Urs Freuler
Encyclopedia
Urs Freuler is a Swiss
cyclist, who raced professionally between 1980 and 1997, during which he won 71 victories. He was named Swiss Sports Personality of the Year
in 1982 and 1983.
He was born in Bilten
. As an amateur, he was the champion of his country in several categories and also achieved fame in international competitions.
He was a racer of great speed, who participated both in road races as well as track cycling. In the latter, he was the world champion on numerous occasions.
On the road, he achieved fifteen stage
victories on the Giro d'Italia
, as well as numerous victories in six-day races
, criteriums, or classics.
In 1981, Freuler was riding for a personal sponsor, when the TI-Raleigh
cycling team had problems to form a team for the 1981 Tour de France
. The rules allowed for the Raleigh team to hire cyclists who were not riding for a cycling team, and Freuler was added to the Tour squad. Because Freuler, as a track cyclist, was not used the mountains, his team leader Peter Post
decided that Freuler had to leave the race before the Alps would be visited. Freuler, who acted as a replacement for sprinter Jan Raas
, was able to win stage 7, and left the race in stage 15, and after that he never started in the Tour again.
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
cyclist, who raced professionally between 1980 and 1997, during which he won 71 victories. He was named Swiss Sports Personality of the Year
Swiss Sports Personality of the Year
The Swiss Sports Personality of the Year used to be chosen annually since 1950 by the Swiss newspaper Sport. As the newspaper was discontinued in the 1990s, the winners are now chosen by Swiss journalists and TV spectators. Their results count 50 % each and the mode is arguable, since journalists...
in 1982 and 1983.
He was born in Bilten
Bilten
Bilten is a former municipality in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Effective from 1 January 2011, Bilten is part of the municipality of Glarus Nord.-Geography:...
. As an amateur, he was the champion of his country in several categories and also achieved fame in international competitions.
He was a racer of great speed, who participated both in road races as well as track cycling. In the latter, he was the world champion on numerous occasions.
On the road, he achieved fifteen stage
Stage (bicycle race)
In sports, a stage, or leg, or heat, is a unit of a race which has been divided in several parts for the reason such as length of the distance to be covered, as in a multi-day event. Usually, such a race consists of "ordinary" stages, but sometimes stages are held as an individual time trial or a...
victories on the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
, as well as numerous victories in six-day races
Six-day racing
A six or six-day is a track cycling race that lasts six days. Six-day races started in Britain, spread to many regions of the world, were brought to their modern style in the United States and are now mainly a European event. Initially, individuals competed alone, the winner being the individual...
, criteriums, or classics.
In 1981, Freuler was riding for a personal sponsor, when the TI-Raleigh
TI-Raleigh
TI-Raleigh was a Dutch professional road bicycle racing team between 1974 and 1983. The team was created and led by Peter Post.The team was successful in classics and in stage races. Riders included Joop Zoetemelk, Jan Raas, Gerrie Knetemann, Hennie Kuiper, Dave Lloyd, Urs Freuler, Henk Lubberding,...
cycling team had problems to form a team for the 1981 Tour de France
1981 Tour de France
The 1981 Tour de France was the 68th Tour de France, taking place June 25 to July 19, 1981. The total race distance was 24 stages over 3753 km, with riders averaging 38.96 km/h....
. The rules allowed for the Raleigh team to hire cyclists who were not riding for a cycling team, and Freuler was added to the Tour squad. Because Freuler, as a track cyclist, was not used the mountains, his team leader Peter Post
Peter Post
Peter Post was a Dutch professional cyclist whose career lasted from 1956 to 1972. Post competed in road and track racing. As a rider he is best remembered for Six-day racing, having competed in 155 races and won 65. Because of this success he was known as “De Keizer van de Zesdaagse” or “The...
decided that Freuler had to leave the race before the Alps would be visited. Freuler, who acted as a replacement for sprinter Jan Raas
Jan Raas
Jan Raas is a Dutch former professional cyclist whose 115 wins include the 1979 World Road Race Championship in Valkenburg, he also won the Ronde van Vlaanderen in 1979 and 1983, Paris–Roubaix in 1982 and Milan – San Remo in 1977. He won ten stages in the Tour de France...
, was able to win stage 7, and left the race in stage 15, and after that he never started in the Tour again.
