1934, the afternoon of the tragedy in Tirador

Josep Nicolau, as a first level figure, is part of a collection of letters/postcards of the best Spanish cyclists, along with his rivals and colleagues Mariano Cañardo, Federico Ezquerra, Antonio Escuriet, Vicente Trueba.

The race takes place for the first time at the Montjuïc Park circuit, with a length of 70 km (sixteen rounds). The Catalan cyclist Isidre Figueras is winning the race with an early attack. His triumph is threatened when just three rounds are left, while Nicolau and Cortés conduct a chase. Nicolau and the Catalan cyclist finish in the second position, doing the same time. Finally, the score breaks the tie in favour of Figueras.

On March 18th an important piece of news breaks in the national press. The UVE committee suggests a preselection of cyclists who will represent Spain in the World Championship, which will take place in Leipzig on August 18th. Among the fortunate ones we can find Nicolau, Cañardo, Luciano Montero, Destrieux, Ezquerra, Álvarez, Trueba, Escuriet and Figueras.

Nicolau gets the victory at the nineth stage of the Tour of Catalonia between Figueres and Terrassa. The cyclist imposes himself to the sprint of the Italian cyclist Romanatti after a stage marked by its difficulty.

Nicolau flees to France to participate in his second big international race Criterium du Midi, in Toulouse. Nicolau, after the second Tour, accepts Charles Mauzi’s invitation and signs up for one of the most important races in Europe, in which many great European cyclists participate.

The third Tour of Mallorca, organised by the Nicolau’s supporters club, is divided into three stages: with final lines in Manacor, Inca and Palma respectively. Nicolau wins the first and third stages of the tour, getting the final victory. Photograph of Bachero and Nicolau in the third stage, near Sa Pobla.

Última Hora (Written 05/11/1934, “Deportivas”, p. 5) publishes: “We must admit that Nicolau surprised us when he beat Llompart, since we had the young track cyclist from Lluchmajor as our favourite. Once again, yesterday José Nicolau proved that he is an exceptional cyclist, unique in that he possesses such portentous physical faculties that allow him to adapt magnificently to any speciality, appearing fearsome in all of them”.

Last photograph minutes before the play-offs in the middle-distance Spanish championship, which cost him his life. He appears next to the Spanish champion of this modality, the Catalan cyclist Vicente Cebrian, in Tirador.

Nicolau dies in an accident during the Spanish Championship after he suffers a severe fall.