Federico Bahamontes 1928-2023: The Eagle of Toledo

Federico Bahamontes was born on July 9, 1928, in Santo Domingo-Caudilla, a small town near Toledo in central Spain. He started cycling as a teenager and quickly showed his talent, winning his first race at the age of 15. Federico Bahamontes passed away at the age of 95 on August 8, 2023.

Bahamontes turned professional in 1954 and quickly established himself as one of the best climbers in the peloton. The performance of Federico Bahamontes in the 1954 Tour has since been elevated to legend. The virtually unknown Spanish debutant in the race left everyone behind on one of the most famous mountains in the Tour, the 2645 meter high Galibier, and danced to the top as if on the rhythm of flamenco with seemingly effortless ease, earning himself the nickname "The Eagle of Toledo" for his soaring performances in the mountains. The story goes that he saw an ice cream truck at the top of the Galibier and then calmly went to eat an ice cream until the first competitors passed by.

Then he got back on his bike to ride with the others. Ultimately finishing third overall and winning the King of the Mountains classification. Bahamontes' victory was a breakthrough moment for Spanish cycling, and he went on to become one of the most beloved figures in the sport's history. His attacking style and climbing prowess inspired generations of riders, and his legacy lives on today. He won his first major race, the Tour de Suisse, in 1957 and went on to win the King of the Mountains classification in the Tour de France that same year.

In conclusion, Federico Bahamontes was a trailblazer for Spanish cycling, paving the way for future generations of riders. His victory in the 1959 Tour de France remains one of the greatest moments in Spanish sporting history, and his legacy lives on today. The Eagle of Toledo will always be remembered as one of the greatest climbers and most beloved figures in the history of cycling. Bahamontes had an eccentric character; fiery, independent, but also very charming. Despite his success, Bahamontes was also known for his modesty and his dedication to his family and his hometown. May he rest in peace.

Teams Federico Bahamontes

• 1953 Splendid (France) 
• 1954 Mondia (Switserland) 
• 1954 Splendid - d'Alessandro (France) 
• 1954 Circulo Barcelonista - Yasta (Spain) 
• 1955 Terrot - Hutchinson (France) 
• 1956 Faema (Spain) 
• 1956 Girardengo - Icep (Italy) 
• 1957 Saint-Raphaël - R. Geminiani - Dunlop - Quinquina (France) 
• 1957 Mobylette GAC (Spain) 
• 1957 AIgnis - Doniselli (Italy) 
• 1957 Saint-Raphaël - R. Geminiani - Dunlop - Quinquina (France) 
• 1958 Faema - Guerra - Clément (Italy) 
• 1959 Tricofilina - Coppi (Italy) 
• 1959 Kas (Spain) 
• 1960 Faema (Spain) 
• 1961 Vov (Italy) 
• 1962 Margnat - Paloma (France) 
• 1963 Margnat - Paloma - Dunlop (France) 
• 1964 Margnat - Paloma - Dunlop (France) 
• 1965 Margnat - Paloma - Inuri - Dunlop (France) 

Palmares Federico Bahamontes

1950

• 1950 Spain 2nd in National Championship, On the Road, Amateurs, Spain, Barcelona (Cataluña), Spain

1952

• 1952 Spain 1st in Final Classification Vuelta a Albacete, (Albacete (a)), Albacete (Castilla-La Mancha), Spain

1953

• 1953 Spain 1st in 1st stage Tour of Asturias, (Vuelta a Asturias), Luarca (Asturias), Spain 
• 1953 Spain 1st in Circuito Sardinero, (Sardinero), Sardinero (Cantabria), Spain 
• 1953 Spain 2nd in Trofeo Jaumandreu, (Barcelona - Granollers), Barcelona (Cataluña), Spain

1954

• 1954 France 1st in Nice - Mont Agel, Mont Agel (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1954 Spain 2nd in Final Classification Bicicleta Vasca, GP de la Bicicleta Eibarresa, GP Eibar, (Euskal Bizikleta), Spain 
• 1954 Spain 3rd in 5th stage Tour of Asturias, (Vuelta a Asturias), Gijón (Asturias), Spain 
• 1954 Spain 3rd in 6th stage part a Tour of Asturias, (Vuelta a Asturias), Mieres (Asturias), Spain 
• 1954 Spain 2nd in Clasica a los Puertos, (Guadarrama), Madrid (Madrid), Spain 
• 1954 France 26th in 1st stage Tour de France, Brasschaat (Antwerp), Belgium 
• 1954 France 63rd in 2nd stage Tour de France, Lille (Nord-Pas-de-Calais), France 
• 1954 France 84th in 3rd stage Tour de France, Rouen (Haute-Normandie), France 
• 1954 France 1st in mountain classification Tour de France, France

