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Olympic Cyclist Colin Lewis

Olympian Cyclist Colin Lewis is interviewed by David Vine

Sport 1966 5 mins

From the collection of:

Logo for South West Film and Television Archive

Overview

Colin Lewis started racing at 19 and finished 7th in the 1960 Milk Race. At the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 1964 Lewis was the best British rider finishing 25th in the individual road race. Cycling at Hachioji included two road events and five track cycling events with the 4000m individual pursuit being introduced for the first time. 303 cyclists from 40 nations competed. Lewis turned professional for four pounds per week riding for Mackeson-Condor.

Lewis is interviewed by David Vine, a sports television presenter who started his career in North Devon and Plymouth joining Westward TV in 1961 and the BBC in 1966. In 1967 Lewis finished 84th in the Tour de France and became British National Road Race Champion in successive years 1967 and 1968. He joined the Holdsworth-Campagnolo team in 1969 and retired from professional racing in 1975. Lewis was the last Welshman to ride the Tour de France in 1968 until Geraint Thomas in 2007. Lewis had 250 victories, 38 professional, including the Golden Wheel Trophy and the Linz am Rhine. Lewis opened a cycle shop in Paignton. In the 1967 Tour de France Lewis lost his friend and team-mate Tom Simpson on Mont Ventoux.