Born: 3rd December 1946, The Hague, The Netherlands
Number of professional victories: 195
Flandria 1970 - 1972
Joop Zoetemelk turned professional with Flandria and is remembered for his performances in the Tour de France. He won in outright in 1980 and finished second a record six times. Zoetemelk also finished the Tour a record sixteen times.
Zoetemelk was unfortunate in that he had to compete against two of the greatest champions in cycling history, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault. It was said that when he arrived at the finish of the Tour de France, he was as pale as when he set out, because he had been in Merckx’s shadow all the way. Zoetemelk finished second to Merckx in his first Tour in 1970 at just 23 years of age.
One of Zoetemelk’s gifts was his longevity. He amazed the cycling community by winning the 1985 World Championship Road Race at 38, beating Greg Lemond and Moreno Argentin. Two years later he won the Amstel Gold Race at the age of forty.
Major placings whilst riding for Flandria:
1970 Flandria - Mars
2nd Tour de France
3rd Tour of Romandie
1971 Flandria - Mars
1st Dutch Road Race Championship
1st Stage 16 - Tour of Spain
2nd Tour de France (also, 2nd King of the Mountains Competition)
2nd Midi Libre
2nd Grand Prix des Nations
3rd Super Prestige Pernod
1972 Flandria-Beaulieu
2nd Midi Libre
2nd Grand Prix des Nations
3rd Amstel Gold Race
