Bonne Anniversaire Tom Simpson 30.11.1937 – 13.07.1967
Tour of Flanders – 1961
Milan-SanRemo – 1964
Giro di Lombardia – 1965
World Champion – 1965
Simpson’s death on the barren, sun-blasted slopes of Mont Ventoux in 1967 often disproportionately overshadows the rest of a remarkable career. World Champion at the age of 27, Tom Simpson was Britain’s first cycling superstar and his premature death perhaps stunted the development of more than his own already illustrious career. With their talismanic leader gone, British cyclists would not again unearth a realistic challenger for the overall win at the Tour or who would wear the rainbow jersey for almost half a century.
Simpson is often portrayed as everything that is idealised about successful British road cyclists: the humble roots, the strength of will to move abroad and thrive, and an innate charm both on and off the bike. But ever-present in the Tom Simpson story are also the bad sides of the era in which he lived, including the incessant need to chase results for money and the use of amphetamines.
For now though, today of all days, we should focus on his remarkable achievements; foremost of which are his Milan-SanRemo win and, of course, his World Championship victory.
The Massif Central Blog 
”we should focus on his remarkable achievements” – absolutely – also not forgetting winning the stupidly long bordeaux-paris in 63 starting at 1am or something crazy – someone for whom the term legend is more merited than many who’ve been so labelled since