{"id":12845,"title":"Dany Blondeel","description":"Meet Dany Blondeel, the man behind Ireland's Belgian Project that enables Irish cyclists to fulfil their dreams of racing in Belgium.","content":"

The man behind Ireland's Belgian Project.<\/p>

Published in<\/strong>: COBBLES & CLASSICS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

They don't make people like Dany Blondeel anymore. If you're not familiar with Irish cycling you may not have heard of him. But the Belgian native is responsible for Ireland's Belgian Project which provides a route for Irish hopefuls to cycle racing's heartland.<\/span><\/p>

In a fascinating conversation, Dany regaled me with his epic life story and his hopes for the Belgian Project.<\/p>

\"DannyDanny in action on the microphone. Image: Dany Blondeel \/ The Belgian Project<\/em><\/p>

All aboard<\/h3>

It was the dry mouth that he noticed first. That terrible feeling, the morning after, when the liquidity of the previous evening is replaced with a raking thirst. Then the odour. The strong unmistakable stench of gutted fish and salt air. Close at hand the cacophony of agitated Gulls.<\/p>

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\"VisualHe opened his eyes, squinted with shock and not a little discomfort as he found himself staring straight up at the sky. Again the sound of the Gulls. \"You're awake then\" came a voice above him. A gruff, strong voice with a heavy Irish accent.<\/span><\/p>

The voice laughed, \"About twenty miles off the Galway coast\"<\/em><\/p>

\"Where am I?\" He asked. The voice laughed, \"About twenty miles off the Galway coast. Here, you'll need this\". A cup of steaming coffee in a chipped metal cup was handed to him. What had started as one drink in a small bar in Galway, a chance encounter with a skipper in need of crew was to result in two years fishing prawns from the Atlantic.<\/p>

\"DanyDany has led an epic life. Image: Dany Blondeel \/ The Belgian Project<\/em><\/p>

Little did Dany Blondeel realise, that morning would lead to marriage, the creation of the Belgian Project and the rekindling of his love for cycling.<\/p>

The Belgian Project<\/h3>

Today, Dany is the man behind the Belgian Project<\/strong><\/a>. Originally focussed on the north of Ireland it now spans the entire island. Its aim is to encourage and enable young Irish people from both sides of the border, regardless of race, creed or gender to further their cycling careers. Often by placing them with families in Belgium.<\/p>

Their aim is to help young riders to realise their dreams.<\/p>

\"BelgianBelgian Project riders and host families in Tielt. Image: Dany Blondeel \/ The Belgian Project \/ Martine Verfaille<\/em><\/p>

The motto of the Belgian Project is to \"Live the Dream\". If it had been based upon Dany's life it could have been \"Carpe Diem\" (Seize the Day).<\/p>

Riders they have helped on their career paths include Peter Hawkins (ex-professional), Marc Potts (international track rider), Kevin McCambridge (riding full time for AVC Aix-en-Provence) and Matthew Devins (Trinity Racing).<\/p>

\"PeterPeter Hawkins - a former Belgian Project beneficiary. Image: Dany Blondeel \/ The Belgian Project \/ Martine Verfaille<\/em><\/p>

Over the past fourteen years, Dany and his hard-working team at the Belgian Project have helped nearly fifty riders to race in Belgium. Dany has been awarded the Volunteer of the Year by both Cycling Ulster and Cycling Ireland. The latter on two separate occasions. He is proud that he was made a lifetime honorary member of his local Ards Cycling Club.<\/p>

Leaving home<\/h3>

But how did Dany end up aboard a boat in Galway in the first place? As a youngster growing up in the West Flandrian seaport of Zeebrugge he was encouraged into cycling by both his father and grandfather.<\/p>

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\"y0rpom49fxfstvl4hf6ccgb9yyhagtykxycapnpgq8gr4vzp.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"They had visions of him as the next Eddy Merckx. He raced the local kermesses run by the independent federations (WAOD and BWF) and was supported by his local butcher and bike shop. It was clear to the young Dany, however, that he was not going to be the next great Flandrian hero.<\/span><\/p>

With the death of his father, he packed his bags and set off to discover the world. His first stop was Spain where he secured a job entertaining the tourists with renditions of popular hits by artists such as The Beatles.<\/p>

\"MarcMarc Potts - international track rider. Image: Dany Blondeel \/ The Belgian Project<\/em><\/p>

