Joop Zoetemelk

[[Image:Joop Zoetemelk.jpg|right|thumb|286px|Joop Zoetemelk in the early 1970s]] '''Hendrik Gerardus Jozef "Joop" Zoetemelk''' (born 3 December 1946, [[Rijpwetering]]) is a retired professional racing [[cyclist]] from the [[Netherlands]] who has emigrated to [[France]]. He started the [[Tour de France]] 16 times and finished every time, a record. He won the race in 1980 and also came eighth, fifth, fourth (three times) and second (six times). He won the world professional road championship in 1985 at 38. He retired from the sport to run a hotel at [[Meaux]], near [[Paris]], France. ==Early career== Joop Zoetemelk was the son of a farmer and started work as a carpenter. He became a speed-skater and a regional champion before turning to cycling in 1964. He joined the Swift club in [[Leiden]] and made a fast impression, winning youth races in his first season. He rode particularly well as a senior in multi-day races. He won the Tour of Yugoslavia, the Circuit des Mines, three stages and the mountains prize in the Tour of Austria, and the 1969 Tour de l'Avenir. He also won a gold medal at the [[1968 Summer Olympics]] in [[Mexico City]] in the 100 km team time-trial with [[Fedor den Hertog]], [[Jan Krekels]] and [[René Pijnen]]. ==Professional career== Zoetemelk turned professional for [[Briek Schotte]]'s [[Belgium|Belgian]] Mars-Flandria team in 1970. He came second to [[Eddy Merckx]] in that year's Tour de France. Zoetemelk won [[Paris–Nice]], the Semana Catalana and the Tour de Romandie in 1974 and then crashed heavily into a British car left unattended at the finish of the [[Midi-Libre]] in Valras-Plage, France. He cracked his skull and came close to dying. He returned next season to win Paris–Nice again and then caught [[meningitis]]. He never fully recovered and the head injury reduced his sense of taste. He nevertheless won 20 races that season, including Paris–Nice, the Tour of Holland and the Dwars door Lausanne and a stage of the Tour de France. He also came fourth in the Tour de France. Of one-day races, in 1976 he won the [[Flèche Wallonne]], in 1977 and 1979 the Grand Prix d'Automne, and came fourth in the world championships of 1976 and 1982 before winning in 1985, the oldest man to win the professional title. [[Peter Post]], manager of the [[TI-Raleigh]] team in the Netherlands, approached Zoetemelk through his wife, Françoise, after the world championship in 1979. Zoetemelk had long lived in France and ridden for French teams. His sponsor, the bicycle company [[Mercier (cycling team)|Mercier]], ended its sponsorship and Zoetemelk was looking for a new team. The following year Zoetemelk won his - and TI-Raleigh's - only Tour de France. The victory was tainted by being achieved after the retirement with a knee injury of the race favourite, [[Bernard Hinault]]. Zoetemelk objected to claims that he had won only because Hinault had dropped out, saying: "Surely winning the Tour de France is a question of health and robustness. If Hinault doesn't have that health and robustness and I have, that makes me a valid winner." Gerald O'Donovan, the TI-Raleigh director behind sponsorship of the team, said: :"We needed a winner and for 1980 signed Joop Zoetemelk, who had an outstanding record of places but had probably enjoyed less support than we could give him. We cleaned up the Tours of Belgium, Holland and [[Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré]] in preparation and waited for the big day. The big plan to control Bernard Hinault, who had won for the previous two years, came to fruition. The team attacked his every move; this was ''Panzer Group Post'' at its most formidable. About halfway through the race he abandoned the lead to Zoetemelk and pulled out of the race. We arrived in Paris with the overall lead, 12 stage wins and the team prize, to say nothing of a whole bundle of [[franc]]s. We had pounded away winning the battles for the previous four years; at last we had won the war." In 18 years as a professional (1969–87), Zoetemelk won the [[Tour de France]] in 1980, and the [[Vuelta a España]] in 1979. He came second in the Tour de France six times. ==Doping== Zoetemelk was caught in drugs tests during the Tour de France in 1977 and 1979. He also tested positive in 1983. ==Assessment== Zoetemelk is one of the most successful Tour riders of all time; he finished second a record six times and won once. His career coincided with the rise and dominance of [[Eddy Merckx]] and Zoetemelk was often criticised for following rather than attacking the Belgian. Zoetemelk had naturally fair skin and a popular joke said that he never acquired a tan during the Tour because he was always in Merckx's shadow. A