Globalization in times of Merckx (Myth Busting)

[Echoes]

Coming across the Evans thread I again read some of these myths: In the 70's cycling was an all European affair, Merckx never had to face Australians, Americans, South Americans, Eastern-Blockers, etc.

WRONG !


First, a historical background:

By the early 20th century until WWII, the three big cycling nations were France, Italy and Belgium (Britain was great in the 19th but that's it). The rest were isolated cases. A handful of Luxembourger for each generation. Same for the Swiss. Some Spanish climbers came up in the thirties. Some Germans came up at the same times. Dutchies arrived in the late thirties.

On top of that, if the years 1910's were somewhat "internationalized", the interbellum years were not. Italians were racing at home only and almost no foreigners went there. Hence, the Binda's, Girardengo's, Guerra's and Bartali's of this world could build up a palmarès that on paper seems comparable to later champions' but against a far lesser field (and building the myth of the campionissimo and his gregarii). Only in French races could you have some sort of internationalized field (and yet ..).

After WWII and the creation of the Desgrange Colombo Challenge, most of the top classics and GT had an international field. And by the time Merckx came up all Western European nations were great in quality and number, which wasn't the case before. This includes Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and even the UK and Scandinavia.

But what about the rest ???


Let's start with Latin America:

Many races were already held there, races that exist today and that some of you like: Tour of Colombia, Clasico RCN and Tour of Tachira.

The best South American riders in those days was a Colombian named Martin Rodriguez and better known as Cochise (4 Tour of Colombia, 3 Tachira, 1 RCN, Amateur Pursuit Champion). He was born in 1942.

First encounter with Euros was at the Amateur Worlds in 1968. He was 4th. Then he would attempt at the Hour Record, in 1970, in Mexico on the same track as Ole Ritter. 47km566 against 48653 for Ritter. It was the new Amateur World Record but at age 27 he was definitely in his prime. Even Ferdinand Bracke who set the previous record in Rome at sea level had a better mark.

By 1972 Cochise turned pro. His best results in big races were:
5th in the World Pursuit Championship 1972
8th in the World Pursuit Championship 1973
11th in the World Championship 1974
15th in the World Championship 1973
16th in the Tour of Lombardy 1975
17th in the Tour of Lombardy 1974
18th in the Giro 1974
19th in the World Championship 1975
27th in the Tour of France 1975
33rd in the Giro 1975
41st in the Giro 1973
71st in Milan Sanremo 1974
73rd in Milan Sanremo 1973

His wins as a pro:
Baracchi Trophy 1973 (partnering Felice Gimondi)
Camaiore GP 1973


Cochise was a truly great rider but to defy Merckx, he was not good enough.


The Colombians also had a big Flandrian, which is no longer the case today. Giovanni Jimenez won a lot of kermess races in Belgium and finished the Tour of Flanders in 1973 (32nd) and the Worlds in 1971 (33rd).

To close the chapter about Latin America I would add that Jempi Monseré had to deal with a Mexican rider in the pre-Olympic race he won in Mexico in 1967. They were in the break all day along, across the mountains, caught by a small group but Jempi won the sprint.


Eastern Block

Of course during the Cold War, cyclists from the Communist World could not turn pro in the West. However I'm still wondering why tennis aces such as Lendl or Nastase could? But well ...

Did Merckx ever have to face a Eastern European in his career? Of course he did.

In Sallanches 1964, the Easterners were there. Alexei Petrov even finished 7th. Petrov already had a reputation as great TTist in the Eastern block. Merckx was 19, a kid. Petrov was 27, in his prime. And the route was really hard.

Again, Jempi Monseré and even Roger De Vlaeminck had to cope with Eastern blockers too in their Amateur years. At the Worlds in Heerlen Monseré was in the leading group with Klaus Ampler (DDR), Conti and René Pijnen. But Jempi made a mistake and stopped pulling, the chasers came back. Graham Webb won. Monseré was 10th, De Vlaeminck 7th and Ampler was behind. Ampler was 26 (in his prime) and already had a huge reputation as Peace Race winner among other big wins, De Vlaeminck was 20, Monseré was 19 (kids).