Are you a musician I ask? \"I can play the Harmonica a bit and three chords on the guitar. When there are 400 drunk tourists the quality of the playing is not important.\" Dany replied. A short-term job became a four-year residency.<\/p>

Leaving Spain he took other jobs in Europe including two years as a security guard in Harrogate. Then one day, because he'd met a girl from Dublin in Ibiza, he boarded a bus that took him from London to Dublin and eventually on that fateful night to a bar in Galway.<\/p>

\u201cAnother bar, another momentous encounter\u201d<\/em><\/p>

He worked on the fishing boat for two years but found himself ashore for three weeks when the boat had to be repaired. Another bar, another momentous encounter. Quietly enjoying a drink, he overheard the distinctive sound of Dutch voices.<\/p>

He introduced himself to the group of three sisters and two Dutch husbands. The unmarried sister, Maggie, must have made an impression upon him because within two years they became husband and wife.<\/p>

After eight years of living in Ireland and running a catering business, they moved to Belgium. They managed a busy pub in Zuienkerke, situated between Brugge and Zeebrugge. There they worked long hours running the pub catering for weddings and large parties in its function room.<\/p>

During this time Dany once again became involved in the local racing scene. His pub becoming home to a supporters' club and he developed contacts that would later be invaluable to the Belgian Project.<\/p>

\"DanyDany with Thor Hushovd and Philippe Gilbert. Image: Dany Blondeel \/ The Belgian Project<\/em><\/p>

Sadly, the ill-health of Dany's wife Maggie forced them to leave the pub. Ultimately, they settled in Northern Ireland at Newtownards so that she could be close to her children. Newtonards is a historic town, some 10 miles east of Belfast that sits at the northern tip of Strangford Lough.<\/p>

The Belgian Project is launched<\/h3>

When Dany started the Belgian Project he was, he readily admits, naive and had much to learn. Initially, they rented properties in Belgium. But found riders progressed more when they were placed with a Flemish family.<\/p>

He looks in particular for riders who are not necessarily the best, but in his opinion can improve. The Project also provides bursaries to riders to help them compete in Belgium and the UK.<\/p>

Going full time<\/h3>

At the age of sixty, Dany suffered a major heart attack. He was commissaire at race and collapsed in front of 200 riders. Fortunately, he was rushed to the hospital and later fitted with a pacemaker. He was retired on the grounds of ill-health from his job as a machine operator.<\/p>

\"CyclistKevin McCambridge (front right) rides for AVC Aix-en-Provence. Image: Dany Blondeel \/ The Belgian Project<\/em><\/p>

His hobby became his life. He spends over five hours a day on the Belgian Project, plus weekends. Additionally, he commentates on road and cyclocross events. The income from which he uses to supplement the funds of the Belgian Project.<\/p>

The future<\/h3>

The Belgian Project requires about five thousand pounds a year to maintain its current level. Dany is grateful for the support and financial commitment of the sponsors without whom it would not be feasible. He is also reliant upon others who, like himself, give their time freely for the love of cycling.<\/p>

The Project receives the backing of well-known names such as former Olympic cyclist Cormac McCann who was married to another of Dany's sisters-in-law.<\/p>

\"SeanOne picture, two legends - Sean Kelly with Dany. Image: Dany Blondeel \/ The Belgian Project<\/em><\/p>

Dany concedes, however, it is becoming more difficult to run the Belgian Project. The number of families in Belgium who are prepared to take in riders is dwindling. The families themselves receive little remuneration and have their own growing responsibilities.<\/p>

It is likely the Project's costs will increase or they will have to cut back on the number of riders they support. As long as he can, however, Dany is committed to the ideal of helping Irish riders race abroad.<\/p>

Reflection<\/h3>

After such a peripatetic life, Dany is content in Northern Ireland. He has many friends, respect from his local community and a sense of having made a contribution to the lives of others. He acknowledges that he works as hard now as when he was employed but that's his choice alone.<\/p>

He misses home in Flanders, There are lots of memories. A sister and two nieces still live there but home is now a corner of Ireland's beautiful isle. Does he miss Belgian beer, I ask. He replies that he can get most of the beers he likes except Jupiler on tap. I can almost hear him licking his lips at the thought.<\/p>

My thanks to Dany for his time and help with this story.<\/p>

21 September 2021,\u00a0Tim Costello<\/em><\/p>

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