Knut Knudsen (born 12 October 1950) is a retiredNorwegian road and track cyclist. As an amateur, he placed fifth in the 4000m individual pursuit at the 1968 Olympics before becomingOlympic champion in the same discipline in 1972. He would follow this up with another gold at the1973 World Championships. At the 1972 Olympics he also placed fifth in the 100 km team time trial on the road.[1] He won theNorwegian National Road Race Championships in 1972 and 1973.[2]
In 1974 he turned professional and cycled inItaly until 1981. He won six stages of theGiro d'Italia and wore theMaglia Rosa leader's jersey twice, becoming the first Norwegian to do so and the only wearer untilAndreas Leknessund managed the same feat some 42 years after Knudsen last held it. The first time he held the pink leader jersey was for two stages after winning Stage 1 of the1975 Giro d'Italia on 17 May,Norway's constitution day. In 1981 he could once again put on the pink jersey after winning the prologue. After finishing second in the race three times, Knudsen wonTirreno–Adriatico in 1979. He was chosen the world's best time trial cyclist by two biggest sporting magazines from 1979 to 1981. In total he won 49 professional races.
Individual pursuit, National Junior Track Championships
Individual pursuit,Olympic Games
Individual pursuit,UCI Amateur Track World Championships
after Stages 1–2
after Stage 1
Individual pursuit,UCI Track World Championships
Individual pursuit,UCI Track World Championships.png)
OverallGiro di Sardegna
OverallTirreno–Adriatico
Vuelta a España
Paris–Nice
Tour de Romandie
Volta a Catalunya
Olympic Games
