   raymond poulidor (born 15 april 1936), is a former professional bicycle racer. he was known as the eternal second, because he never won the tour de france despite finishing in second place three times, and in third place five times (including his final tour at the age of 40). despite his consistency, he never even wore the yellow jersey in 14 tours, of which he completed 12. his career was distinguished, despite coinciding with two great riders - jacques anquetil and eddy merckx. this underdog position may have been the reason poulidor was a favourite of the public. ==early life== raymond poulidor was the son of martial and maria poulidor, small farmers outside the hamlet of masbaraud-mÃ©rignat, where the creuse region east of limoges meets the dÃ©partement of haute-vienne. he was born in the same year that his eventual directeur sportif, antonin magne, became world road race champion. poulidor began working on the farm where, he remembered, "the soil was poor and we had to work hard; farming incomes were poor."colin, jacques (2001): paroles de peloton, Ãditions solar, france the need for working hands on the farm meant he left school at 14 even though he wanted to continue his studies. local entertainment went little furth
1936_births French_Tour_de_France_stage_winners French_Vuelta_a_EspaA+-a_stage_winners French_male_cyclists Living_people People_from_Creuse Tour_de_France_cyclists Vuelta_a_EspaA+-a_cyclists Vuelta_a_EspaA+-a_winners