Australia (+ New Zealand)

Australia has a huge tradition in track cycling. The best trackies in Merckx's time were Danny Clark and Graeme Gilmore. Of course, both were also roadies but when they got to road races in their spare time, they didn't have quite the same results as say Patrick Sercu for example, who made the same transition.

But Australia's road cycling history did not start with Phil Anderson. Already in 1914 Don Kirckham finished 9th in Milan Sanremo (I said above the 1910's were a first Golden Era), Ivor Munro 26th, Charles Piercey 28th. In the 1920's the great Sir Hubert Opperman came to Europe and won Paris-Brest-Paris, the Bol d'Or and was 3rd in Paris-Brussels, among others. One of his team mates was a Kiwi, whose name I don't remember.

Also many races that still exist today have a long history, such as Grafton to Invernell, the Herald Sun Tour or Melbourne to Warrnambool. 1957 winner of the Herald Sun Tour Russell Mockridge also defied the Euros. He was probably one of the greatest Australian talents ever but in Europe he mainly won kermess races + the Six-Days of Paris. He still managed to finish 42nd in Paris-Roubaix. To my knowledge, the first Aussie to finish the race. Oh by the way, did Coppi ever face an Aussie? Yes, in this Paris-Roubaix and ... two famous pursuit test matches against Syd Pattersson (very high regarded).

In times of Merckx, the best Aussies had the name Gary Clively, Don Allan and Bill Lawrie + Graeme Gilmore and Danny Clark.
And the Kiwi Bruce Biddle. All more than decent riders.

The USA

Here I have to admit that they weren't huge in number. Still, I can find two name: Mike Neel and George Mount.

Mount got to know Merckx when the latter got to Pennsylvania with Patrick Sercu for a Six-Days race. Merckx told him: "if you want to win races, go to France; if you want to learn about bike racing, go to Italy."

Mount just finished 6th in the Olympic Road Race in Montreal.
Neel didn't finish that race due to crash but yet he got a pro contract just after that and was selected for the Worlds in Ostuni. Far behind Maertens and Moser, Merckx won the sprint of a small peloton. Behind him were up-and-coming French talent Hinault, Felice Gimondi, Jan Raas, Aussie Don Allan and ... Mike Neel as 10th. He would never made another great performance like that one.

That pic is priceless:

He's far left.


Conclusion

In my opinion, the non-Euros started to win big (the 80's) when Euro cycling started to decline. Don't forget that between WWII (and even before) and the 70's, cycling was the top most popular sport in Europe. Popular culture was full of reference to cycling: French cinema, Italian cinema, Belgian litterature, etc. Its popularity was well ahead of football's or tennis'. This is by far no longer the case.

The bike was also the most popular means of locomotion until the vespa came up in the mid-fifties (which led to a cycle crisis and the first extra-sport sponsor). Before that, everybody used the bike in everyday life and for their jobs. Coppi was a delivery man for a grocist. He used his bike. Same for Bobet, Van Looy, Kübler, Van Steenbergen, Impanis, etc.

When Merckx started cycling, the vespa had come up. Yet, I had the info that only 20% of working class people could afford it (which was already a huge progress).

By the 80's Europe started becoming really prosperous. Eddy Planckaert considered himself a "luxury Flandrian". He didn't bother to train in winter. Neither did Hinault actually. No wonder that the World #1 was a mighty Irish farmer still driving a tractor when his future manager first met him.


PS: Damn, I should really stop typing novels !

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

merckx never raced cochise in his prime, and never could have I guess because cochise was older. cochise only came to europe in his 32+ years (when he was definately passed his prime) and was literally payed to push gimondi up the mountains (his own words) I have a fantastic article (in dutch) about, him like 8 pages.

merckx was out of this world but he faced only european competition. I;m not saying he wouldn't have dominated with others in it but fact is he never faced them. that's what globalisation is about

 

[Duartista]

Good post, although I don't entirely agree with your argument.

