Michel Pollentier
Encyclopedia
Michel Pollentier is a Belgian
former professional road bicycle racer. He became professional in 1973. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1977 Giro d'Italia
.
In the 1978 Tour de France
, he was the Belgian national champion when he won the stage arriving in Alpe d'Huez
and took the yellow jersey. However, he was accused of foul play in the succeeding doping test, having used what was described politely as a pear-shaped tube (in fact a condom) of different urine held under the armpit and connected by a plastic tube to give the impression of urinating. Pollentier was uncovered after another rider at the test had trouble operating his own system of tubes and aroused the suspicion of the doctor, who then demanded Pollentier lift his jersey to show if he too was cheating.
He was put out of the Tour, later won by Bernard Hinault
.
The affair took away most of Pollentier's credibility in international cycling. Even though he managed to win 1980s edition of the Ronde van Vlaanderen and he also came 2nd in the 1982 Vuelta a España
. 1984 was his last professional season. After his cycling career, Pollentier became a car tyre garage owner and founded a cycling school.
In "Seigneurs et Forcats du Velo" by Olivier Dazat, Pollentier is quoted as saying that he and another named Belgian cycling champion of the era had trouble after their careers because of drugs they had taken while racing. Dazat quotes him as saying:
"I've never hesitated to confess that I spent three weeks under the surveillance of Dr Dejonckheere at the St-Joseph clinic at Ostend and that after treatment... I stayed under his control for another two years. Why hide it? It's impossible to come out of a situation like that without the help of a doctor.'
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
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 professional road bicycle racer. He became professional in 1973. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1977 Giro d'Italia
1977 Giro d'Italia
The 1977 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 60th running of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 20 May to 12 June 1977. It was won by the Belgian Michel Pollentier....
.
In the 1978 Tour de France
1978 Tour de France
The 1978 Tour de France was the 65th Tour de France, taking place June 29 to July 23, 1978. The total race distance was 22 stages over 3908 km, with riders averaging 36.084 km/h...
, he was the Belgian national champion when he won the stage arriving in Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez
L'Alpe d'Huez is a ski resort at . It is a mountain pasture in the Central French Alps, in the commune of Huez, in the Isère département in the Rhône-Alpes region.-Tour de France:L'Alpe d'Huez is one of the main mountains in the Tour de France...
and took the yellow jersey. However, he was accused of foul play in the succeeding doping test, having used what was described politely as a pear-shaped tube (in fact a condom) of different urine held under the armpit and connected by a plastic tube to give the impression of urinating. Pollentier was uncovered after another rider at the test had trouble operating his own system of tubes and aroused the suspicion of the doctor, who then demanded Pollentier lift his jersey to show if he too was cheating.
He was put out of the Tour, later won by Bernard Hinault
Bernard Hinault
Bernard Hinault is a former French cyclist known for five victories in the Tour de France. He is one of only five cyclists to have won all three Grand Tours, and the only cyclist to have won each more than once. He won the Tour de France in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985...
.
The affair took away most of Pollentier's credibility in international cycling. Even though he managed to win 1980s edition of the Ronde van Vlaanderen and he also came 2nd in the 1982 Vuelta a España
1982 Vuelta a España
The 37th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 20 to May 9, 1982. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 3456 km, and was won by Marino Lejarreta of the Teka cycling team.The Reynolds team controlled the race after team...
. 1984 was his last professional season. After his cycling career, Pollentier became a car tyre garage owner and founded a cycling school.
In "Seigneurs et Forcats du Velo" by Olivier Dazat, Pollentier is quoted as saying that he and another named Belgian cycling champion of the era had trouble after their careers because of drugs they had taken while racing. Dazat quotes him as saying:
"I've never hesitated to confess that I spent three weeks under the surveillance of Dr Dejonckheere at the St-Joseph clinic at Ostend and that after treatment... I stayed under his control for another two years. Why hide it? It's impossible to come out of a situation like that without the help of a doctor.'
Palmarès
1971- Gent - Staden
1973
- Houthulst
- Schinnen
- Westende
1974
- Leeuwse Pijl
- Bredene
- Tour de France1974 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...
:- 7th place overall classification
- Winner stage 21B
1975
- Assebroek
- Harelbeke
- Kortenhoef
- Merchtem
- Beernem
- Tour de France1975 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...
:- Winner stage 13
1976
- Giro del PiemonteGiro del PiemonteThe Giro del Piemonte is a semi classic European bicycle race held in the Apennine Mountains, Italy. The race first took place in 1906. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour...
- Tour de France1976 Tour de FranceThe 1976 Tour de France was the 63rd Tour de France, taking place June 24 to July 18, 1976. The total race distance was 22 stages over 4017 km, with riders averaging 34.518 km/h.It was won by mountain specialist Lucien Van Impe...
:- 7th place overall classification
- Winner stage 16
- Stadsprijs GeraardsbergenStadsprijs GeraardsbergenThe Stadsprijs Geraardsbergen is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in August or September in Geraardsbergen, Belgium. The race is a professional cycling race, but is not listed as a UCI event...
- Torino
- Ronde van België
- Oostduinkerke
- 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...
(with Freddy MaertensFreddy MaertensFreddy Maertens is a Belgian former professional racing cyclist and twice World Road Race Champion.- Career :...
)
1977
- Brescia
- De Panne
1977
- Gouden Pijl Emmen
- National Road Race Championship
- Tour de SuisseTour de SuisseThe Tour de Suisse is a UCI World Tour stage race held annually in June. The race debuted in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. With the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is a proving ground for the Tour de France, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
- Valdengo
- Vuelta a España1977 Vuelta a EspañaThe 32nd Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 26 to May 15, 1977. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 2,785 km, and was won by Freddy Maertens of the Flandria cycling team. Maertens dominated the race and also won the...
:- Winner stage 4
- 6th place overall classification
- Nandrin, Criterium
- Giro d'Italia1977 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1977 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 60th running of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 20 May to 12 June 1977. It was won by the Belgian Michel Pollentier....
:
Winner overall classification- Winner stage 21
1978
- Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
- GP Mallorca
- National Road Race Championship
- Soler
- Trofeo Isla de Mallorca
- Vichte
1979
- Beveren-Leie
- Circuit des genêts verts
- GP du Tournaisis
- Houthulst
- Soignies
- Mol
- Ruiselede
- Koekelare
- Vuelta a España1979 Vuelta a EspañaThe 34th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 24 to May 13, 1979. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 3,373 km, and was won by Joop Zoetemelk of the Miko-Mercier cycling team...
:- 3rd place overall classification
1980
- Brabantse Pijl
- Freiburg
- Moorsele
- Ronde van Vlaanderen
- Moorslede
- Dinant
- Wingene
- Sombreffe
1981
- Sleidinge
1982
- Bellegem
- Beveren-Leie
- Gistel
- Omloop van de Westkust De Panne
- Kortemark
- Vuelta a España1982 Vuelta a EspañaThe 37th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 20 to May 9, 1982. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 3456 km, and was won by Marino Lejarreta of the Teka cycling team.The Reynolds team controlled the race after team...
:- 2nd place overall classification
1983
- De Panne
- Anderlues
- De Haan
- Aartrijke
- Herselt
- Torhout
- Adinkerke
1984
- Vuelta a España1984 Vuelta a EspañaThe 39th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 17 to May 6, 1984. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 3,593 km, and was won by Éric Caritoux of the Skil-Sem cycling team...
:- Winner stage 6
- Lutlommel