{"id":26101,"title":"Retro Ronde van Vlaanderen","description":"Forty years ago the might of the TI-Raleigh cycling team dominated the Tour of Flanders. Relive the action, meet the key players and find out how you can ride the Retro Ronde.","content":"

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

Forty years ago the TI-Raleigh cycling team dominated the Tour of Flanders. Relive the action, meet the key players and find out how you too can ride the Retro Ronde.<\/p>

\"u38stuxfc5rotvww6bx4yqokgvcwtet196axo7q4tzz2labz.jpg\"<\/u><\/a>Ludo Peters TI-Raleigh Image: <\/em>The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/a><\/p>

Sunday, 3 April 1983 and, despite the occasional weak sunshine, a chill hung in the air of the Grote Markt. The neogothic majesty of St Niklaas\u2019s city hall provided an imperious backdrop to Belgian\u2019s largest market square which bustled with riders and spectators.<\/p>

Belgian Royalty<\/h3>

Although the riders seemed relaxed, there was an air of nervous anticipation. Ahead of them await 272 kilometres across the famed lanes and cobbles of the Flemish Ardennes. By comparison with today\u2019s Ronde van Vlaanderen, there was little fanfare at the start.<\/p>

No dramatic and overhyped presentation of the teams. Spectators and bystanders mingled freely with the competitors and Belgian royalty - no not Albert II but Eddy Merckx, the world\u2019s greatest cyclist. The Belgian star might have retired from the sport five years earlier but the twice Tour of Flanders winner was still an A-list celebrity.<\/p>

Favourite for the Tour of Flanders<\/h3>

One rider stood as a favourite amongst the others. Former world champion and previous Tour of Flanders winner Jan Raas had already triumphed that season at the Grand Prix B\u00e8sseges, Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne and a stage of Driedaagse van De Panne-Koksijde.<\/p>

\"pkwrhergapxx74sp3gm5i1odc9utjwkzusxnvdvl1jrkpmie.jpg\"<\/u><\/a>Jan Raas of TI-Raleigh Image: <\/em>The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/a><\/p>

He was backed by the premier team for cycling\u2019s classics - TI-Raleigh Campagnolo. Despite its iconic jersey design that resembled the Belgian tricolour, this was a Dutch team headed by a Dutchman with a fearsome reputation.<\/p>

Peter Post had earnt his nickname of the Kaizer during his racing career but it suited his style as a team manager. Known to be especially demanding of his riders, he expected his charges to execute their instructions to the letter.<\/p>

\u201cnot a mistake TI-Raleigh riders made more than once.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

Patrick Lefevere\u2019s teams might repeatedly fumble their tactical advantage in races but that was not a mistake TI-Raleigh riders made more than once. Peter Post made sure of that.<\/p>

The Cobbled Climbs<\/h3>

Eventually, the 188 riders slowly made their way out of the city named after a Turkish saint. Their destination was Ninove but between lay the cobbled climbs of the Oude Kwaremont, Koppenberg, Muur van Geraardsbergen, Bosberg and many more.<\/p>

By the time the race reached the Muur van Geraardsbergen and the climb to the chapel, nine riders had raced clear. It had been a day of sunshine, rain and even snow. Many had already retired and only 38 would be classified as finishers.<\/p>

\"uiftfxwyrknhi9nguclb92uoc6lyhp7qiuz1dkbpuwafrron.jpg\"<\/u><\/a>Marc Sergeant leads Ludo Peters<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>Image: <\/em>The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/a><\/p>

That the winner would come from this select group seemed certain. TI-Raleigh had the upper hand. In the break, they had the expected Jan Raas, fellow Dutchman and reigning National Champion Johan van der Velde and one of only two Belgians on the team Ludo Peters.<\/p>

\u201cground their way up and over the roughly hewn cobbles\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

The leading nine ground their way up and over the roughly hewn cobbles of the Wall of Grammont. Despite its gradient, the riders remained seated as they struggled on the glistening stones and with the limitations of 1980s gear ratios.<\/p>

Raas looked like the powerhouse of the group but they all stayed together over this and the subsequent and final ascent of the Bosberg. As the race transferred to the largely flat run to the finish, all that was required was for the TI-Raleigh riders to execute their plan.<\/p>

In the end, it only needed a single act for them to deliver the coup de gras. Jan Raas moved up from the back of the group, giving the impression to the riders he overtook that he was merely taking his place in the line.<\/p>

\"llzflchr4msiudccybquvd5yhos4hubscen1brm0jruboob0.jpg\"<\/u><\/a>Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke relaxes at the start Image: <\/span><\/em>The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/a><\/p>

Then with a quick flick to the right onto the cycle path and he was off. That was it. It was game over. No one reacted. To do so would be pointless. If they responded they would be marked by his teammates and potentially sacrifice a podium spot.<\/p>

In the final twenty kilometres, Raas built up a commanding lead. Ninety seconds after he\u2019d crossed the line, Ludo Peters outsprinted Marc Sergeant to make it a TI-Raleigh one-two.<\/p>

TI-Raleigh<\/h3>

Raleigh was a brand name synonymous with the British bike industry. By the time of the 1983 Ronde van Vlaanderen, it had been in existence for nearly two hundred years. Raleigh had been acquired by Tube Investments and the whole group had 75% of the UK bike market.<\/p>

