Charly Grosskost

Charly Grosskost (5 March 1944 to 19 June 2004) was a French racing cyclist best remembered for 1968, when he won the opening prologue time trial of both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. He began with A.C.B.B. Paris, won the amateur Route de France in 1965 and turned professional with Peugeot on 1 May 1966, riding alongside Eddy Merckx, whom he beat in the Giro prologue. At the Giro he became the third Frenchman to wear the pink leader's jersey, and at the Tour he wore the yellow jersey for three days and finished 17th overall. He won stages of both races and, on the track, was French pursuit champion nine times. After retiring he worked as a cycle dealer, and he died in 2004 after being hit by a car while cycling with friends.