In 1965, Barcelona witnessed an unprecedented sporting event when cyclist José Pérez Francés, born in Cantabria but adopted by Catalonia and a resident of Poble Sec, crossed the city with an advantage of over eight minutes in a Tour de France stage. This feat was witnessed by an estimated crowd of over a million people who lined the streets, particularly along Paral·lel, then known as Avenida del Marqués del Duero.
Pérez Francés, known for his affability and seriousness off the bike, was a legendary figure in cycling. Despite his fame, in 2014, 49 years after that achievement, he was recognized by only a few patrons at the Café Español on Paral·lel, where he would go to enjoy his retirement and cycle in the area.
At 17, Pérez Francés arrived in Catalonia as an act of rebellion, settling in Poble Sec. His 223-kilometer solo stage between Ax and Barcelona in 1965 remains the third-longest breakaway in Tour history. He himself recalled the dehydration he suffered and the weight of his steel bicycle, contrasting it with today's technology.
His victory in that stage earned him 30,000 pesetas, which he shared with his teammates from the Ferrys team. Although caught by the main peloton before the finish line, his performance was memorable, reflecting the epic spirit that captivated a city also enjoying other sporting figures like Cayetano Ré, Salvador Sadurní, Ferran Olivella, and Josep Maria Fusté.
Pérez Francés was a distinguished cyclist, with podium finishes in Paris in 1963 and multiple top placings in the Vuelta and Giro. He continued cycling until his final days, remembered as a great of the sport.
