poblet was born at montcada i reixac in the northern suburbs of barcelona, catalonia, spain. his father enrique owned a bicycle shop in barcelona and he encouraged his son to take up racing seriously at a young age and supplied him with all the necessary equipment. despite turning professional in 1944, at the age of 16, poblet’s career did not really take off internationally until 1955 when he was invited to be part of the spanish team at the tour de france; at that time the tour invited national squads rather than trade teams. poblet made an immediate effect at the tour when he won the opening stage between le havre and dieppe becoming the first spaniard to wear the yellow jersey. he held onto the jersey in the afternoon team time trial but lost it next day to dutchman wout wagtmans. however poblet had more glory at that year's tour when he took the prestigious final stage into paris at the parc des princes stadium.