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Rotterdam is a cycling city. Not only because of the Tour starts and the Six Days, but above all because of its people: riders born here, writers who gave cycling its words and moments that changed the city. This timeline runs from 1936 to today.
6 November 1936, Nenijto halls
On 6 November 1936 the first Six Days of Rotterdam began. Jan Pijnenburg and Cor Wals won, and Olympic swimming champion Rie Mastenbroek gave the starting signal. The start of a Rotterdam track cycling story that continues today.
1935–1997, born in Rotterdam
Verhoef became Dutch amateur champion in 1955 and took bronze at the amateur world championships in 1957. With stage wins in Olympia's Tour and the Tour of the Netherlands, he was Rotterdam's pride of amateur racing.
1946–1993, born in Rotterdam
Dolman won Olympic gold in the 100 km team time trial in 1964, became amateur world champion in 1966 and won the Tour of Flanders as a professional in 1971. A Rotterdammer with both Olympic and classics success.
Born 1940, linked to Rotterdam bike building
Janssen became world champion in 1964, won the Vuelta and Paris-Roubaix in 1967 and in 1968 became the first Dutch winner of the Tour de France. He rode Verbi Sport bikes, the brand of Bertus Bitter from Rotterdam's 1e Pijnackerstraat.
Track racing in Ahoy
The Six Days of Rotterdam grew into an international spectacle. Peter Post and Patrick Sercu won in 1971, and in 1976 even Eddy Merckx started. Rotterdam attracted the biggest track stars in the world.
Born 1970, ambassador for Rotterdam
Van Moorsel became road world champion in 1991 and 1993 and won four Olympic gold medals: road race, time trial and pursuit in 2000, and the time trial in 2004. For the 2024 Tour de France Femmes start she was Rotterdam's ambassador.
Born 1957 in Rotterdam, writer and sports storyteller
De Jong gave cycling its words. His sports columns for NRC and De Muur were collected in De linkerbil van Bettini, and with De man en zijn fiets he showed how heroism hides in seemingly ordinary cycling moments.
3 July 2010, prologue through Rotterdam
The Tour de France began in Rotterdam. Fabian Cancellara won the 8.9 km prologue in 10 minutes, crossing the Erasmus Bridge, the Willemsbrug and the Koninginnebrug. Tour winners Janssen and Zoetemelk rode along on their historic bikes.
Born 1989, living in Delfshaven
Brand became cyclo-cross world champion in 2021 and had already won the GP Plouay and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. She lives in Delfshaven, Rotterdam-West, and represents cyclo-cross in Rotterdam's cycling history.
August 2024, Rotterdam
Fourteen years after the men, the Tour de France Femmes also started in Rotterdam. The city once again became the stage of the biggest cycling race in the world, this time with the women in the leading role.
Every rider in this timeline started with a bike that was right. Build yours in our configurator, or visit the atelier on the Oudedijk.
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