Tom Simpson was one of Britain’s most successful ever cyclists, becoming the first rider from his country to wear the Tour de France’s yellow jersey and winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award following his 1965 victory in the world road race.
But, on 13 July 1967, at the age of just 29, Simpson responded to a bout of illness by topping himself up with a potent cocktail of drugs and alcohol before taking on the challenge of Mont Ventoux.
And the result was fatal.
Simpson passed away on the slopes of one of the Tour’s most infamous mountains, prompting a stark change of mindset towards doping in professional cycling.
And 50 years on the British riders in today’s peloton are hoping to do the memory of Simpson proud as the 104th edition of the Tour serves up its longest mountain stage. Chris Froome said:
“ He certainly left a legacy on which I’d like to believe that British riders racing the Tour de France continue to build on. Even though the Tour de France doesn’t go up Ventoux, it’s a place where I have my own special memories and I imagine there will be thousands going up to his memorial to honour that.“
