John Beasley (cyclist)

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John Beasley
Personal information
Full nameJohn Beasley
Born30 July 1930
Footscray, Victoria
Died31 January 2017(2017-01-31) (aged 86)
Team information
RoleRider

John Beasley (13 July 1930 – 31 January 2017) was an Australian racing cyclist and rode in the 1952 and 1955 Tour de France.[1]

Major results[edit]

1950
1st Melbourne to Wangaratta 173 mi (278 km) race [2]
1st Victorian 150 mile Champion (in the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic race) [3]
1951
1st Melbourne to Wangaratta 172 mi (277 km) race [4]
1st stage 3 Tour of the West, NSW [5]
1st general classification Tour of the West, NSW [6]
1st Australian national road race title [7]
1952
28th Paris–Nice [8]
Tour de France rider
1st Stage 6 'Sun' Tour of Victoria
4th General Classification 'Sun' Tour of Victoria
1954
6th General Classification Tour of South Australia
2nd in Goulburn to Sydney Classic [9]
1st Stage 1 Sydney to Melbourne
1955
Tour de France rider
1961
8th General Classification Tour of Tasmania
1st Wonthaggi 140 mile Handicap Race [8]

Background[edit]

Beasley was born on 13 July 1930 in Footscray, Victoria.[10] He was the son of John Joseph "Jack" Beasley who was a leading rider in the 1920s.[11] [12] His brothers Clinton and Vin and sons John and Russell have made significant contributions to Australian cycling.[8] [12]

Australian professional cycling career[edit]

In 1947, he started professional cycle racing as 17 year old and as a result never raced as an amateur.[8] In 1951 the Sporting Globe organised a public fundraising scheme to help send Beasley, Dean Whitehorn, Peter Anthony, and Eddie Smith to Europe to race.[8] In 1952, he raced in the Paris–Nice race and finished 28th.[8] He subsequently was offered a contact by the Luxembourg international team and raced in the 1952 Tour de France.[8] He was eliminated from the race after Stage 2 after having a fall and mechanical problems.[8] In 1955 Tour de France, Beasley and fellow Australian Russell Mockridge were part of the Luxembourg international team.[8] Beasley withdrew after Stage 3 after suffering the effects of food poisoning after a seafood meal in Le Havre just prior to the race.[8] [13]

In 1951 Beasley rode in the Tour of the West, a five-stage race over 623.5 miles (1,003.4 km) in the Hartley Team with Clinton Beasley, and Keith and Max Rowley. John won stage 3 [5] and the general classification.[8]

Beasley retired in 1961 after winning the Wonthaggi 140 mile Handicap Race.[8] In 1961, he took over running the family business Beasley Cycles in Footscray, Victoria after his father died.[8] He was a mechanic for the Australian teams at 1982 Commonwealth Games and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.[8]

In 2000, he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Patriarch of One of Australia's Oldest Bike Shops Dies - Bicycling Trade". Bicycling Trade. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Champion's son scores in tough road race". The Argus (Melbourne). Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 4 September 1950. p. 10.
  3. ^ "M. Rowley proves his class". The Argus (Melbourne). National Library of Australia. 9 October 1950. p. 13.
  4. ^ "Road Race Again to Beasley". The Sporting Globe. Melbourne, Vic: National Library of Australia. 8 September 1951. p. 4.
  5. ^ a b "Beasley leading in cycling, looks winner". Sydney Morning Herald. NSW: National Library of Australia. 1 October 1951. p. 5. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Winner nearly quit after first day". The Sporting Globe. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 3 October 1951. p. 11.
  7. ^ "Road champ. to Beasley". The Sporting Globe. Melbourne, Vic: National Library of Australia. 13 October 1951. p. 9.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Fry, Craig. "John Beasley — Australia's oldest living Tour de France rider". Cycling Tips, June 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Big road cycle race to Smith". The Sun-Herald. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 12 September 1954. p. 37.
  10. ^ "touch of le Tour in Seddon". City of Maribyrnong website. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  11. ^ "John Beasley". Delaney's Cornner. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  12. ^ a b Thomas, Steve. "Local Hero: John Beasley (Senior)". Bicycling Australia, July-Aug 2014. Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  13. ^ "The quiet pride of a tour veteran". The Age. Melbourne. 29 June 2003.

External links[edit]

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