Brian Robinson
Brian Robinson
The trailblazer for the riders who followed, Brian Robinson laid the foundations for a generation of British cyclists by proving it was possible to go to the continent and not just ride there, but win too.
In 1955, 18 years after the first Brits, Charles Holland and Bill Burl, raced in the Tour de France, the Yorkshireman became the first of his countrymen to finish the famous race.
And three years later he went even better – etching his name into the record books forever when he became the first Brit to win a stage.
That victory came courtesy of rival Arigo Padovan’s relegation to second place, but Robinson won solo on stage 20 the following year – crossing the line 20 minutes before his rival before finishing 19th overall.
Though best known for his Tour de France legacy, Robinson also achieved other notable successes – third place at the 1957 Milan-San Remo, for example, the same year he beat Louison Bobet to GP de la Ville de Nice victory.
Robinson was also the first Brit to win the Criterium de Dauphine Libere, in 1961, winning the team time trial and one individual stage alongside finishing third in the individual time trial to claim overall victory.
Finest moment: His first Tour de France stage win earned him a place in the record books, but it was his second – when he arrived in Chalon-sir-Saone more than 20 minutes before any his rivals – that stands out before the others.