Tino Tabak
Encyclopedia
Tino Tabak is a Dutch
-born New Zealand
cyclist who raced in the Tour de France
in the 1970s.
in the Netherlands on 6 May 1946, he emigrated with his father Gerben and mother Hendrika to New Zealand in December 1952, aged 6. Tino's younger brother Corrie was born in New Zealand. From the age of 10 he aspired to race in the Tour de France
.
At the age of 19, Tabak won the 1965 Senior New Zealand Road Cycling Championships. He won the Tour of Southland
(youngest rider ever) in 1965, then again in 1966 and 1967. He also won the Tour of Manawatu in 1966 and 1967. And he won the Dulux Six-day Tour of the North Island in 1966 and 1967.
Tabak is the only rider ever to win all three major New Zealand tours (Manawatu, Dulux and Southland) in one year – twice; in 1966 and 1967.
He left New Zealand for Europe "to learn how to ride a bike" in December 1967. In Europe he raced as an amateur from 1968 to 1970, winning several races, including the 1970 Tour of North Holland (beating future world champion Hennie Kuiper
).
In 1971 he turned professional
and rode in the Tour de France
, placing in the top ten in two stages, and is reported as "The Revelation of the Tour" in Wadley.
In 1972 Tabak won the Dutch National Road Race Championships. That year he came 18th in 1972 Tour de France, which is still the best result of any New Zealander (second best was Harry Watson (cyclist)
who came 28th in 1928, and third best was Hayden Roulston
who came 79th in 2009).
He won the major Dutch criterium
Acht Van Chaam, in 1972 and 1975. In 1977 he came 7th in the 597 km French Classic Bordeaux–Paris.
Tino Tabak retired from cycling after crashing in the 1978 Tour of Holland. He returned in 1995 to live quietly in Canterbury, New Zealand
.
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...
-born New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
cyclist who raced in 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 the 1970s.
Biography
Born Jentinus (Tino) Johannes Tabak in Egmond aan ZeeEgmond aan Zee
Egmond aan Zee is a village on the North Sea coast in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Bergen, and lies about 9 km west of Alkmaar....
in the Netherlands on 6 May 1946, he emigrated with his father Gerben and mother Hendrika to New Zealand in December 1952, aged 6. Tino's younger brother Corrie was born in New Zealand. From the age of 10 he aspired to race in 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...
.
At the age of 19, Tabak won the 1965 Senior New Zealand Road Cycling Championships. He won the Tour of Southland
Tour of Southland
The Tour of Southland is a road bicycle racing stage race held in the Southland Region of New Zealand. From 2005 until 2009, the Tour of Southland has been part of the UCI Oceania Tour however the 2010 event was held as a National Tour. The Tour is held annually in November. The race is organised...
(youngest rider ever) in 1965, then again in 1966 and 1967. He also won the Tour of Manawatu in 1966 and 1967. And he won the Dulux Six-day Tour of the North Island in 1966 and 1967.
Tabak is the only rider ever to win all three major New Zealand tours (Manawatu, Dulux and Southland) in one year – twice; in 1966 and 1967.
He left New Zealand for Europe "to learn how to ride a bike" in December 1967. In Europe he raced as an amateur from 1968 to 1970, winning several races, including the 1970 Tour of North Holland (beating future world champion Hennie Kuiper
Hennie Kuiper
Hennie Kuiper is a Dutch former professional road racing cyclist. His career includes a gold medal in the Olympic road race at Munich in 1972, becoming world professional road race champion in 1975, as well as winning four of the five “Monument” classics...
).
In 1971 he turned professional
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
and rode in 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...
, placing in the top ten in two stages, and is reported as "The Revelation of the Tour" in Wadley.
In 1972 Tabak won the Dutch National Road Race Championships. That year he came 18th in 1972 Tour de France, which is still the best result of any New Zealander (second best was Harry Watson (cyclist)
Harry Watson (cyclist)
Harry Watson was the first New Zealander to ride in the Tour de France. In 1928, he teamed up with Australian cyclists, Hubert Opperman, Percy Osborne and Ernie Bainbridge. They were the first English-speaking team to ride the Tour de France....
who came 28th in 1928, and third best was Hayden Roulston
Hayden Roulston
Hayden Roulston, MNZM is a New Zealand professional racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team . He won the silver medal in the men's 4000 m individual pursuit and a bronze medal in the men's 4000 m team pursuit at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.Roulston was a talented junior rider on both road and...
who came 79th in 2009).
He won the major Dutch criterium
Criterium
A criterium, or crit, is a bike race held on a short course , often run on closed-off city center streets....
Acht Van Chaam, in 1972 and 1975. In 1977 he came 7th in the 597 km French Classic Bordeaux–Paris.
Tino Tabak retired from cycling after crashing in the 1978 Tour of Holland. He returned in 1995 to live quietly in Canterbury, New Zealand
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
.
Teams
- 1969 - Dutch National Team
- 1970 - Dutch National Team
- 1971 - Flandria-Mars
- 1972 - Goudsmit-Hoff
- 1973 - Sonolor
- 1974 - TI-Raleigh
- 1975 - TI-Raleigh
- 1976 - Flandria-Velda
- 1977 - De Onderneming
- 1978 - Zoppas-Zeus
External links
- Tino Tabak: Dreams and Demons biography