There is a great interview on the Cycling Inquisition site with Ramon Hoyos, the first great Colombian champion from the 50s: http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2010/02/interview-ramon-hoyos-colombias-first.html

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I've read that freat interview before, another good proove of how huge cycling is and has always been in colombia... but look at the man he has the face of epicness

almost a simpleton guy with extreme powers, he looks

much different from the "movie star" cochise who is even nicknames after a movie star. both riders were very big and very uncharacteristic for colombians, especially cochise

 

[Duartista]

I love the fact he's convinced he was better than Parra, Herrera etc. Do you know the story of when Coppi and Koblet went to race in Colombia?

 

[Lupetto]

Eastern Block

Of course during the Cold War, cyclists from the Communist World could not turn pro in the West. However I'm still wondering why tennis aces such as Lendl or Nastase could? But well ...

Did Merckx ever have to face a Eastern European in his career? Of course he did.

In Sallanches 1964, the Easterners were there. Alexei Petrov even finished 7th. Petrov already had a reputation as great TTist in the Eastern block. Merckx was 19, a kid. Petrov was 27, in his prime. And the route was really hard.

In 1963 Merckx raced "Rund um Sebnitz". He had just turned 19 and faced the best riders from Eastern Germany. On a 6,5 km long course with ramps of 18% and cobblestone he won the race solo. They say that the regime was really upset, seeing their heroes getting destroyed by that young kid.

 

[robertocarlos]

I love the fact he's convinced he was better than Parra, Herrera etc. Do you know the story of when Coppi and Koblet went to race in Colombia?

no please tell me more.

 

[Duartista]

no please tell me more.

It was when they were very over the hill, in 1958 I believe. They were touring velodromes in South America, but when they got to Colombia they were asked to compete in a specially organised road race including a tough climb, I don't remember which one. For the Colombians it was a huge thing, and Hoyos and co soon rode off into the distance. Coppi was unable to finish. It was pretty unfair really - I think there is something about it on the Cycling Inquisition site, I'll have a look for it.

Edit: Here you are, its not much though:

Would you say that the value that we Colombians place on Hoyos' victory over Fausto Coppi [Hoyos beat Fausto Coppi in the Doble A Pintada race in 1958] plays into that? As a symbol, it's a powerful win, but when you understand cycling, you know that Coppi may have been training, may not have even been there to win. But the importance of the win remains, because Hoyos was a young man from Colombia, and Coppi was a giant from Europe.

I agree with you as far as that victory. Coppi was an old man in cycling terms. He wasn't really in racing form, the conditions were against him, and for Hoyos it was the biggest race of his life.

http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2011/06/myth-of-laurent-fignon-as-intellectual.html

 

[Mambo95]

Coming across the Evans thread I again read some of these myths: In the 70's cycling was an all European affair, Merckx never had to face Australians, Americans, South Americans, Eastern-Blockers, etc.

Sure there were the occasional riders from further afield, but none of those riders you mentioned were winning big races (classics, GT stages etc), or even challenging to win them.

They were great riders in their own way - true pioneers. And they paved the way for today's peloton where there are challengers are from all over the world. And it is the rise of the likes of USA, Australia, Eastern Europe etc, that has made it so much harder, impossible even, for a rider to get even close to the palmares of the champions of yesteryear.