1955

• 1955 France 1st in Mont Faron, Chrono, Mont Faron (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1955 Monaco 1st in Golf du Mont Agel, (Monaco (b)), Mont Agel (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1955 Spain 1st in 2nd stage Bicicleta Vasca, GP de la Bicicleta Eibarresa, GP Eibar, (Euskal Bizikleta), Eibar (Pais Vasco), Spain 
• 1955 Spain 2nd in 2nd stage Tour of Spain, (Vuelta a España), Bayonne (Aquitaine), France 
• 1955 Spain 1st in Clasica a los Puertos, (Guadarrama), Madrid (Madrid), Spain 
• 1955 Spain 3rd in 1st stage Tour of Asturias, (Vuelta a Asturias), Llanes (Asturias), Spain 
• 1955 Spain 3rd in 5th stage Tour of Asturias, (Vuelta a Asturias), Oviedo (Asturias), Spain 
• 1955 Spain 1st in 6th stage Tour of Asturias, (Vuelta a Asturias), Mieres (Asturias), Spain 
• 1955 Spain 1st in Final Classification Tour of Asturias, (Vuelta a Asturias), Mieres (Asturias), Spain 
• 1955 Spain 3rd in 1st stage Tour of Catalonia, (Volta a Catalunya), Tibidabo (Cataluña), Spain 
• 1955 Spain 3rd in 5th stage Tour of Catalonia, (Volta a Catalunya), Les Escaldes (Escaldes-Engordany), Andorra 
• 1955 Spain 1st in 7th stage part b Tour of Catalonia, (Volta a Catalunya), Tortosa (Cataluña), Spain 
• 1955 Spain 1st in 11th stage Tour of Catalonia, (Volta a Catalunya), Barcelona (Cataluña), Spain

1956

• 1956 Spain 3rd in Points Classification Vuelta a Levante, Spain 
• 1956 France 2nd in Mont Faron, Mont Faron (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1956 Spain 2nd in 10th stage part a Tour of Spain, (Vuelta a España), Barcelona (Cataluña), Spain 
• 1956 Spain 3rd in 13th stage part a Tour of Spain, (Vuelta a España), Irún (Pais Vasco), Spain 
• 1956 Italy 2nd in 5th stage part b Tour of Italy, (Giro d'Italia), San Marino (San Marino), San Marino 
• 1956 Italy 2nd in 14th stage Tour of Italy, (Giro d'Italia), Bologna (Emilia-Romagna), Italy 
• 1956 Italy 1st in mountain classification Tour of Italy, (Giro d'Italia), Italy 
• 1956 France 3rd in 4th stage part a Tour de France, Rouen (Haute-Normandie), France 
• 1956 France 2nd in mountain classification Tour de France, Paris (Ile-de-France), France

1957

• 1957 Spain 3rd in Barcelona (b), Barcelona (Cataluña), Spain 
• 1957 Spain 2nd in Castellón (a), Castellón (Comunidad Valenciana), Spain 
• 1957 France 1st in Mont Faron, Mont Faron (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1957 Spain 1st in Final Classification Tour of Asturias, (Vuelta a Asturias), Spain 
• 1957 Spain 1st in 3rd stage part A Vuelta a Levante, Murcia (Murcia), Spain 
• 1957 Spain 2nd in Mountain Classification Vuelta a Levante, Spain 
• 1957 Spain 1st in 3rd stage Tour of Spain, (Vuelta a España), Mieres (Asturias), Spain 
• 1957 Spain 3rd in 13th stage Tour of Spain, (Vuelta a España), Huesca (Aragon), Spain 
• 1957 Spain 2nd in Final Classification Tour of Spain, (Vuelta a España), Bilbao (Pais Vasco), Spain 
• 1957 Spain 1st in Mountain Classification Tour of Spain, (Vuelta a España), Spain 
• 1957 Spain 2nd in 3rd stage part b Tour of Catalonia, (Volta a Catalunya), Vall de Uxó (Comunidad Valenciana), Spain

1958

• 1958 Spain 1st in Subida a Arrate, (Arrate), Arrate (Pais Vasco), Spain 
• 1958 France 1st in Prix Antonin Reix, (Saint-Junien), Saint-Junien (Limousin), France 
• 1958 Spain 3rd in San Agustín, San Agustín (Aragon), Spain 
• 1958 Spain 3rd in 3rd stage Vuelta a Levante, Albacete (Castilla-La Mancha), Spain 
• 1958 Spain 2nd in 6th stage Vuelta a Levante, Castellón (Comunidad Valenciana), Spain 
• 1958 Spain 2nd in 5th stage part a Tour of Spain, (Vuelta a España), Montjuich (Cataluña), Spain 
• 1958 Spain 1st in Mountain Classification Tour of Spain, (Vuelta a España), Madrid (Madrid), Spain 
• 1958 Italy 1st in 4th stage Tour of Italy, (Giro d'Italia), Superga (Piemonte), Italy 
• 1958 Spain 1st in National Championship, On the Road, Elite, Spain, Madrid (Madrid), Spain 
• 1958 France 1st in 14th stage Tour de France, Luchon (Midi-Pyrenees), France 
• 1958 France 2nd in 18th stage Tour de France, Mont Ventoux (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1958 France 1st in 20th stage Tour de France, Briançon (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1958 France 1st in mountain classification Tour de France, Paris (Ile-de-France), France

