What person came up with these rules? Maertens won on a spectators bike. That's an even greater performance, since it probably wasn't a super high-end bike. The frame size and seat height weren't set for Maertens, like on a custom pro bike. Maertens, ten times the rider De Vlaeminck was. His records in the Tour (eight stage victories in one year) and Vuelta (thirteen stage victories in one year) still stand today. And two times WC. And best sprinter in the seventies by far.
It was reputedly not a "spectator's bike" but a team bike with different gearing which Freddy took from a helper by the roadside (some say his brother) which was against the rules governing all the riders, though it appears Freddy was the best on the day.
Not everyone in cycling those days liked Freddy Maertens. He won too much in his prime and the other big guys like Merckx and De Vlaeminck weren't up to that although Freddy is the most kind person in person... In fact he's been way too kind and sometimes naïeve which has lead him to financial problems back in the days. He's over all that right now and still enjoys the love of his soulmate and wife Carine who backed him through all difficult times. In the end, Freddy Maertens' story isn't just about cycling, it's about two people loving and caring for eachother. Rarely seen these days!
originele contributie ! nice
What person came up with these rules?
Maertens won on a spectators bike. That's an even greater performance, since it probably wasn't a super high-end bike. The frame size and seat height weren't set for Maertens, like on a custom pro bike.
Maertens, ten times the rider De Vlaeminck was. His records in the Tour (eight stage victories in one year) and Vuelta (thirteen stage victories in one year) still stand today. And two times WC. And best sprinter in the seventies by far.
It was reputedly not a "spectator's bike" but a team bike with different gearing which Freddy took from a helper by the roadside (some say his brother) which was against the rules governing all the riders, though it appears Freddy was the best on the day.
Not everyone in cycling those days liked Freddy Maertens. He won too much in his prime and the other big guys like Merckx and De Vlaeminck weren't up to that although Freddy is the most kind person in person... In fact he's been way too kind and sometimes naïeve which has lead him to financial problems back in the days. He's over all that right now and still enjoys the love of his soulmate and wife Carine who backed him through all difficult times. In the end, Freddy Maertens' story isn't just about cycling, it's about two people loving and caring for eachother. Rarely seen these days!