 

[yetanothergreenworld]

It's true that English-speaking cycling journalists tend to exaggerate the narrative of cycling's globalization, simply because it's a narrative in which we get to play the heroes. What tends to get sidelined a bit is how the globalization of cycling stalled during the 90s. The 80s saw the first big break-throughs from non-European stars: Herrera and Parra from Columbia, Anderson from Australia, Bauer from Canada, Alcala from Mexico, Lemond from the U.S., and then the eastern block riders at the end of the decade. Not only this, but non-European races like the Coors and the Clasico RCN started to draw top-quality European teams and riders. (Women's cycling also briefly jumped into the limelight, as women's versions of races like the TDF were held alongside the men's editions.) Then in the 90s things quieted down a bit. The Columbians and the North Americans became increasingly invisible with the exception of Armstrong; Australia had a sleepy decade; and the Russians and East Germans won a few big races; but most of the action that decade was coming from Belgium, Italy, and Spain. The 2000s have so far seen riders from the U.S., Columbia, and Australia return to the fore -- but there have been no more big additions to top rank of cycling nations, apart from a couple of decent domestiques from South Africa and Japan. Looking back over the past 30 years, the internationalization of cycling seems to have taken place mostly within Europe, as the norther and eastern European countries increasingly play bigger roles than ever before.

 

[yetanothergreenworld]

And they paved the way for today's peloton where there are challengers are from all over the world.

Really? "All over the world"? That's taking it a few steps too far.

 

[Mambo95]

Really? "All over the world"? That's taking it a few steps too far.

Do you take every phrase 100% literally? God help you if you do. Next time you 'sit on someone's wheel' it's going to be very painful.

 

[greenedge]

Good thread but Merclx did not have to compete against top notch " new cycling " countries talent. He still would have won most races probably.

 

[Echoes]

merckx never raced cochise in his prime, and never could have I guess because cochise was older. cochise only came to europe in his 32+ years (when he was definately passed his prime) and was literally payed to push gimondi up the mountains (his own words) I have a fantastic article (in dutch) about, him like 8 pages.

Cochise and Gimondi were both born in 1942 and Merckx in 1945. So he's not much older.

He turned pro at age 30/31. Of course he would have had better results, had he turned pro earlier but at age 31 normally you still can do great things. Gimondi wasn't World Champion yet.

He was uncharacteric of the Colombian style, ... which is better. I like the likes of Herrera etc. I understand that they're entertaining to watch but they're too specialized. Cochise was complete, could ITT and perform equally in single-day races as in stage races. I'd take Cochise over Herrera any day.

Is the article available on the net? I'm really interested.

In 1963 Merckx raced "Rund um Sebnitz". He had just turned 19 and faced the best riders from Eastern Germany. On a 6,5 km long course with ramps of 18% and cobblestone he won the race solo. They say that the regime was really upset, seeing their heroes getting destroyed by that young kid.

Impressive. I didn't know that, thanks. It's even more impressive when you think that Merckx didn't like short race. He preferred the longer ones when his endurance can do the talking.

[...]

Good post. I can't disagree.

You also point to the important fact that globalization is still far from being completed. We still lack some great African riders apart from a handful of South Africans (of European descent) and Rafaa Chtioui and Asian riders other than a handful of Japanese.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Cochise and Gimondi were both born in 1942 and Merckx in 1945. So he's not much older.

He turned pro at age 30/31. Of course he would have had better results, had he turned pro earlier but at age 31 normally you still can do great things. Gimondi wasn't World Champion yet.

He was uncharacteric of the Colombian style, ... which is better. I like the likes of Herrera etc. I understand that they're entertaining to watch but they're too specialized. Cochise was complete, could ITT and perform equally in single-day races as in stage races. I'd take Cochise over Herrera any day.

Is the article available on the net? I'm really interested.



Impressive. I didn't know that, thanks. It's even more impressive when you think that Merckx didn't like short race. He preferred the longer ones when his endurance can do the talking.



Good post. I can't disagree.

You also point to the important fact that globalization is still far from being completed. We still lack some great African riders apart from a handful of South Africans (of European descent) and Rafaa Chtioui and Asian riders other than a handful of Japanese.

back in the 60s/70s/80 and even 90s, being 30+ was very old

I can send yiu the article. pls pm me your email I think I still have it on my pc.

 

[yetanothergreenworld]

Do you take every phrase 100% literally? God help you if you do. Next time you 'sit on someone's wheel' it's going to be very painful.

