Guillem Timoner: A Legendary Mallorca Cyclist and World Champion
Today the sports world mourns a towering figure in cycling, Guillem Timoner, born in Felanitx, Majorca on 24 March 1926. He passed away at home after a long battle with illness, at the age of 97. His life painted a portrait of dedication and achievement that left an indelible mark on the island and beyond.
Among his extraordinary international feats were six world championships in middle-distance cycling and eight medals at the Track Cycling World Championships between 1955 and 1965. In Spain, Timoner’s status as a top athlete was viewed as a rare achievement, and he later served as the Spanish coach at the Munich Olympic Games in 1972, guiding a generation of riders on the world stage.
Born in Felanitx, Timoner faced the hardships of a nation navigating civil war and a difficult postwar era. As a young man he found a starting point in the two-wheeled sport that had long captivated Mallorca, a pastime that first arrived on the island in 1892 and later became a defining part of him. The stories of his early days recall the local races that captivated Felanitx and set the stage for a career that would echo around the world.
In the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, cycling surged in Mallorca. Virtually every town boasted a velodrome and drew crowds that filled the stands during competitions. This thriving ecosystem proved fertile ground for Timoner to rise as Mallorca’s most celebrated cycling icon, a figure who would carry national pride onto the global stage.
Timoner’s first Spanish Championship on the track came at the Tortosa velodrome on July 7, 1945. From that moment, his trajectory was extraordinary: he claimed six world titles in the years that followed, with victories in Milan (1955), Amsterdam (1959), Leipzig (1960), Milan (1962), Paris (1964), and San Sebastián (1965). He also earned two silver medals at the World Championships in Copenhagen (1956) and Paris (1958). His sustained excellence cemented his place in cycling history.
In addition to world titles, he collected three World Cups (1960, 1963, 1965) and won the Nations Grand Prix six times (1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966). Domestically, he became the Spanish national champion multiple times, a record he held in various formats, with the last title achieved at the remarkable age of 58. Timoner’s competitive drive translated into more than 1,500 race victories between 1940 and 1968, and after retiring he remained active in veterans’ events, showing the enduring spirit of a true athlete. In 1995, at age 69, he earned the European Veterans Championship, posting an average speed of 37.4 kilometers per hour over a 53.4-kilometer route. These moments illustrated a lifelong commitment to sport and a passion for speed and precision that inspired many.
He won his first world title in 1955 and welcomed a daughter into the world
Timoner’s life revolved around bicycles and the people who shared that passion. He and his wife, who passed away in 2021, traveled together to cities such as Barcelona, Brussels, and Paris, carrying their story of endurance and triumph. She would win her own world title in 1955, and a few weeks later their daughter was born, two pivotal events that Timoner often referenced when reflecting on his career and personal milestones. The combination of sport and family shaped a narrative of perseverance and joy that resonated with fans and fellow athletes alike.
After leaving competition, Timoner opened a grocery store in Portocolom and later started a sporting goods shop in Felanitx. He often spoke about how his training routine evolved with different phases of his career; at times he quit other events to focus on a world championship, training three to four hours daily. In his home in Felanitx in 2013, he shared how he kept practicing—using exercise bikes for pedaling while watching television or even typing—demonstrating a practical, no-frills approach to staying fit. Even then, the illness that would accompany him in later years had not yet manifested in full force, but its shadow had already begun to appear in conversations about his ongoing dedication to the sport.