Sven-Åke Nilsson

Sven-Åke Nilsson (born 13 September 1951) is a Swedish retired road racing cyclist. His sporting career began with CK Ringen Malmö. He was a professional cyclist from 1977 until his retirement in 1984.

For half a decade early in his career he was among the strongest GC Contenders and often among the top 10 overall during the Tour de France while riding for the very strong Miko–Mercier squads, who also included riders like Christian Seznec, Raymond Martin and Joop Zoetemelk. In the 1978 Tour de France he finished 11th, in 1979 12th, 1980 7th and in 1981 he finished 8th. He had a stage win and 3rd place overall in the 1982 Vuelta, and a few months later he rode the Tour for the final time in the 1982 Tour de France, and finished 14th.

Other career highlights include two stage wins in Paris–Nice and competing at the 1972 Summer Olympics and 1976 Summer Olympics.

Major results

1972

1974

1976

1st Stage 1 1978 11th Overall Tour de France 1979 1st Tour de Corse 1st Étoile des Espoirs 2nd Overall Paris–Nice 1st Stage 4 3rd Overall Critérium International 3rd Amstel Gold Race 12th Overall Tour de France 1980 1st Stage 2 Critérium International 2nd La Flèche Wallonne 7th Overall Tour de France 1981

8th Overall Tour de France 1982 1st Stage 2 Paris–Nice 3rd Overall Vuelta a España 1st Stage 10 14th Overall Tour de France 1983 2nd Giro della Romagna