Fair enough. Sorry about the tone. My point was just that the globalization of cycling has so far been a fairly modest affair. Apart from a few North Americans, a few Anipodeans, and the random Columbian or white South African, cycling is still very much a European game. What's really changed is the participation within Europe, with the northern and eastern countries sending much more solid contingencies than they ever have before.

I personally would like to see the UCI, in it's globalizing schemes, cultivate stronger ties with South America. Sure, the U.S. and Australia have money, but cycling there (here = California) is mostly a niche fitness sport. In Columbia, cycling is a genuine folk sport like it is in Italy; when Lucho Herrera won the Vuelta in 1987, they had to shut down the country for a day. I wish the UCI would try to tap into that somehow. I would love to see the Clasico RCN made into part of the World Tour or whatever their global calendar is now called. Again, Columbia probably wouldn't inject as much money into the sport as the U.S. or Australia, which is probably why it hasn't happened.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

actually it's the other way around. cycling has always been global despite european cycling being focused on europeans, that's only a small portion of cycling. there's been racing in south america since begin 1900s. the doble bragado is one of the oldest races in the world and it's in argentina. many south americans see what they do as true cycling and are national hero's despite never riding the european races. arriagada was elected to walk the chilean flag during the pan-american games despite never doing a race in europe basically but he's still a star there.

 

[El Pistolero]

actually it's the other way around. cycling has always been global despite european cycling being focused on europeans, that's only a small portion of cycling. there's been racing in south america since begin 1900s. the doble bragado is one of the oldest races in the world and it's in argentina. many south americans see what they do as true cycling and are national hero's despite never riding the european races. arriagada was elected to walk the chilean flag during the pan-american games despite never doing a race in europe basically but he's still a star there.

Well, most South Americans are descendants from Europeans(partly), so it's only normal cycling was going to be big there. Cycling is less popular in the countries colonized by the British Empire and more popular in countries colonized by the Spanish. Of course Spain also had large territories in North America, but that was more theoretical power than de facto power.

Although Australia and the US have some history in track cycling of course, just like the British.

 

[Echoes]

Sorry to bump my own thread but I just discovered that actually one of the first non-European race to invite big Euro stars happened in 1974, namely the Clasico Polimeros Colombianos.

Merckx was invited but had a knee injury and pull out. Gimondi, Perurena, Battaglin, Houbrechts & Fuente among others were present + Cochise.

Gimondi and Perurena showed their class for the first three days but then had two bad days.

OK might give a point to my detractors.

However, Cochise is not the only Colombian to have raced in Europe. Rafael Niño was considered as Cochise's successor in Colombia (6 Tours of Colombia and 5 RCN).

In 1974 (aged 24/25) he turned pro with Jolly Ceramica, Battaglin's team.

17th in the Tour of Switzerland
41st in the Tour of Italy
124th in Milan Sanremo

In 1975 he went back home to win another Tour of Colombia. He regrets it.

Another one who had his chances to beat Merckx and couldn't do it.

In my opinion, this makes Merckx an "inter-continental" champion and it's not even disputable !

 

[Descender]

Truth be told, the extent of globalisation is much bigger today than back then.

 

[Echoes]

Might be. But I'm not even sure.

Did you know that Cold War Era Peace Race had Romanian, Mongolian, Cuban or Chinese teams?

Today, even in the former Eastern Bloc you can't see any of them.

Huh, OK I just come across the Mongolia Bike Challenge (MTB) going on at the moment.

 

[Echoes]

If anyone is interested, I've gathered data from some "exotic" country racers, from the seventies.

These palmares are as much a way of supporting my point as they are a tribute to these oldies.


And in order to celebrate Jesse Sergent's win from yesterday, I'll start with his countryman Bruce Biddle.

