Louis Rostollan was Jacques Anquetil's teammate in the 1960s (Illustration photo) -
Free-Photos / Pixabay
Louis Rostollan, alias “Pétrolette”, twice winner of the Tour de Romandie and teammate of Jacques Anquetil in the 1960s, died on Friday at the age of 84, in Marseille, we learned from his relatives .
"He who did not like the number 13, well he left on Friday the 13th, exactly one year after Poulidor", his wife Mireille testified to AFP, confirming the information from the regional daily
La Provence
.
Black notebook: Faithful teammate of Anquetil, Louis Rostollan is dead #Rostollan #RIP # TDF2020 #Anquetil #Cycling #TDF https://t.co/MSxmjLLxAE
- Cyclism'Actu (@cyclismactu) November 13, 2020
Swiss mountains
A pure climber, the Marseille runner, born and died in the same district of Marseille, in Château-Gombert, had notably won the criterium of Dauphiné Libéré in 1958 then the Tour de Romandie in 1960 and 1961. With the Irish world champion Stephen Roche, Briton Chris Froome, quadruple winner of the Tour de France, and Slovenian Primoz Roglic, 2nd in the last Grande Boucle, he is one of the few riders to have won two years in a row in the Swiss mountains.
But Rostollan, Jacques Anquetil's teammate in four of his five Tour de France victories, is best known for this 1964 stage in the Pyrenees, during which he saved his leader from retirement.
Drifting in the Port d'Envalira, Anquetil is paralyzed with fear after a seer, in France Soir, predicted his death the same day.
And Raymond Poulidor is virtual yellow jersey.
“Our Anquetil, he is easily influenced, poor man!
So he gambergé ”, then tell Louis Rostollan, who is waiting for him.
Before the summit, Anquetil even talks about giving up.
But Rostollan scolds him: “Shit, remember your name is Anquetil!
"
Pelvic fracture
A few hours later, the Norman champion regained his legs and even went ahead of “Poupou” on the finish line, after he was trapped by fog and then a broken spoke.
Four years earlier, during the 1960 Grande Boucle, “Pétrolette” had helped another great champion, Roger Rivière, who fell down the Col du Perjuret, in the Cévennes.
Rostollan, who is surprised to no longer see him in his wheel, gives the alert, helping to rescue the three-time world champion in pursuit.
Professional from 1957 to 1967, Louis Rostollan would undoubtedly have been able to expand his record without a fracture of the pelvis which then permanently reduced it.
His grandson Thomas was also a professional cyclist, wearing the jersey of the army team.
Sport
VIDEO.
Disappearance: Raymond Poulidor, the eternal second in cycling, has died
Sport
The Tour de France derailed: When the riders were running on alcohol
Marseilles
Sport
Cycling
Cycling