ON July 18 1968 Barry Hoban became the first British cyclist ever to win a mountain stage in the Tour de France, writes Chris Sidwells.

Michael Wright had won a stage in the Vosges the previous year, but it featured only two climbs, the highest being the Col du Donon at 727 metres.

Hoban’s win was carved out of the Alps, riding solo over the Col des Aravis at 1486 metres, Col de la Colombière at 1613 metres and finishing on the Col du Cordon under the giant white bulk of Mont Blanc.

His victory margin was four minutes and six seconds over Franco Bitossi of Italy.

To celebrate the occasion on its anniversary, Wednesday July 18, Lamb and Associates of Ponteland is hosting an ‘Evening with Barry Hoban’ at Start Cycles, 35-37 Market Street, Newcastle.

Hoban will talk about this landmark victory and about the rest of his career, during which he raced against some of the all-time greats. He welcomes questions from the audience, and signed copies of his autobiography Vas-y Barry, published by www.cyclinglegends.co.uk will be on sale at the venue.

Hoban was born in Yorkshire, but after a glittering amateur cycling career moved to France in 1962 to race as an independent. In 1964 he turned professional for Mercier-BP, one of the biggest teams in France, and raced at the top of the sport until 1979, while living first in France then in Belgium.

Hoban won a total of eight Tour de France stages, and is second to Mark Cavendish in the all-time British stage winner list, one stage ahead of Chris Froome.

He is still the only British winner of Ghent-Wevelgem, one of the ‘classic’ races and he had top three placings in many others, including two of the biggest; Paris-Roubaix and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Hoban’s autobiography, Vas-y Barry is his cycling story.

It’s written by Hoban from his heart and with clear recall of what it was like, physically and mentally, riding against three of the all-time greats of cycling; Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault. Each one was the definitive rider of his generation.

Hoban also raced against Rik Van Looy, Rudi Altig, Felice Gimondi, and with team mates Raymond Poulidor, Tom Simpson and Joop Zoetemelk. All names that resonate with knowledgeable cycling fans.

What’s more, Hoban did all this as a pioneer, very often the only British representative in the world’s biggest bike races. Hoban made a place in men’s professional road racing at a time when very few had. It’s a place that is still remembered with affection today.