Claude Criquielion R.I.P.

[Pantani_lives]

Claude Criquielion (58) has died yesterday, two days after his cerebrovascular accident.

He was world champion in 1984, but unfortunately he will probably remembered for the one he didn't win in Ronse 1988. Although quite introvert he gained a lot of sympathy from cycling fans over the years, and he also became a successful directeur sportif.

How will you remember him?

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Since I was born at the very end of his career, I can't help but remember him from Ronse (which is part of the collective memory in Belgium).
Just saw the report of his '85 Fleche Wallon victory though: great attacking style!

One World Championship, A Ronde van Vlaanderen, 3 Fleche Wallons, 5 top 10s in Tour de France, podiums in LBL and Amstel. Speaking of versatile!

 

[Escarabajo]

RIP.

I will remember him for his riding style. Maybe similar to Chris Anker S?rensen.

 

[Pantani_lives]

I will remember him for his riding style. Maybe similar to Chris Anker S?rensen.

Yes, he was sitting quite high on his bike, with the elbows wide.

 

[Pelevin]

Not trying to be flippant but I'll principally remember him cos of his cool name!
Anyway, it'll happen to us all, RIP & I hope his soul was able to depart in peace, & thoughts to his family & friends.

 

[Torrrr]

Personally, I can't disassociate him from that super-cool orange Hitachi jersey. I can clearly remember the controversy surrounding those 1988 Worlds and he always had my sympathy as regards that incident.

Pelevin - I don't think it flippant to remember him for his cool name. I was still at primary school back I the mid 80's and to my young anglophone self, part of the appeal of professional cycling was this 'foreign' world. So the names of riders like Criquielion, van Poppel, Vanderaerden, van der Poel - to mention only a handful - made me a fan of these riders instantly.

RIP Claude Criquielion.

 

[jens_attacks]

rest in peace claude...

 

[movingtarget]

Sad news. He was a very talented rider.

 

[Echoes]

Had he won a GT, there would have been a memorial thread on CN, the day he passed away, probably.


The first classics I've seen were the Arrow and Liege in 1991 (I was aged 7). Two bad memories with the losses to Argentin (Ariostea, future Gewiss)...


Cric was stolen a World championship and perhaps even a Liege-Bastogne. The one from 1987. If only Roche had raced like a man, this last km, Argentin wouldn't have come back.

It was on Easter day and the newspapers the day after headlined "Les cloches de P?ques" ("The Easter Bells"). In French, a bell can mean "an idiot". But well Cric couldn't pace Roche like a derny. It's entirely Roche's fault.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlAMGnHx9-U

For speakers of French: doco tribute from 1991 on the RTBF website: http://www.rtbf.be/video/detail_1991-hommage-a-claudy-criquielion-r-beenkens-et-t-delrue?id=1994155

 

[Lexman]

I was in my teens and became awara of cycling when rode top 5 in the Tour de France, heard about him on the radio while playing with playmobil....

He made becoming interested and aware of cycling....

A rider with such palmares these days, bad luck he came not far after Merckx....

Ah those Hitachi days..

RIP Claudy!!

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

I always had a softspot for Claude, a no-nonsense rider. Belgiums hope 'in bange dagen' after Big Eddy. Much too young to die and certainly not a pleasant one.

Resta in pace Claude.

 

[Pelevin]

Had he won a GT, there would have been a memorial thread on CN, the day he passed away, probably.


The first classics I've seen were the Arrow and Liege in 1991 (I was aged 7). Two bad memories with the losses to Argentin (Ariostea, future Gewiss)...


Cric was stolen a World championship and perhaps even a Liege-Bastogne. The one from 1987. If only Roche had raced like a man, this last km, Argentin wouldn't have come back.

It was on Easter day and the newspapers the day after headlined "Les cloches de P?ques" ("The Easter Bells"). In French, a bell can mean "an idiot". But well Cric couldn't pace Roche like a derny. It's entirely Roche's fault.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlAMGnHx9-U

Where would forums like this be without childish hero/villain finger- pointing rubbish. Someone dies, lets get mad about a bloody bike race long ago & whose fault it was neither of the 2 best riders won.

 

[Pantani_lives]

When two riders slow down in the last K I still yell, "Watch out, Argentin might be hiding behind that car!"

 

[stainlessguy1]

R.i.p ...........