Joaquim Agostinho
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Joaquim Agostinho (Torres Vedras, April 7 1942 - May 10 1984) was a Portuguese professional bicycle racer whose career began in 1968.
He was discovered by the sport when Sporting Clube de Portugal's cycling team went to train near Casalinhos de Alfaiata - Torres Vedras, Agostinho's birthplace and home. The cycling team encountered Agostinho on the same road he was using. Agostinho began an impromptu race with them; the trained cyclists did not catch him, even though they were using lightweight racing bicycles, while Agostinho rode a standard model steel bicycle.
Agostinho was several times Portuguese champion and a consistent leader in both in the Vuelta a España and most of all in the Tour de France where he was a winner at Alpe d'Huez.
He died in 1984 after a racing accident, because he did not like to wear a helmet, and also because he was racing in Algarve, south of Portugal, and the closest hospital capable of treating his injuries was in Lisbon, 400 km from the place of the accident.
Notable Results:
- Volta a Portugal
- Winner: 1970,1971,1972
- 26 stages
- Tour de France
- 3rd: 1978,1979
- 5 stages
- Vuelta a España
- 2nd: 1974
- 3 stages
- 5 days yellow jersey
- Portuguese Championship
- Champion: 1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973
- Mythic Stages:
- Alpe d'Huez (Tour) - 1979
- Lagos de Covandonga (Vuelta) - 1974
- Torre (Volta a Portugal)- 1971, 1973
- Penhas da Saúde (Volta a Portugal)- 1970, 1971
- Solothurn Balmberg (Tour de Suisse) - 1972
External links
- Complete Palmarés (http://www.biciclopedia.com/palmares/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=30)
- CycloLusitano (http://www.cyclolusitano.com) Portuguese Rider of the year: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980