Remembering Raymond Poulidor - A Tribute to the Eternal Second

One of the most admired figures in French sports, cyclist Raymond Poulidor, died 4 years ago at the age of 83. Affectionately nicknamed ‘the Eternal Second’ because of his many unsuccessful attempts to win the Tour de France, Poulidor nevertheless enjoyed an extremely long career—the time between the first and last races he took part in totaling 17 years—characterized by a stunning capacity for physical and psychological endurance.

Stage 9 of the 2023 Tour de France began last Sunday in Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, the village where Poulidor spent most of his life. And because Poulidor’s grandson, Mathieu van der Poel, is competing in this year’s race for Alpecin-Deceuninck, he and his team have decided to use the occasion to launch a charity auction in memory of the village’s former resident.

The money raised by the auction will go to the “Merci Poupou Funds”—a charity dedicated to promoting exercise among children, adolescents, and individuals with disabilities—and the items up for auction (a collection of jerseys and sunglasses) have all been worn and signed by members of the Alpecin-Deceuninck Cycling Team.

Click here to check out the auction.