The team was established in 1972 with a mainly British ensemble of riders. By 1974 with limited success on the continent, Peter Post was brought in as manager. He weeded out the British and replaced them with his favoured Dutch riders and the German Dietrich Thurau.<\/p>

\u201cmaking their lives so miserable\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

Post seemed to have decided against the British and he further reduced their number by sacking them or making their lives so miserable that they quit. By 1979 the few remaining British riders had gone.<\/p>

The team reached its peak in 1980 when they won the Tour de France with Joop Zootemelk. 1983 was the swansong season for the team. From a marketing perspective, Raleigh had probably achieved all their aims.<\/p>

\"Ronde<\/u><\/a>Raleigh was facing a difficult future and was in terminal decline. By 2003 all that was left of this once-great icon of British bicycle manufacturing was the brand name. All the production was moved off-shore.<\/p>

Jan Raas<\/h3>

Jan Raas spent almost his entire professional career with TI-Raleigh. He\u2019d turned professional with them in 1975 and rode for them apart from 1977 when he switched for a season to Frizelle-Frison and his final two seasons competing for Kwantum\u2013Decosol.<\/p>

As a one-day rider, he was outstanding. He triumphed in three of cycling\u2019s monuments: Paris-Roubaix, Ronde van Vlaanderen and Milan-San Remo. His more limited climbing ability was a barrier to victory in the hillier Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Giro di Lombardia.<\/p>

The name of Jan Raas will be forever associated with the Amstel Gold Race which he won on five occasions between 1977 and 1982. His connection with the hilly region of the Netherlands where the race is held was further strengthened when he won the World Championships at Valkenburg in 1979.<\/p>

\u201cIt was a controversial victory.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

It was a controversial victory. Television footage quite clearly captured him hanging on to the seat posts of his Dutch teammates and being pushed by them on climbs. In the final sprint, former teammate Dietrich Thurau appeared to sprint rather half-heartedly. All parties denied that there had been any collaboration.<\/p>

Raas parted company with Peter Post when the TI-Raleigh team folded at the end of 1983. Their relationship had broken down completely. Their total enmity for one another continued until 1992 when their rival teams refused to work together in a break. It cost both teams a chance of stage glory in the Tour de France.<\/p>

\u201c finally resolved at night by torchlight\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

The legend is that it was finally resolved at night by torchlight within a clearing in a wood. Presumably, hands were shaken, agreements were reached and the hatchet was finally, if not buried, then laid to rest. Why they couldn\u2019t just go to a bar I don\u2019t know.<\/p>

Johan van der Velde<\/h3>

By the end of his long career, Johan van der Velde had acquired the Dutch National Championships, stages in the Giro d\u2019Italia and Tour de France and an addiction to amphetamines and petty crime.<\/p>

\"qbki702dqgqgw1ndmqatscsgefwbeynmepqbazf5erdikikc.jpg\"<\/u><\/a>Johan van der Velde Image: <\/em>The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/a><\/p>

Amphetamines were in common use during the 1980s because of their reputed performance benefits. Unfortunately, as well as being a banned substance they have quite undesirable side effects including heart problems, mood swings and memory loss.<\/p>

Johan was disqualified for failing a dope test from the 1981 Liege-Bastogne-Liege where he\u2019d crossed the line first. In a reflection on the more permissive attitude to illicit substances at the time, he was back racing within weeks going on to win two stages of the Tour de France that year.<\/p>

His health and personal circumstances went into decline when he stopped racing and he was jailed for theft. After working on building sites and receiving treatment for his addiction he ended up as a driver for the Roompot cycling team.<\/p>

In 2019 it was reported that he was suffering from acute leukaemia and being treated at the Amphia Hospital in Breda.<\/p>

Ride the Retro Ronde<\/h3>

If you\u2019re inspired by this story about a retro Ronde van Vlaanderen then why not try the real thing? The Retro Ronde is a three-day event organised by the Centrum Ronde van Vlaanderen<\/a> in Oudenaarde.<\/p>

The program of events includes talks, music, dancing, a cycling \u2018flea market\u2019, a family ride, a time trial and the option of riding 40, 80 or 120 kilometres on a suitable retro bike. If you opt for the longest route, you'll enjoy such cobbled climbs as the Nokereberg and Oude Kwaremont.<\/p>

Bikes have to be pre-1987 and entrants must wear suitable retro-looking clothing. If you don\u2019t have a suitable bike they\u2019ll rent you one for 25 Euro but availability is limited.<\/p>

For 2023, the Retro Ronde runs from 9 to 11th June. Check out the Retro Rode website<\/a> for more details.<\/p>

Ronde Results 1983<\/h3>

1st Jan Raas TI-Raleigh <\/strong>6:37:27<\/p>

2nd Ludo Peters TI-Raleigh <\/strong>@ 1:30<\/p>

3rd Marc Sergeant @ st<\/p>

4th Luc Colyn @ ST<\/p>

5th Guy Nuylens @ ST<\/p>

6th Paul Haghedooren @ ST<\/p>

7th Michel Pollentier @ ST<\/p>

8th Johan van der Velde TI-Raleigh <\/strong>@ ST<\/p>

9th Phil Anderson @ ST<\/p>

10th Jan Bogaert @ 6:22<\/p>

30 March 2023, Tim Costello
\"grrbpemyywmusal5merxugim70nijvc2vqzqxpkx6vlx83lu.jpg\"<\/p>

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