Track cycling
- World champion of points racePoints raceA points race is a mass start track cycling event involving large numbers of riders simultaneously on track. It was an Olympic event for men between 1984–2008 and for women 1996-2008....
in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1989 - World champion of KeirinKeirinis a track cycling event in which racing cyclists sprint for victory. Keirin originated in Japan in 1948; the first Olympic competitions in the sport occurred in 2000....
in 1983 and 1985 - European champion of sprintSprint (cycling)The sprint or match sprint is a track cycling event involving between 2 and 4 riders, though they are usually run as a one-on-one match race between opponents who, unlike in the individual pursuit, start next to each other.- Racing style :...
in 1981 - Swiss champion of resistance in 1981, 1983, 1986, and 1987
- Swiss champion of points race in 1981, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992
- Swiss champion of individual pursuitIndividual pursuitThe individual pursuit is a track cycling event where two cyclists begin the race from a stationary position on opposite sides of the track.The event is held over 4 km for men and 3 km for women. The two riders start at the same time and set off to complete the race distance in the...
in 1985
Road bicycle racing
1981- Stage of the Tour de RomandieTour de RomandieThe Tour de Romandie is a stage race which is part of the UCI World Tour. It runs in the Romandie region, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. It began in 1947, to coincide with the 50-year anniversary of Swiss Cycling....
- Stage of the Tour de SuisseTour de SuisseThe Tour de Suisse is a UCI World Tour stage race held annually in June. The race debuted in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. With the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is a proving ground for the Tour de France, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
- Stage of the Tour de France1981 Tour de FranceThe 1981 Tour de France was the 68th Tour de France, taking place June 25 to July 19, 1981. The total race distance was 24 stages over 3753 km, with riders averaging 38.96 km/h....
1982
- Three stages of the Giro d'Italia1982 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1982 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 13 May to 6 June 1982, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Bernard Hinault.- General classification :- Maglia rosa holders :- Other jerseys:*Maglia ciclamino: Francesco Moser...
- Stage of the Tour de Suisse
1983
- Two stages of the Tour de Suisse
1984
- Giro d'Italia1984 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1984 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 67th running or the race, was held from 17 May to 10 June 1984, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Francesco Moser, who took over the lead from Laurent Fignon in the final stage...
:
-
- Winner of 4 stages
Maglia ciclaminoMaglia ciclaminoThe points classification in the Giro d'Italia is one of the secondary classifications in the Giro d'Italia. It is determined by the placements in the daily stages, independent from time distances...
(points classification)
1985
- Three stages of the Giro d'Italia1985 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1985 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 16 May to 9 June 1985, consisting of 22 stages for a total of 3,998 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.89 km/h...
- Stage of the Tour de Suisse
1986
- Stage of the Giro d'Italia1986 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1986 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 69th edition of the race, was held from 12 May to 2 June 1986. It covered a total of 3,858 km at an average speed of 37.615 km/h, in 22 stages...
- Stage of the Tour de Suisse
1987
- Stage of the Giro d'Italia1987 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1987 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 70th running of the race, was held from 21 May to 13 June 1987, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Stephen Roche.The defending champion Roberto Visentini returned with a strong team to win his second Giro...
- Stage of the Tour de Suisse
1988
- Stage of the Giro d'Italia1988 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1988 Giro d'Italia was the 71st edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours.The Giro started off in Urbino on 23 May. The route included notable climbs such as the Passo di Gavia, the Campitello Matese, the Chiesa in Valmalenco, and the Passo san Marco...
- Stage of the Tour de Suisse
1989
- Two stages of the Giro d'Italia1989 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1989 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 17 May to 10 June 1989, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by the French Laurent Fignon.This 72nd edition was 3,623 km long, completed at an average speed of 38.747 km/h.- General classification :...
- Two stages of the Tour de Romandie
- Stage of the Tour de Suisse
- Stage of the Tirreno–Adriatico
1990
- Two stages of the Tour de Romandie
- Stage of the Setmana Catalana de CiclismeSetmana Catalana de CiclismeThe Catalan Cycling Week was an important multi-stage road bicycle race held in Catalonia, Spain. It was last organised in 2005 as a 2.HC race on the UCI Europe Tour...