1959

• 1959 Spain 1st in Subida a Arrate, (Arrate), Arrate (Pais Vasco), Spain 
• 1959 Spain 2nd in Consuegra, Consuegra (Castilla-La Mancha), Spain 
• 1959 Italy 2nd in 5th stage Giro di Sardegna, Nuoro (Sardegna), Italy 
• 1959 France 2nd in Mont Faron, Chrono, Mont Faron (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1959 Spain 1st in National Climbing Championship, On the Road, Elite, Spain, Spain, Spain 
• 1959 France 3rd in Vergt, Vergt (Aquitaine), France 
• 1959 Spain 2nd in 1st stage part A Vuelta a Levante, Valencia (Comunidad Valenciana), Spain 
• 1959 Spain 1st in mountain classification Vuelta a Levante, Spain 
• 1959 Spain 3rd in 1st stage part b Tour of Spain, (Vuelta a España), Toledo (Castilla-La Mancha), Spain 
• 1959 Spain 3rd in 1st stage part a Tour of Spain, (Vuelta a España), Madrid (Madrid), Spain 
• 1959 Spain 1st in 4th stage Tour of Spain, (Vuelta a España), Granada (Andalucia), Spain 
• 1959 Switzerland 1st in 3rd stage part b Tour of Switzerland, (Tour de Suisse), Sattelegg (Schwyz), Switzerland 
• 1959 Switzerland 1st in 5th stage Tour of Switzerland, (Tour de Suisse), Kandersteg (Bern), Switzerland 
• 1959 Switzerland 3rd in Final Classification Tour of Switzerland, (Tour de Suisse), Zurich (Zurich), Switzerland 
• 1959 Spain 2nd in National Championship, On the Road, Elite, Spain, Madrid (Madrid), Spain 
• 1959 France 3rd in 13th stage Tour de France, Aurillac (Auvergne), France 
• 1959 France 1st in 15th stage Tour de France, Puy de Dôme (Auvergne), France
• 1959 France 2nd in 17th stage Tour de France, Grenoble (Rhone-Alpes), France 
• 1959 France 1st in Final Classification Tour de France, Paris (Ile-de-France), France 
• 1959 France 1st in mountain classification Tour de France, Paris (Ile-de-France), France

1960

• 1960 Spain 2nd in 1st stage Vuelta a Levante, Valencia (Comunidad Valenciana), Spain 
• 1960 Spain 3rd in 4th stage part A Vuelta a Levante, Cuenca (Castilla-La Mancha), Spain 
• 1960 Spain 1st in Subida a Arrate, (Arrate), Arrate (Pais Vasco), Spain 
• 1960 Spain 1st in 13th stage Tour of Spain, (Vuelta a España), Donostia/San Sebastián (Pais Vasco), Spain 
• 1960 Spain 2nd in 14th stage Tour of Spain, (Vuelta a España), Vitoria (Pais Vasco), Spain

1961

• 1961 Spain 3rd in GP Ayutamiento de Bilbao, (Bilbao (f)), Bilbao (Pais Vasco), Spain 
• 1961 France 1st in Cenon, Cenon (Aquitaine), France 
• 1961 Italy 1st in 4th stage Giro di Sardegna, Nuoro (Sardegna), Italy 
• 1961 France 1st in Ribérac, Ribérac (Aquitaine), France 
• 1961 Monaco 1st in Golf du Mont Agel, (Monaco (b)), Mont Agel (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1961 France 1st in Nice - Mont Agel, Mont Agel (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1961 France 2nd in Mont Faron, Chrono, Mont Faron (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1961 Spain 1st in Subida a Arrate, (Arrate), Arrate (Pais Vasco), Spain 
• 1961 Spain 3rd in National Championship, On the Road, Elite, Spain, Madrid (Madrid), Spain 
• 1961 Italy 3rd in Giro dell'Appennino, Tour of the Appennines, (Pontedecimo), Pontedecimo (Liguria), Italy

