Hennie Kuiper

Hennie Kuiper ( born February 3, 1949 in Denekamp ) is a Dutch racing cyclist.

Kuiper was born, where his parents managed a farm near the German -Dutch border on the northern Horn Almelo Canal. and is a qualified mechanical engineer.

Kuipertje, as he was called because of its slender body, was only provided at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972 for the 100 -kilometer team time trial, with whom he reached the third place. The bronze medal was, however, denied the Dutch team for a doping case. After the failure of another driver, he was also nominated for the road race in the short term, in which he won the gold medal. The 182.4 km he mastered in 4:14,37 hours. In the same year he won the British Milk Race.

After this surprising triumph, he joined the professional camp and in 1975 professional world champion. In 1976, he won the Tour de Suisse, 1977 and 1980, he came second in the Tour de France. Kuiper, a quiet and reserved type, could also opt for some classics, like 1983 Paris -Roubaix or 1985 - at the age of 36 years - the spring classic Milan-San Remo.

In 1977 he was elected to the Netherlands "Sportsman of the Year" in 1988 and beaten to the Knight in the Order of Oranje -Nassau. In Oldenzaal a bridge named after him in his home town of Denekamp a bike tunnel. In Geulhem ( South Limburg ) there is a Hennie Kuiper Avenue and on the course of the racing classic Paris -Roubaix is reminiscent of the point where the Kuiper once had a flat tire, a work of art. , The then world-famous photo of this breakdown Even a LINT railcar of the public transportation company Syntus is named after him.

After his playing career, Hennie Kuiper remained connected as Sports Director in cycling. Until 1996 he was a tour guide; Today it operates under other than guests and sponsors companion in international cycling race. Kuiper is married to his second wife and lives in Lonneker.