History

Born on March 23rd, 1937, in the Zeeland village of Schore, De Roo would become one of the most versatile and respected cyclists of his generation. His cycling career, marked by triumphs and victories, left a lasting impression on the sport. Early years and rise De Roo's love of cycling began in his youth, where he quickly gained notoriety in local races. At the age of seventeen, he rode his first race in the amateurs. During the 1957 Olympia's Tour, Jo de Roo won the second stage from Steenwijk to Eindhoven. At that time he was affiliated with the 'Theo...

Raymond Poulidor (1936-2019) also known as "Poupou" and "the eternal second" was a French cyclist of the Mercier team. Due to strong rivals such as Jacques Anquetil and later Eddy Merckx, he never managed to achieve victory in the Tour de France, but instead often took second or third place, earning him the nickname "the eternal second." Although never a winner of the final classification of the Tour de France, Poupou did win many other races, including the Vuelta a España and the Tour of Switzerland.   Raymond Poulidor 1966 Favorite of the public Raymond's likeable demeanour quickly made him...

In the late 19th century, an era often described as the Victorian era, a remarkable shift began to take place in the way women participated in society. One of the striking aspects of this change was the emergence of women into the world of cycling in the 1890s. The bicycle, considered a revolutionary means of transportation at the time, offered women a new level of freedom and mobility. It was a time when women began to break away from traditional gender roles and increasingly turned to activities previously considered "inappropriate." woman cyclist in 1897 The Age of Emancipation and rise...

In honour of Jaap Eden's 150th birthday, we dive into the history of this renowned Dutch sportsman and spotlight athlete. This phenomenal athlete, who became world champion on both bicycle and skating, has left a lasting mark on Dutch sports history. Jaap Eden, born Oct. 19, 1873, in Groningen, Netherlands, was a fascinating figure both on and off the sports field. Despite his unparalleled athletic achievements, his personal life was far from simple and had many challenges.

It's July 13, 1967, and it's scorching hot in Provence, France. The Tour de France is in full swing, with riders prepared to ascend the formidable Mont Ventoux. Tommy Simpson, a skilled English cyclist noted for his drive and fighter's mindset who rides for the illustrious Peugeot-Michelin team, is one of them. Nobody could have predicted that this day would go down in cycling history as one of the darkest. Tour doctor Doctor Pierre Dumas provides first aid and tries to save Tom Simpson with mouth-to-mouth breathing. Simpson, born in 1937, was one of the most promising cyclists of his...

Close to the border with the Netherlands in De Klinge, Belgium, Gustaaf De Loor and his 3-year older brother Alfons saw the light of day. The brothers dominated the first editions of La Vuelta. Gustaaf Deloor won the first two editions of La Vuelta - 1935 and 1936. In the second edition of 1936, Gustaaf stood shoulder to shoulder with his brother Alfons on the podium.  The Deloor brothers he played a major role in international cycling before WWII. Unfortunately, the Spanish Civil War and WWII caused both riders to retire early.   Who were these two brothers? Gustaaf (Stafke)...