Abdel-Kader Zaaf

Abdel-Kader Zaaf
Personal information
Full name	Abdel-Kader Zaaf
Born	27 January 1917; Blida, Algeria
Died	22 September 1986 (aged 69)
Team information
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Professional teams
1948	Volta
1949	Duralca
1950–1955	Terrot–Wolber

Abdel-Kader Zaaf (27 January 1917 – 22 September 1986) was an Algerian cyclist.^[1] He participated four times in the Tour de France, in 1948, 1950, 1951 and 1952. He finished in last place in the 1951 Tour de France.^[2]

1950 Tour de France

As a professional rider, Zaaf was best known for stage 13 of the 1950 Tour de France. The stage, from Perpignan to Nîmes, reached temperatures of 40 °C. With about 200 km to go in the stage, Abdel-Kader Zaaf attacked with compatriot Marcel Molinès.

They built up an impressive lead nearing 30 minutes. Abdel-Kader accepted a bottle from a supporter alongside the road (some sources say a second bottle was also accepted) which allegedly contained wine or some other form of alcohol.

The alcohol combined with the heat had an immediate effect on Abdel-Kader, who started zigzagging and had to interrupt the stage. He rested under a tree, where he fell asleep. He was awakened a short while later by supporters claiming the peloton was fast approaching.

Abdel-Kader jumped on his bicycle and accelerated away, but in the wrong direction.

He was taken to hospital, while Molinès won the stage.