a los 87 años
    3. Web site: Meet Julio Jiménez: You think Bahamontes was Spain's greatest climber? Think again . 3 September 2021 . VeloNews. 22 June 2022.
    4. Web site: 1964 Tour de France by BikeRaceInfo .
    5. Web site: Meet Julio Jiménez: You think Bahamontes was Spain's greatest climber? Think again . 3 September 2021 . VeloNews.com . 22 June 2022.