fellow Tour rider, [[Rini Wagtmans]], said: "Joop Zoetemelk is the best rider that the Netherlands has ever known. There has never been a better one. But he could not give instructions. He was treated and helped with respect. But when Zoetemelk won the Tour, the instructions had to come from [[Gerrie Knetemann]] and [[Jan Raas]]." Peter Post said: "Joop would fit in any team. I've known only a few riders who were so easy. He followed the rules, he got on with people. That's the way he is. He never asked for [[domestique]]s. Joop never demanded anything." A Raleigh rider, [[Henk Lubberding]], was unimpressed when Zoetemelk joined the team. "He just couldn't stay with the best riders [in the Dauphiné Libéré and the Tour of Switzerland]," he said. "Frankly, nobody had confidence in him, even Post. We tried to encourage him to his face but behind his back we took a different tone." ==Personal life and retirement== After retiring, Zoetemelk became a [[directeur sportif]] with Superconfex, which became [[Rabobank (cycling)|Rabobank]] in 1996. Zoetemelk stayed with Rabobank for 10 years, retiring as a [[directeur sportif]] and from the sport after the [[2006 Vuelta a España]]. Zoetemelk married Françoise Duchaussoy, daughter of the Tour de France executive, Jacques Duchaussoy. They owned and ran the Richemont hotel in in [[Meaux]], near Paris. Their son, Karl, was a French [[mountain bike]] rider and champion. ==Recognition== Joop Zoetemelk was the second Dutch winner of the Tour de France after [[Jan Janssen]]. The Dutch cycling federation, the [[KNWU]], named Zoetemelk the best Dutch rider of all time at a gala to mark its 75th anniversary. A statue of him at Rijpwetering, where he was born and grew up, was unveiled on 31 May 2005. He was named sportsman of the year in the Netherlands in 1980 and 1985. Between 1972 and 1985, he won the [[Gerrit Schulte]] Trophy nine times as best rider of the year, more than anybody else in Dutch professional racing. [http://www.swift-joopzoetemelkclassic.nl The Joop Zoetemelk Classic], a [[cyclo-sportive]] over 45, 75 or 150 km, is held every March, organised by the Swift club of which Zoetemelk is a member. The course passes his statue. == Major results == {{palmares start|3}} 1968 : Olympic games: gold medal team time trial 1969 : [[Tour de l'Avenir]] 1970 : [[1970 Tour de France|Tour de France]]: ::2nd place overall 1971 : [[1971 Tour de France|Tour de France]]: ::2nd place overall ::1 day in yellow jersey : [[Vuelta a España]]: [[King of the Mountains]] : {{flagicon|NED}} [[National Road Race Championship]] 1972 : [[1972 Tour de France|Tour de France]]: ::5th place overall 1973 : [[1973 Tour de France|Tour de France]]: ::[[Image:Jersey white.svg|20px]] [[Combination classification in the Tour de France|Combination classification]] ::4th place overall ::Winner prologue and stage 4 ::1 day in yellow jersey : {{flagicon|NED}} [[National Road Race Championship]] : [[Paris–Nice]] : [[Tour de Romandie]] 1975 : [[1975 Tour de France|Tour de France]]: ::4th place overall ::Winner stage 11 : [[Paris–Nice]] : [[Ronde van Nederland]] 1976 : [[1976 Tour de France|Tour de France]]: ::2nd place overall ::Winner stages 9, 10 and 20 : [[La Flèche Wallonne]] 1977 : [[1977 Tour de France|Tour de France]]: ::8th place overall : [[Paris–Tours]] 1978 : [[1978 Tour de France|Tour de France]]: ::2nd place overall ::Winner stage 14 ::4 days in yellow jersey 1979 : [[1979 Tour de France|Tour de France]]: ::2nd place overall ::Winner stage 18 ::6 days in yellow jersey : [[1979 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]: :: [[Image:Jersey gold.svg|20px]]'''Winner overall classification''' : [[Paris–Nice]] : [[Paris–Tours]] : [[Critérium International]] 1980 : [[1980 Tour de France|Tour de France]]: ::[[Image:Jersey yellow.svg|20px]]'''Winner overall classification''' ::Winner stages 11 and 20 ::10 days in yellow jersey 1981 : [[1981 Tour de France|Tour de France]]: ::4th place overall 1982 : [[1982 Tour de France|Tour de France]]: ::2nd place overall : GP Eddy Merckx 1985 : {{FlagiconUCI}}World road champion : [[Tirreno–Adriatico]] : [[Veenendaal–Veenendaal]] 1987 : [[Amstel Gold Race]] {{palmares end}} ===Grand Tour results timeline=== {| class="wikitable" |- | !1970 !1971 !1972 !1973 !1974 !1975 !1976 !1977 !1978 !1979 !1980 !1981 !1982 !1983 !1984 !1985 !1986 |- ![[Tour de France|Tour]] | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| [[1970 Tour de France|2]] | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| [[1971 Tour de France|2]] | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| [[1972 Tour de France|5]] | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| [[1973 Tour de