Jacques Anquetil’s rivalry with Raymond Poulidor remains one of sport’s great duels, with the former’s superior ability against the clock giving him the edge.

That time-trialling pedigree had already shone long before Anquetil’s first Tour win in 1957, with the Frenchman dominating the Grand Prix des Nations TT event. Anquetil won the event nine times in his career, including six on the bounce between 1953 and 1958.

And it was during this period he used that time trialling ability to conquer Fausto Coppi’s hour record, at the bequest of the army while he was undertaking compulsory national service.

Anquetil had already tried, and failed, to beat the record twice, starting too fast on both occasions, but finally conquered it on June 29 1956, riding 46.159km – the first man to go further than 46km.

The Frenchman broke the hour again in 1967, riding 47.493km, but was disqualified after refusing to suffer the indignity of a post-race doping test trackside – preferring to take it at the hotel, a request which was ultimately refused.