1962

• 1962 France 1st in GP de la Magdaleine, France 
• 1962 France 1st in Juliénas, Juliénas (Rhone-Alpes), France 
• 1962 France 1st in Mont Faron, Mont Faron (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1962 France 1st in Mont Faron, Chrono, Mont Faron (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1962 Spain 3rd in Subida al Naranco, (Naranco), Naranco (Asturias), Spain 
• 1962 France 2nd in Ussel, Ussel (Limousin), France 
• 1962 Spain 1st in Subida a Arrate, (Arrate), Arrate (Pais Vasco), Spain 
• 1962 Switzerland 2nd in 1st stage part a Ronde van Romandie, (Tour de Romandie), Martigny (Valais), Switzerland 
• 1962 Switzerland 1st in 3rd stage part a Tour de Romandie, (Tour de Romandie), Porrentruy (Jura), Switzerland 
• 1962 France 2nd in 4th stage Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, (Critérium du Dauphiné), Chambéry (Rhone-Alpes), France 
• 1962 France 1st in 13th stage Tour de France, Superbagnères (Midi-Pyrenees), France 
• 1962 France 3rd in 19th stage Tour de France, Aix-les-Bains (Rhone-Alpes), France 
• 1962 France 1st in mountain classification Tour de France, Paris (Ile-de-France), France

1963

• 1963 France 1st in La Touloubre, France 
• 1963 France 1st in Miramas, Miramas (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1963 France 1st in Mont Faron, Chrono, Mont Faron (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1963 Spain 3rd in Subida al Naranco, (Naranco), Naranco (Asturias), Spain 
• 1963 Spain 2nd in Subida a Arrate, (Arrate), Arrate (Pais Vasco), Spain 
• 1963 Switzerland 2nd in Final Classification Tour of Romandie, (Tour de Romandie), Geneva (Geneva), Switzerland 
• 1963 France 2nd in 4th stage Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, (Critérium du Dauphiné), Gap (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1963 France 1st in 15th stage Tour de France, Grenoble (Rhone-Alpes), France 
• 1963 France 2nd in 17th stage Tour de France, Chamonix (Rhone-Alpes), France 
• 1963 France 3rd in 19th stage Tour de France, Besançon (Franche-Comte), France 
• 1963 France 2nd in Final Classification Tour de France, Paris (Ile-de-France), France 
• 1963 France 3rd in Points Classification Tour de France, Paris (Ile-de-France), France 
• 1963 France 1st in Mountain Classification Tour de France, Paris (Ile-de-France), France 
• 1963 France 3rd in Château-Chinon, Criterium, Chateau-Chinon-Ville (Burgundy), France 
• 1963 France 3rd in La Châtaigneraie, (Maurs), Maurs (Auvergne), France
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1964

• 1964 Spain 1st in Montjuich, Criterium, Montjuich (Cataluña), Spain 
• 1964 France 3rd in Évreux, Évreux (Haute-Normandie), France 
• 1964 France 3rd in Caen, Caen (Lower Normandy), France 
• 1964 Spain 1st in Madrid, Six Days, Madrid (Madrid), Spain + Rik Van Steenbergen 
• 1964 France 1st in Mont Faron, Mont Faron (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1964 France 1st in Ussel, Ussel (Limousin), France 
• 1964 France 1st in Mont Faron, Chrono, Mont Faron (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1964 France 1st in 5th stage GP du Midi-Libre, Barcelona (Cataluña), Spain 
• 1964 France 2nd in 3rd stage part b Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, (Critérium du Dauphiné), Mâcon (Burgundy), France 
• 1964 France 52nd in 1st stage Tour de France, Lisieux (Lower Normandy), France 
• 1964 France 88th in 2nd stage Tour de France, Amiens (Picardy), France 
• 1964 France 79th in 3rd stage part a Tour de France, Forest (Brussels-Capital Region), Belgium 
• 1964 France 1st in 8th stage Tour de France, Briançon (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), France 
• 1964 France 1st in 16th stage Tour de France, Pau (Aquitaine), France 
• 1964 France 2nd in 20th stage Tour de France, Clermont-Ferrand (Auvergne), France 
• 1964 France 3rd in final classification Tour de France, Paris (Ile-de-France), France 
• 1964 France 1st in Mountain Classification Tour de France, Paris (Ile-de-France), France 
• 1964 Spain 1st in Subida al Naranco, (Naranco), Naranco (Asturias), Spain

1965

• 1965 Spain 2nd in Subida a Arrate, (Arrate), Arrate (Pais Vasco), Spain 
• 1965 Spain 3rd in Subida Urkiola, (Durango), Durango (Pais Vasco), Spain 
• 1965 Spain 1st in Castillo de Montjuich, Castillo de Montjuich (Cataluña), Spain 
• 1965 France 1st in Final Classification Circuit du Provençal, (Tour du Sud-Est), France 
• 1965 Spain 2nd in Final Classification Escalada a Montjuich, (Montjuich (a)), Montjuich (Cataluña), Spain

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