Born on November 2 1949 in Warkworth, New-Zealand, Bruce Biddle was amateur National Champion in 1969, won the Commonwealth Game RR in 1970 and came 4th at the Olympic RR in 1972 behind Kuiper, Clyde Sefton (who is also on my data) and the Spaniard Jaime Huelamo (who will test positive). That's how he landed in Italy in 1973 (I don't know if he joined the Siapa Team with Clively and Sefton at the same time, probably not) where he won the amateur Tour of Lombardy and the Tour of Aretine Valley. He turned pro in 1974 with Magniflex (Gösta Pettersson's team) and remained in the peloton until 1979. He was among others Francesco Moser's team mate.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23666168@N04/5363695304/

3 Tour of Lazio 1974
3 Stage 5b of Tirreno Adriatico 1976 (behind De Vlaeminck and Merckx) Did he finish that race?
5 Laigueglia Trophy 1976
7 Tour of Reggio di Calabria 1976
8 Tour of Romagna 1976
8 Montelupo GP 1976
8 Baracchi Trophy 1978 (partnering Mike Neel of the USA)
9 Prato GP 1975
10 Prato GP 1978
11 Tour of Appennino 1978
12 Camaiore GP 1977
12 Milan Turin 1974
12 Matteotti Trophy 1978
13 Tour of Emily 1974
13 Tour of Emily 1976
13 Tour of Veneto 1976
14 Tour of Catalunya 1974
17 Montelupo GP 1975
17 Prato GP 1977
18 Prato GP 1974
19 Tour of Appennino 1975
19 Tour of Lazio 1976
20 Tour of Lombardy 1974
20 Tour of Lazio 1977
20 Tour of Campania 1975
20 Sabattini Cup 1979
21 Tirreno Adriatico 1978
21 Sabattini Cup 1978
21 Tour of Emily 1977
22 Tour of Friuli 1975
23 Tour of Puglia 1976
23 Tour of Friuli 1976
25 Tour of Switzerland 1976
25 Tour of Appennino 1977
25 Tour of Umbria 1979
26 Tour of Piedmont 1974
26 Placci Cup 1979
28 World Championship 1977
28 Tour of Romagna 1978
32 Laigueglia Trophy 1977
33 Milan Sanremo 1975
34 Tour of Italy 1978
35 Sabattini Cup 1976
36 Tirreno Adriatico 1977
39 Tour of Veneto 1977
39 Tour of Umbria 1977
40 Placci Cup 1976
40 Agostoni Cup 1978
41 Worlds 1976
46 Amstel Gold Race 1977
49 Tour of Sardegna 1977
50 Agostoni Cup 1977
52 Montelupo GP 1974
53 Tour of Switzerland 1975
55 Tour of Tuscany 1974
55 Milan Turin 1977
56 Championship of Zurich 1978
57 Tour of Veneto 1975
58 Milan-Vignola 1978
60 Tour of Tuscany 1976
60 Larciano GP 1979
68 Laigueglia Trophy 1975
72 Placci Cup 1977
79 Milan Sanremo 1978
83 Laigueglia Trophy 1978
116 Milan Sanremo 1977
126 Milan Sanremo 1974
Laigueglia Trophy 1974: finished 26th ex aequo.
DNF Tour of Flanders 1977

Since Paul Jesson had his career dramatically ended
Since Greg Henderson and Julian Dean are sprinters/wheelsuckers
Since Tino Tabak is rather a Dutchie
Since Jesse Sergent is still too young (in 2011)

I do consider Bruce Biddle as the greatest Kiwi of all time.

 

[Echoes]

So, the Columbians.

