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Thorvald Ellegaard

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Thorvald Ellegaard
Personal information
Full nameThorvald Kristian Ellegaard (born Kristensen)
Born(1877-03-07)7 March 1877
Fangel, Denmark
Died27 July 1954(1954-07-27) (aged 77)
Copenhagen, Denmark[citation needed]
Team information
DisciplineTrack
RoleRider
Medal record
Men's track cycling
Representing  Denmark
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1901 Berlin Sprint
Gold medal – first place 1902 Rome Sprint
Gold medal – first place 1903 Copenhagen Sprint
Gold medal – first place 1906 Geneva Sprint
Gold medal – first place 1908 Berlin Sprint
Gold medal – first place 1911 Rome Sprint
Silver medal – second place 1904 London Sprint
Silver medal – second place 1905 Antwerp Sprint
Silver medal – second place 1910 Brussels Sprint
Silver medal – second place 1913 Leipzig Sprint

Thorvald Ellegaard (7 March 1877 - 27 April 1954) was a leading Danish track racing cyclist in the 1900s and 1910s. He won the world professional sprint title six times, three European titles, and 24 Danish titles. He also won the Grand Prix de Paris in 1901 and 1911. Over the course of his long career, which spanned 31 years, he competed in 1,560 significant races, winning 925 of them. He was Denmark's first sports idol.

Biography

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Thorvald Kristian Kristensen was born on 7 March 1877 in Fangel, a village 12 km south-west of Odense on the Danish island of Funen. He had his debut on 23 May 1895 in Slagelse. Like his brother, Peter, he changed his name to Ellegård after the farm where they were born. He completed a mason's apprenticeship in 1896.

In 1898 he became professional as the first Danish racing cyclist from the provinces. By 1899, the international community had become aware of his talent and started speculating that he could become the next big star.[1] In 1901 he won both the world championship in sprint and the prestigious Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris. Over the following decade, Ellegård remained the world's leading racing cyclist.

From 1912 Ellegård took up permanent residence with his family in Paris so that his daughter, France Ellegård, could complete her training as a pianist. He participated in his last race on 26 September 1926 at the age of 49. He died on 27 April 1954 and is interred at Søllerød cemetery.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Thorvald Ellegaard". Thorvald Ellegård. Retrieved 2010-10-23.