Aad van den Hoek is a former Dutch cyclist. He was professional between 1974 and 1983 and was good friends with Gerrie Knetemann

Gerrie Knetemann

Gerrie Knetemann was a Dutch road bicycle racer who won the 1978 World Championship....

. In 1976, he finished last in the final of 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...

 and carried the Lanterne rouge

Lanterne rouge

The Lanterne Rouge is the competitor in last place in a cycling race such as the Tour de France. The phrase comes from the French "Red Lantern" and refers to the red lantern hung on the caboose of a railway train, which conductors would look for in order to make sure none of the couplings had...

.

In 1972 he finished third in the 100 km team time trial at the Munich Olympics, but tested positive for Coramine, a drug allowed by the Union Cycliste Internationale

Union Cycliste Internationale

Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....

 but not the IOC.

Key wins

1974

Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt

Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt

The International Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt is a multi-stage road bicycle race held in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Since 2005 it is part of the UCI Europe Tour, being organised as 2.1 race.In its early years, it was an amateur race...

1976

Eight days of Chaam

Star of Promises (Etoile d'Espoirs)

1977

7th stage Part B Route du Sol

1978

1st leg Part B Tour of Netherlands