History

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)...

Federico Bahamontes was born on July 9, 1928, in Santo Domingo-Caudilla, a small town near Toledo in central Spain. He started cycling as a teenager and quickly showed his talent, winning his first race at the age of 15. Federico Bahamontes passed away at the age of 95 on August 8, 2023. Bahamontes turned professional in 1954 and quickly established himself as one of the best climbers in the peloton. The performance of Federico Bahamontes in the 1954 Tour has since been elevated to legend. The virtually unknown Spanish debutant in the race left everyone behind on one of the...

In the world of cycling, there are many names synonymous with perseverance, strength and groundbreaking achievements. One such name is Eileen Sheridan, a true pioneer of women's cycling. With her unparalleled performance and determination, she paved the way for future generations of women cyclists. Let's take a closer look at the life and career of this remarkable sportswoman. Eileen Sheridan was born April 3, 1922, in the city of Coventry, England. She grew up at a time when women's cycling was in its infancy and when female athletes were often restricted by social conventions. Yet this did not stop Sheridan...

Where did our bicycle come from?   The history of the bicycle is one of the most interesting and inspiring stories in the world of transportation. The bicycle has been an important part of human history for centuries. There are several ancient but unproven claims about the invention of the bicycle.  The ancient Greeks were the first people to engage in sports, think Olympics in Olympia. But did they also do bicycle racing? No, they never saw a bicycle, so chief god Zeus never took a bike ride. Supreme god Zeus makes a tour Perhaps it was Gian Giacomo Caprotti,...

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, previously Omloop Het Volk is an iconic cycling race that has been held for over 80 years in Belgium. It is part of the UCI World Tour and takes place in late February each year. It is the opening event of the Belgian cycling season, as well as the first race of the year in Northwestern Europe. Given its early calendar date, it is often marked by cold weather, making it more thought-provoking and, without a doubt, more prestigious. The race starts in Gent and goes through the local Flanders region, covering over 200 kilometres of terrain....

The 1931 Paris-Brest-Paris race was unquestionably one of  the longest and coldest cycling races in European history. The Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) race, founded in 1891 and revived in 1931, was supposed to be a non-stop race covering 1,200 kilometres from Paris to the west coast town of Brest and back again. It was then the longest race in the world and the winner was expected to complete the journey, without sleep, in a little over 50 hours.The Paris-Brest-Paris race is indeed a cycling legend, a true endurance test won by the greatest riders of all time. It is one of the...