France|4]] | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| [[1975 Tour de France|4]] | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| [[1976 Tour de France|2]] | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| [[1977 Tour de France|8]] | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| [[1978 Tour de France|2]] | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| [[1979 Tour de France|2]] | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"| [[1980 Tour de France|1]] | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| [[1981 Tour de France|4]] | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| [[1982 Tour de France|2]] | style="text-align:center; background:#ddd;"| [[1983 Tour de France|23]] | style="text-align:center; background:#ddd;"| [[1984 Tour de France|30]] | style="text-align:center; background:#ddd;"| [[1985 Tour de France|12]] | style="text-align:center; background:#ddd;"| [[1986 Tour de France|24]] |- | style="text-align:right;"|Stages won | style="text-align:center;"| 0 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 |- | style="text-align:right;"|Mountains classification | style="text-align:center;"| NR | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| 2 | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| 5 | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| 3 | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| 3 | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| 5 | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| 3 | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| 4 | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| NR | style="text-align:center;"| NR | style="text-align:center;"| NR | style="text-align:center;"| NR | style="text-align:center;"| NR | style="text-align:center;"| NR |- | style="text-align:right;"|Points classification | style="text-align:center;"| NR | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| 5 | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| 3 | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| 9 | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| 8 | style="text-align:center;"| NR | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| 9 | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| 3 | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| 10 | style="text-align:center;"| NR | style="text-align:center;"| NR | style="text-align:center;"| NR | style="text-align:center;"| NR | style="text-align:center;"| NR | style="text-align:center;"| NR |- ![[Giro d'Italia|Giro]] | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE |- | style="text-align:right;"|Stages won | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — |- | style="text-align:right;"|Mountains classification | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — |- | style="text-align:right;"|Points classification | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — |- ![[Vuelta a España|Vuelta]] | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE | style="text-align:center;"| DNE |- | style="text-align:right;"|Stages won | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — |- | style="text-align:right;"|Mountains classification | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — |- | style="text-align:right;"|Points classification | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| NR | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — |} {{grandtourlegend}} ==External links== *[http://www.biciclopedia.com/mediawiki-1.4.0/index.php?title=Joop_Zoetemelk Complete Palmarès] == See also== * [[List of Dutch cyclists who have led the Tour de France general classification]] {{S-start}} {{s-sports}} {{Succession box|title=Dutch National Road Race Champion|before=[[Peter Kisner]]|after=[[Tino Tabak]]|years=[[1971 in sports|1971]]}} {{Succession box|title=Dutch National Road Race Champion|before=[[Tino Tabak]]|after=[[Cees Priem]]|years=[[1973 in sports|1973]]}} {{s-ach|aw}} {{Succession box|title=[[Dutch Sportsman of the year|Dutch Sportsman of the Year]]|before=[[Jan Raas]]|after=[[Hennie Stamsnijder]]|years=[[1980 in sports|1980]]}} {{Succession box|title=[[Dutch Sportsman of the year|Dutch Sportsman of the Year]]|before=[[Stephan van den Berg]]|after=[[Hein Vergeer]]|years=[[1985 in sports|1985]]}} {{S-end}} {{World Road Racing Champions}} {{Tour de France Yellow Jersey}} {{Maillot du combiné}} {{Vuelta a España winners}} {{Persondata | NAME =Zoetemelk, Joop | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = Dutch racing cyclist | DATE OF BIRTH =3 December 1946 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Rijpwetering, Netherlands | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Zoetemelk, Joop}}