Daan de Groot
Encyclopedia
Daniël de Groot (May 25, 1933 in Amsterdam
, Noord-Holland – January 8, 1982 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland) was a road bicycle
and track cyclist from the Netherlands
, who represented his native country at the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki, Finland.
In the 1952 Olympics, De Groot was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the men's 4,000 m team pursuit, alongside Adrie Voorting
, Jan Plantaz
and Jules Maenen
.
In 1954, he became a professional road cyclist, which he remained until 1962.
During the 1955 Tour de France, De Groot was in the thirteenth initially dropped by the peloton, and had problems with the heath. When he passed a field with cabbage, he took two leafs and put them in his neck and on his head, to protect him from the sun. He regained his strength, and was able to get back to the peloton.
The peloton was also suffering from the heath, and De Groot decided to go for his chance, and escaped from the peloton. Nobody answered his attack, so he went solo. After some time, he was told his advantage was "" (thirty minutes), but De Groot's knowledge of the French language was not perfect, and he thought his advantage was three minutes, and he increased his speed. In the end he won the stage by more than twenty minutes.
His sister Jannie competed as a swimmer for the Netherlands at the 1948 Summer Olympics
. De Groot committed suicide
in 1982, a year after his wife had died.
1955
1956
1957
1959
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Noord-Holland – January 8, 1982 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland) was a road bicycle
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
and track cyclist from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, who represented his native country at the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki, Finland.
In the 1952 Olympics, De Groot was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the men's 4,000 m team pursuit, alongside Adrie Voorting
Adrie Voorting
Adrianus Voorting was a road bicycle and track cyclist from the Netherlands, who represented his native country at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland...
, Jan Plantaz
Jan Plantaz
Johannes Marinus Plantaz was a road bicycle and track cyclist from the Netherlands, who represented his native country at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.There he was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the men's 4.000m team pursuit, alongside Adrie Voorting, Daan de Groot...
and Jules Maenen
Jules Maenen
Julius Hermanus Maenen was a road bicycle and track cyclist from the Netherlands, who represented his native country at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland....
.
In 1954, he became a professional road cyclist, which he remained until 1962.
During the 1955 Tour de France, De Groot was in the thirteenth initially dropped by the peloton, and had problems with the heath. When he passed a field with cabbage, he took two leafs and put them in his neck and on his head, to protect him from the sun. He regained his strength, and was able to get back to the peloton.
The peloton was also suffering from the heath, and De Groot decided to go for his chance, and escaped from the peloton. Nobody answered his attack, so he went solo. After some time, he was told his advantage was "" (thirty minutes), but De Groot's knowledge of the French language was not perfect, and he thought his advantage was three minutes, and he increased his speed. In the end he won the stage by more than twenty minutes.
His sister Jannie competed as a swimmer for the Netherlands at the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
. De Groot committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in 1982, a year after his wife had died.
Palmarès
1954- Omloop der Kempen
1955
- Tour de France1955 Tour de FranceThe 1955 Tour de France was the 42nd Tour de France, taking place from July 7 to July 30, 1955. It consisted of 22 stages over 4495 km, ridden at an average speed of 34.446 km/h....
:- Winner stage 13
1956
- Assen
- national track pursuit championship
1957
- Nuth
1959
- Oostburg
- Alphen aan de Rijn