Hans Andresen

Away from his day job as a chicken farmer Hans Andresen was an accomplished cyclist who became the first Danish rider to complete the Tour de France. After World War II Andresen was selected to represent Denmark on the track at the 1948 London Olympics. He and compatriot Evan Klamer tied for fifth in the 2,000 metres tandem sprint event after losing their quarter-finals heat to the French team. Two years later he became the Danish amateur road race champion, with consistent results earning him another place at the Olympics. At the 1952 Helsinki Games he finished ninth in the individual road race in a small group of riders just over five minutes behind the race winner.

In 1953 Andresen finished second overall in the Peace Race, where he also won stage seven. One year later he made his first appearance at the Tour of Egypt, winning stage six and finishing second in the amateur road race at the UCI World Cycling Championships in West Germany. In 1955, and still as an amateur cyclist, Andresen won the Danish road race championship and the Tour of Egypt, before he then turned professional. After winning a stage of Tour of Sweden in 1957 he rode for an international team at the 1958 edition of the Tour de France. Andresen’s best results were fifth on stage 17 and sixth on stage 22, with him finishing 62nd overall, the first Danish rider to finish the race.