Herman Van Springel
Encyclopedia
Herman van Springel is a Belgian
former road racing cyclist, from Grobbendonk
, in the Flemish
Campine
or Kempen region.
He was an accomplished time-trial rider, almost winning the Tour de France
in 1968, when he was beaten in the last stage by Dutchman
, Jan Janssen in a time-trial. In the autumn that year, he won the classic Giro di Lombardia.
He won seven editions of the marathon Bordeaux–Paris. He also won the green jersey in the 1973 Tour de France without winning a single stage. However, he did win five stages during his ten participations in the Tour. He kept on cycling through the seventies and ended his long career at the end of 1981.
Flemish TV-maker and presenter, Marc Uytterhoeven, motivated by the 1968 Tour, founded a Herman van Springel fan club.
Tour de France
Giro d'Italia
One-day events, classics and semi-classics
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
former road racing cyclist, from Grobbendonk
Grobbendonk
Grobbendonk is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp . The municipality comprises the towns of Bouwel and Grobbendonk proper. On January 1, 2006 Grobbendonk had a total population of 10,747. The total area is 28.36 km² which gives a population density of 379 inhabitants per...
, in the Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
Campine
Campine
The Campine is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-western Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands...
or Kempen region.
He was an accomplished time-trial rider, almost winning the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
in 1968, when he was beaten in the last stage by Dutchman
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...
, Jan Janssen in a time-trial. In the autumn that year, he won the classic Giro di Lombardia.
He won seven editions of the marathon Bordeaux–Paris. He also won the green jersey in the 1973 Tour de France without winning a single stage. However, he did win five stages during his ten participations in the Tour. He kept on cycling through the seventies and ended his long career at the end of 1981.
Flemish TV-maker and presenter, Marc Uytterhoeven, motivated by the 1968 Tour, founded a Herman van Springel fan club.
Major results
- Season champion, Super Prestige Pernod InternationalSuper Prestige Pernod InternationalThe Super Prestige Pernod International was a season-long competition in road bicycle racing between 1958 and 1988.Disagreements between the organisers of the similar Challenge Desgrange-Colombo led to its demise and a gap in season-long competitions. In 1958, the publicity division of Pernod...
(1968)
Tour de France
- 19661966 Tour de FranceThe 1966 Tour de France was the 53rd Tour de France, taking place June 21 to July 14, 1966. It consisted of 22 stages over 4303 km, ridden at an average speed of 36.760 km/h....
, 6th overall, - 19671967 Tour de FranceThe 1967 Tour de France was the 54th Tour de France, taking place June 29 to July 23, 1967. It consisted of 22 stages over 4780 km, ridden at 35.018 km/h...
, 24th overall, 1 stage win - 19681968 Tour de FranceThe 1968 Tour de France was the 55th Tour de France, taking place June 27 to July 21, 1968. It consisted of 22 stages over 4684.8 km, ridden at an average speed of 34.894 km/h...
, 2nd overall, 1 stage win - 19691969 Tour de FranceThe 1969 Tour de France was the 56th Tour de France, taking place June 28 to July 20, 1969. It consisted of 22 stages over 4110 km , ridden at an average speed of 35.409 km/h...
, 18th overall, 2 stage wins - 19711971 Tour de FranceThe 1971 Tour de France was the 58th Tour de France, taking place June 26 to July 18, 1971. It consisted of 22 stages over , ridden at an average speed of ....
, 14th overall, 1 stage win - 19731973 Tour de FranceThe 1973 Tour de France was the 60th Tour de France, taking place June 30 to July 22, 1973. It consisted of 20 stages over 4140.4 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.918 km/h. After winning the 1973 Vuelta a España and the 1973 Giro d'Italia, Eddy Merckx did not participate in the Tour...
, 6th overall, Points classification - 19741974 Tour de FranceThe 1974 Tour de France was the 61st Tour de France, taking place June 27 to July 21, 1974. It consisted of 22 stages over 4098 km, ridden at an average speed of 35.241 km/h...
, 10th overall - 19751975 Tour de FranceThe 1975 Tour de France was the 62nd Tour de France, taking place June 26 to July 20, 1975. It consisted of 22 stages over 3999 km, ridden at an average speed of 34.899 km/h. Eddy Merckx was attempting to win his sixth Tour de France, but became a victim of violence. Many Frenchmen were...
, 31st overall
Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
- 19711971 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1971 Giro d'Italia was held from 20 May to 10 June 1971. This 54th running of the Corsa Rosa covered 3,621 km at an average speed of 37.176 km/h. It was won by the Swede Gösta Pettersson.-General classification :- Maglia rosa holders:...
, 2nd overall
One-day events, classics and semi-classics
- UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race, 2nd/Silver Medal (1968) Belgian National Road Race ChampionshipsBelgian National Road Race ChampionshipsThe Belgian National Road Race Championship is a cycling race where the Belgian cyclists decide who will become the champion for the year to come...
(1971) - Giro di Lombardia (1968)
- Gent–Wevelgem (1966)
- Omloop Het Volk (1968)
- Paris–Tours (1969)
- Grand Prix des NationsGrand Prix des NationsThe Grand Prix des Nations was an individual time trial for professional racing cyclists. Held annually in France, it was instituted in 1932 and often regarded as the unofficial time trial championship of the world and as a Classic cycle race. The race was the idea of a Parisian newspaper editor...
(1969, 1970) - Bordeaux–Paris (1970, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981)
- Züri-Metzgete (1971)
- Grote Prijs Jef ScherensGrote Prijs Jef ScherensGrote Prijs Jef Scherens is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in September in Leuven, Belgium. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. The race is named after the seven-time professional sprint world champion Jef Scherens.-Winners:...
(1966) - Nokere-KoerseNokere-KoerseNokere Koerse is a European semi classic single day cycle race held in the Belgian region of Flanders. Since 2005, the race has been organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour....
(1971) - E3 Prijs VlaanderenE3 Prijs VlaanderenThe E3 Harelbeke is an annual cycling race in the Flanders area of Belgium. The race starts and finishes in Harelbeke over 210 kilometres. The event is organised by the Hand in Hand Cycling Club of Harelbeke and is ranked 1.HC on the UCI Continental calendar....
(1974) - Boucles de l'AulneBoucles de l'AulneBoucles de l'Aulne is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in May or June around Châteaulin, in the region of Brittany, France. Since 2006, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour....
(1974) - Le SamynLe SamynMemorial José Samyn is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in March in Fayt-le-Franc, Belgium, starting in Frameries and finishing in Dour. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour...
(1978) - Trofeo BaracchiTrofeo BaracchiThe Trofeo Baracchi was a major Italian cycling race that ran for 50 years. It was created by Mino Baracchi, in memory of his father Angelo who was a great cycle racing fan. Originally an amateur individual time trial, from 1944 it was open to professionals and became a major event on the...
(1969 with Joaquim AgostinhoJoaquim AgostinhoJoaquim Fernandes Agostinho, OIH was a Portuguese professional bicycle racer. He was champion of Portugal in six successive years. He rode the Tour de France 13 times and finished all but once, winning on Alpe d'Huez in 1979, and finishing 3rd twice...
)