Alan Ramsbottom was a professional racing cyclist from Clayton-le-Moors, England, who twice rode the Tour de France.
16 Facts About Alan Ramsbottom
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Alan Ramsbottom decided to race abroad when he wasn't selected for the Olympic Games of 1960 and moved to Troyes, France in 1961, after seeing an advertisement by the local club, UV Aube, for British riders.
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Alan Ramsbottom was inspired by meeting Britain's leading professional rider, Brian Robinson, at a cycling club dinner in Blackburn.
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Alan Ramsbottom won the second stage of the Tour de l'Avenir in France in 1961, then turned professional and rode for the Pelforth-Sauvage team for 1962 and 1963.
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Alan Ramsbottom came 45th in the Tour de France in 1962 as a first-year professional.
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Bidot told Alan Ramsbottom to think more of himself, to attack more and to force Pelforth to raise his salary.
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Alan Ramsbottom won the Tour de Haute-Loire in France in 1964.
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Alan Ramsbottom came fourth in Nice-Genoa, third in the Boucles Rouquevairoises.
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Alan Ramsbottom planned to ride the Tour de France again that year but Pelforth dropped him from its team because of what Alan Ramsbottom said was a misunderstanding between him and the manager, Maurice de Muer:.
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Alan Ramsbottom fell while training with another British professional, Vin Denson, caught his hand between cobbles and broke an arm.
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Alan Ramsbottom came third at Meerbeke in 1964 and third in London, at Crystal Palace, where he, runner-up Seamus Elliott and winner Tom Simpson lapped a field of mainly domestic professionals.
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Alan Ramsbottom didn't get in Peugeot's team for the Tour de France in 1965.
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Alan Ramsbottom came second in a criterium at Wortegem, Belgium and at Zele and third at Aartrijke in 1965.
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Alan Ramsbottom moved to Great Harwood, Lancashire and went back to his former trade as a sewing machine mechanic, working in textile factories.
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In 1965, Alan Ramsbottom rode the Grand Prix des Gentilhommes at Lille with the journalist Jock Wadley.
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Alan Ramsbottom said the pain of his disappointment on the Continent "lessened over the years".