Bernardo Ruiz, who recently passed away at 100, was a prominent Spanish cyclist. Known for his engaging interviews, he reminisced about his professional career and experiences racing with legends. His conversations provided unique insights into the challenges of cycling during the oppressive military dictatorship in Spain. Amid widespread poverty and international isolation, cycling struggled to thrive. Ruiz's stories spanned the 1940s and 1950s, chronicling not only the sport's history but also the hardships faced by riders trying to sustain themselves during an era of deprivation and political turmoil.
Listening to what Ruiz had to say—always felt like an immense privilege, as by the time he reached his nineties, he'd become one of the very last living links to the 1940s and 1950s professional racing scene.
Ruiz provided insights into one of cycling's least-known areas: trying to eke out a living as a bike rider in internationally isolated, impoverished Spain, amid a brutal military dictatorship.
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