Knut Knudsen

During his lengthy career Norwegian cyclist Knut Knudsen became a world, Olympic, and national champion. Knudsen began his career winning several national junior titles, both on the road and the track, with him soon riding for the national team. Whilst still as a junior he was selected to ride in the individual pursuit on the track at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where he placed 11th. In 1972, and now as a senior rider, he won both the road race and time trial titles at the national championships, earning himself another place on the Olympic team. Knudsen competed on both the road and track at the München Games, where he became the Olympic champion in the individual pursuit in the velodrome. One year later he defended his two national titles, in addition to winning the individual pursuit amateur title at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in San Sebastián, Spain.

In 1974 Knudsen turned professional, winning a stage of that years’ Tour de Romandie and finishing second overall at the Tirreno–Adriatico stage race. That same year he also made his début at the Giro d’Italia, placing 54th overall in the general classification. He became a regular at the Giro, riding in the next seven editions of the race. At the 1975 Giro he won the opening stage to take the Maglia Rosa leader’s jersey, becoming the first Norwegian cyclist to do so. Knudsen won further stages at the Giro in both 1977 and 1979, before winning three stages in 1981, wearing the Maglia Rosa for a second time after winning the opening prologue. His best finish at the Giro was 15th in 1980.

Away from the Giro Knudsen won multiple races across Europe, including the Tirreno–Adriatico stage race in 1979. That same year he also rode in Milan–San Remo, finishing third in a bunch sprint. Although Knudsen focused on road races during his professional career, he continued to have success on the track at the World Championships, winning silver in individual pursuit in 1975 and 1977, and bronze in 1976.