I have an updated palmares for the great Martin Emilio "Cochise" Rodriguez Gutierrez

Winner Baracchi Trophy 1973 (partnering Gimondi)
Winner Camaiore GP 1973
Winner Verona GP 1973 (anyone with any info on that race ???)
Winner of Stage 15 in Tour of Italy 1973
Winner of Stage 19 in Tour of Italy 1975
Winner Tour of the Marches 1974
Winner of Stage 1 of the Cronostafetta 1975
2 Baracchi Trophy 1974 (partnering Gösta Pettersson)
3 Tour of Romagna 1973
3 Forli GP 1974 (ITT; beaten by Moser and Gimondi)
3 Gippingen GP 1974
4 Forli GP 1973 (ITT)
5 Lugano GP 1974 (ITT)
5 Tour of Colombia 1974 (the one in which Gimondi and Perurena raced)
5 Pursuit Worlds 1972
6 Prato GP 1975
6 Baracchi Trophy 1975 (partnering Joseph Fuchs)
7 Prato GP 1973
7 Climb Race of San Fermo 1973
7 Camaiore GP 1974
8 Pursuit Worlds 1973
9 Milan Turin 1975
10 Tour of Veneto 1975
10 Sassari Cagliari 1975
10 Monte Urpino 1975
11 Worlds 1974
11 Tour of the Marches 1975
11 Tour of Romagna 1974
12 Tour of Puglia 1974
14 Agostoni Cup 1975
14 Bulciagio 1975
15 Worlds 1973
16 Tour of Lombardy 1975
17 Tour of Lombardy 1974
17 Tour of Sardegna 1975
18 Tour of Italy 1974
19 Worlds 1975
20 Tour of Piedmont 1974
22 Tour of Tuscany 1973
25 Tour of Tuscany 1975
25 Montelupo GP 1974
26 Milan Sanremo 1974
26 Tour of Emily 1974
26 Milan Vignola 1973
27 Tour of France 1975
27 Tour of Friuli 1975
28 Placci Cup 1974
29 Sabattini Cup 1975
31 Milan Vignola 1975
33 Tour of Italy 1975
41 Tour of Italy 1973
42 Laigueglia Trophy 1975
44 Paris-Brussels 1973
46 Paris-Nice 1974
52 Tour of Veneto 1974
71 Milan Sanremo 1974
73 Milan Sanremo 1973
DNF Tour of Flanders 1975

Rafael Niño Munevar

17 Tour of Switzerland 1974
18 Tour of Friuli 1974
41 Tour of Italy 1974
46 Milan Turin 1974
DNF Tour of Columbia 1974
DNF Worlds 1974

As I said, multiple Tour of Columbia winner ...

Giovanni Jimenez Ocampo


Giovanni Jimenez is a mystery for me. The first ever Columbian to turn pro. Apparently, as an amateur he was a great trackie and hence landed in the Belgian kermess tour, pretty uncharacteristic of Columbians. He apparently holds a café in Belgium now and hosted the Columbian riders for the Worlds in Zolder 2002.

