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Memorable Racing in the Isle of Man
Was this the greatest ever field to start a pro road race in the British Isles? Those that were there say that it was and it certainly has all the ingredients.
Il Campionissimo started as No 1 followed by three separate winners of the Tour de France. Now pro world champions have ridden on British Roads a number of times - but it would hard to find any field of riders with so many Grand Tour victories between them. Count them up; Coppi - 7 victories, Bobet - 3 victories, Anquetil - 8 victories plus, of course, Walkowiak with his 1956 Tour de France win. The only other events that would come close would be when the World Championships or a stage of the Tour de France came to Britain. Even then finding more than 19 grand tour victories in the field would be a challenge.
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Manx Premier Professional
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Wednesday 17 June 1959
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Team: Coppi
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1
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F Coppi
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Italy
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2
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A Kazianka
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Poland
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3
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G Boni
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Italy
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4
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M Gismondi
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Italy
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5
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C Cassano
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Italy
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Team: Mercier
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6
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L Bobet
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France
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7
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J Bobet
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France
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8
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P Gouget
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France
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9
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A Dupre
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France
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10
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J Andrews
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England
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Team: Helyett
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11
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J Anquetil
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France
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12
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A Darrigade
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France
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13
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J Plaudet
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France
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14
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E Delberghe
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France
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15
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S Elliott
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Ireland
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Team: Geminiani
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16
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R Geminiani
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France
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17
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P Everaert
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France
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18
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B Robinson
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England
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19
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M Dejouhannet
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France
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20
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P De Haan
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Holland
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Team: Peugeot
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21
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R Walkowiak
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France
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22
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C Le Menn
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France
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23
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P Ruby
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France
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24
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C Colette
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France
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25
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M Rohrbach
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France
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Team: Viking Cycles
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26
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A S Brittain
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27
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B Haskell
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28
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G O’Brien
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29
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T W Oldfield
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30
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J A Ryan
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Team: Elswick-Hopper
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31
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R Coe
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32
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O G Blower
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33
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J R Geddes
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34
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H T Reynolds
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35
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F R A Clements
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Team: Middlekamp
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36
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J Do Roo
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Holland
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37
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P L Rentmeester
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Holland
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38
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J J Huissoon
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Holland
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Team: O’Brien-Wilson
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39
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D Bedwell
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40
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J F Wilson
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41
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S Wilson
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42
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A Bladon
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43
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D Petty
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44
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J A George
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Team: -
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45
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J P Murphy
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Canada
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Team: Langsett
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46
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B Clayton
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47
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A Williamson
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48
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K A Lyne
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49
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M Coupe
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Team: Witcomb Trading
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50
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B C Pusey
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Team: Ovaltine-Alp
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51
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D H Orford
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52
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A Hoyland
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53
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P McFarlane
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54
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P A Ryalls
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55
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G Shaw
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56
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B Trippett
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Team: Wally Green
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57
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M Horder
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Australia
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58
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J Morris
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59
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F Ward
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60
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R Spencer
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61
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T Smith
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Team: Armstrong
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62
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I F Brown
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Team: Ellis Briggs
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63
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A R Hitchen
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64
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P Ellison
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65
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K W Balmworth
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66
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K Jowett
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Team: Sid Mottram
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67
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A J Kershaw
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68
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D Etchells
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69
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E White
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70
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J Bennett
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Team: Bev Wood-Sillkin
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71
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P Street
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72
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R J Magee
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73
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A Hope
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Other Riders
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74
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P Nowell
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Lune RCC
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75
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A B Keenahan
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Tame Valley
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76
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G J Vines
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Condor
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77
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D Hutton
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Jack Hearne
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78
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R L Sunderland
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-
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