PeloPics: Gent-Wevelgem is that this Sunday, and we’ve rummaged by the Cor Vos archive and put collectively this assortment of the perfect Wevelgem photographs from the 70s, 80s and 90s. The Wevelgem race could be the poor cousin of the Ronde van Vlaanderen with much less muurs and cobbles, nevertheless it at all times had a worthy winner. It was once regarded as a sprinters race, however trying again there have been extra solo and sprints from a small group to kind out the victory.
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Andre Dierickx and Frans Verbeeck have been two onerous males, if Merckx, Maertens and De Vlaeminck hadn’t been round they might have received a lot extra
Freddy Maertens received in Wevelgem in 1975 and 1976. He took some massive scalps in ’75: Frans Verbeeck, Rik Van Linden, Gerben Karstens, Marc Demeyer, Eddy Merckx, André Dierickx, Francesco Moser, Roger Swerts and Michel Pollentier
World champion Hennie Kuiper was on the assault in Gent-Wevelgem 1976, though ultimately he didn’t end
After almost 7 hours Bernard Hinault (Gitane-Campagnolo) received his first Traditional – 1977 Gent-Wevelgem. Vittorio Algeri (G.B.C.) was second at 1:24
The crew automobiles appeared a bit totally different within the 70’s. Walter Planckaert was second for C&A in 1978
Well-known derny rider, Joop Zijlaard additionally rode a moto and favored snow sculptures on his helmet
Sean Kelly, Frank Hoste and Gregor Braun dismount their bikes as they run up the Kemmelberg in the course of the 1982 version of the race. The Kemmelberg begins at round 8% after which goes to over 20% in direction of the highest
Gregor Braun of Germany put in a superb solo effort over the ultimate 35 kilometers of the 1982 race. Sadly, the sensible effort by Braun wouldn’t be sufficient to safe the win, he would find yourself ending in tenth place
Johan Lammerts on the second climb of the Kemmelberg
Gent-Wevelgem takes within the Flemish villages
The 1985 Gent-Wevelgem was simply barely received by Eric Vanderaerden, over teammate Phil Anderson. The margin of victory was 5cm. He would additionally win the Tour of Flanders in 1985. Vanderaerden had many main wins throughout his carrer together with 5 phases of the 1986 Tour de France, together with the maillot vert that 12 months
Dag Otto Lauritzen going solo in ’88, he completed in seventeenth place
Stefan Mutter and Phil Anderson forward of Fons De Wolf on the Kemmelberg in ’88. De Wolf was thought-about by many to be the successor to Eddy Merckx. He would safe many wins all through his profession together with successful the 1980 Giro di Lombardia and the 1981 Milan-San Remo. After retiring from biking in 1990, he grew to become a funeral director in Breendonk
Sean Kelly on the prime of the Kemmelberg. The Irishman’s effort could be rewarded with the win within the 1988 race
In 1991 the race nonetheless began in Gent, the riders leaving ‘t Kuipke velodrome
These cross-winds trigger echelons
Frankie Andreu in 1992
1993 winner Mario Cipolini beat a bunch of 46 riders. Eric Vanderaerden (Wordperfect) was second, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (Lampre-Polti) third and Frédéric Moncassin (Wordperfect) was fourth
Ludwig Willems labored onerous for his GB-MG Magnificio teammate Wilfried Peeters
The Kemmelberg
1994 was a detailed battle between Wilfried Peeters (GB-MG Maglificio) and Franco Ballerini (Mapei-Clas), Johan Museeuw (GB-MG Maglificio) was third on the head of a bunch of eight chasers
Knesselare in East Flanders, a lot of the 8,000 individuals who reside there would have be roadside
Edwig van Hooydonck passing the picturesque Mont Cassel in 1995. Hooydonck put in an extended effort, explaining that he was testing his legs for Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix, which he wouldn’t win and by no means finally win. Nevertheless, he was in a position to seize two wins at Flanders in 1989 and 1990. He would retire from the world {of professional} biking after declaring that he might not compete with different cyclists as a result of EPO was changing into too broadly used
The peloton needs to be very cautious on the descent of the Kemmelberg as they go the Kemmel commemorative struggle memorial, the Monument aux soldats Français, constructed in 1932. The memorial column depicts the Roman victory goddess Victoria. Within the space, the monument is colloquially known as “The Angel”
An in depth-up view of the Gent-Wevelgem motion
Max van Heeswijk takes the descent of the Kemmelberg
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