Winner Omloop van Vlaamse Scheldeboorden 1971
2 Omloop van Vlaamse Scheldeboorden 1975
3 Liedekerke Arrow 1971 (Dierickx won)
3 Kessel-Lier 1971
3 Liedekerke Arrow 1975
4 Roubaix-Cassel-Roubaix 1970
5 Flandria GP 1970
5 Lambrechts GP 1971
5 Brussels-Bever 1973
6 Tour of East Flanders 1972
6 Tour of Indre et Loire 1971
6 E5 Prijs (Herverlee) 1976
7 West Brabant Circuit 1970
8 East Flanders Circuit 1969
8 Tour of Brabant 1971
9 Jef Scherens GP 1970
9 Ronsse-Tournai-Ronsse 1971
9 LeieValley Circuit 1970
10 Tour of Condroz 1971
10 Mid-Flanders Circuit 1975
10 Brussels-Ingooigem 1978
10 Omloop Zennevallei 1976
10 Campine Arrow 1976
10 Brussels-Nandrin 1971
11 Scheldeprijs 1971
11 Across Belgium (Dwars door Belgïe/À travers la Belgique) 1972
11 Brabant Arrow 1972
12 Grote Scheldeprijs 1973
12 Southwest Flemish Mount Circuit 1974
12 Fruit Region Circuit 1971
14 Cerami GP 1971
14 Brussels-Bever 1977
14 Ronse-Tournai-Ronse 1973
14 Southwest Flemish Mount Circuit 1969
15 Hulste-Ingelmunster 1979
16 Grape Race – Overijse 1968
16 Ronse-Tournai-Ronse 1972
16 Brussels-Nandrin 1972
17 Denain GP 1973
17 Grape Race Overijse 1975
17 Mons-Hyon 1975
18 Schelde-Durme Circuit 1975
19 Schelde-Durme Circuit 1970
20 Zottegem GP 1975
20 Omloop Zennevallei 1969
21 Grape Race – Overijse 1976
21 Mons-Hyon 1973
21 Four-Leave Clover – Tournai 1972
21 Schelde-Durme Circuit 1973
23 Grape Race - Overijse 1971
23 Four-Leave Clover – Tournai 1971
23 Mid-Flanders Circuit 1969
24 Zottegem GP 1976
24 Zottegem GP 1973
24 Rebecq-Rognon 1974
24 E5 Prijs (Herverlee) 1973
25 Scherens GP 1977
25 Rebecq-Rognon 1970
27 Henninger Turm 1971
27 Brabant Arrow 1971
27 Zottegem GP 1968
29 Enghien Arrow 1969
29 Southwest Flemish Mount Circuit 1975
29 Ronsse-Tournai-Ronsse 1974
30 Zottegem GP 1972
30 Tour of the 11 Cities – Bruges 1973
30 Tour of East Flanders 1970
30 Three Province Circuit 1973
30 Ronsse-Tournai-Ronsse 1970
30 Brussels-Nandrin 1975
31 Tour of East Flanders 1971
32 Tour of Flanders 1973
33 Worlds 1971
34 Tour of the Basque Country 1971
34 Bank GP 1971
37 Grote Scheldeprijs 1976
40 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 1973
41 Amstel Gold Race 1971
42 Amstel Gold Race 1976
42 Tour of the Netherlands 1979
43 Worlds 1976
46 Grote Scheldeprijs 1975
52 Ghent Wevelgem 1976
53 Milan-Turin 1969
55 Paris-Brussels 1973
57 Ghent Wevelgem 1973
62 Ghent Wevelgem 1974
68 Ghent Ghent (Het Volk) 1972
90 Ghent Wevelgem 1972

And another Latin American:

Juan Jose Timon (Uruguay)

Juanjo Timon was one of Uruguay's great in the Golden Age of cycling in Uruguay in the early sixties. 2nd in the Team Pursuit at the PanAm Games 1959 and winner in 1963. That's how the Italians noticed him. He won 4 events in Italy in 1963. 6 others in 1964 and turned pro with Molteni in 1966. Gianni Motta was his leader. But his pro career was missed !

43 Prato GP 1966
45 Tour of Campania 1966
52 Tirreno-Adriatico 1966 (1st edition)
52 Camaiore GP 1966

 

[Maxiton]

@Echoes. Kudos to you for this thread and the fantastic contributions you've made to it. Great stuff.

(It was only last year that I found out that the national sport of Belize is cycling, not football. It seems to me that cycling is indeed an international sport and has been since Merckx's time, as you've amply demonstrated. I think its popularity has to do with its roots in the community, just like football (soccer). It should be truly huge by now, but while professional participation may have increased slightly since the 70s, interest by the public and the press has if anything diminished. In my view this is in large part attributable to gross mismanagement by the UCI.)

 

[AngusW]

Hi Echoes

Thanks for posting all the information about Bruce Biddle. As cycling is a "minor" sport here, there isn't much written about him apart from his Commonwealth games win (won by the width of a tyre from an Australian rider) and the ongoing attempts by various NZ sporting bodies to get him awarded a bronze medal (the IOC's response is that they can't award a medal to someone who wasn't drug-tested). I read somewhere that he'd turned pro after the 1972 Olympics but got the impression that his pro career was somewhat of a disappointment. The results you list tell a different story - sure, no wins but some solid results over six years as a pro in Italy.