British cycling legend Barry Hoban has died at the age of 85.
An icon and pioneer of the sport in the UK, Hoban won eight Tour de France stages, two Vuelta a España stages and, famously, Gent-Wevelgem ahead of Eddy Merckx during his time racing in the 1960s and 70s.
Alongside fellow great Tom Simpson, Hoban’s success in the 20th century paved the way for the modern stars that have emerged from Great Britain.
British cycling legend Barry Hoban has died aged 85.
Hoban won eight different stages at the iconic Tour De France event throughout an illustrious career that included 19 years as a professional.
After news of his death emerged, several tributes came across social media.
Photographer Graham Watson said: ‘Sad news that Barry Hoban has passed away, he was a genuine legend from the glory days of old, and a hero to so many future pros’.
‘He was the first British cyclist I photographed in a Tour de France, in 1977, and I’m extremely glad to have this one image of the man in action. RIP.’
Esteemed cycling commentator Jez Cox wrote: ‘What a sad day but also what an important day to celebrate what a massive impact Barry Hoban had.
British cycling legend Barry Hoban has died aged 85. He won eight stages of Tour De France throughout an illustrious career that included 19 years as a professional.
Hoban was Britain’s most successful Tour de France rider, with his stage wins coming between 1967 and 1975, before Mark Cavendish came onto the scene. He remains the only British rider to win the Gent-Wevelgem event, which has been held since 1934.
BRITISH cycling legend Barry Hoban has died aged 85.
Hoban was an eight-time Tour de France stage winner and spent 19 years on the professional circuit.
Tributes poured in after the sad news of his passing.
Photographer Graham Watson posted: “Sad news that Barry Hoban has passed away, he was a genuine legend from the glory days of old, and a hero to so many future pros’.
“He was the first British cyclist I photographed in a Tour de France, in 1977, and I’m extremely glad to have this one image of the man in action. RIP.”
Barry Hoban, one of Britain’s greatest cyclists and a pioneering figure in professional road racing, has died at the age of 85. The Yorkshireman, who claimed eight Tour de France stage wins between 1967 and 1975, passed away on 19 April 2025. Hoban’s career spanned 19 years, during which he became the first Briton to win consecutive Tour stages and secured victories at prestigious races like Gent-Wevelgem, where he famously outsprinted legends Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck in 1974.
Tributes have flooded in from across the cycling world, with peers and fans hailing Hoban as a “genuine legend” and “pioneer.” He notably won a Tour stage the day after his friend Tom Simpson’s tragic death in 1967, a moment that underscored his resilience. Hoban’s legacy includes 11 completed Tours de France—a British record later matched by Geraint Thomas—and third-place finishes at Paris-Roubaix and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He is survived by his wife Helen, daughter Daniella, and stepdaughters Jane and Joanne Simpson.
SOURCE:-
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/cycling/breaking-barry-hoban-dead-tributes-35087220
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-14625309/barry-hoban-dead-age-85-tour-france.html?ito=social-whatsapp-main