Theo de Rooij

Theo de Rooij ( born April 25, 1957 in Harmelen ) is a former Dutch cyclist, today's cycling official and entrepreneur.

Cycling career

As an amateur, won Theo de Rooij 1978 Tour of Slovakia, the Rheinland -Pfalz- tour and was student champion in the road race. In 1979 he was the Dutch vice-champion in the road race and won the Ronde van Noord -Holland in the amateurs. In 1980, he stepped over to the pros and won in the same year Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen. He was also in the same year with Ludo Peeters Second the Trofeo Baracchi.

In 1981, de Rooij overall second in the Tour of Germany. The following year he won this tour as well as the Trofeo Laigueglia. Eight times he competed in the Tour de France; his best finish was 19th place in 1982. 1984 he won the mountains classification at the Col de Portet- d'Aspet. Four times he drove the Tour de Suisse; In 1980 he was tenth overall, second overall in 1982 and 1985, second in the mountains classification. For further tours - including the Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme and the Norway - tour - he also notched up stage wins for himself. In 1990, Theo de Rooij back from active cycling.

Activities as an official

From 1991 to 1994 de Rooij was assistant team manager Peter Post when Panasonic team for which he had previously spent eight years. In 1995 he worked for the sports marketing from Shimano. From 1996 to 2007 he was active in the leadership of the team Rabobank, after the resignation of Jan Raas 2004 as a boss.

After the exclusion of the Rabobank rider Michael Rasmussen from the Tour de France 2007 for infringing the anti -doping rules Theo de Rooij resigned from his post. He had initially refused to take the leaders at that time Rasmussen out of the race. The Dane had escaped three times in 15 weeks doping controls and false whereabouts specified; he finally confessed to have lied to his team leader. This was based on the testimony of the Italian Exprofis and TV journalist Davide Cassani, who told Italian television that he had Rasmussen in the spring of the year in Trentino see train, whereas the latter had given to the team to be at this time in Mexico. In 2012, de Rooij stated in relation to the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant that it had been lying in his time as manager at Rabobank the responsibility of the driver, " how far he has gone in the medical field." However, he had to discipline drivers who had done so without the knowledge of the medical department of the team. Even if he offers are not used the term doping, his statement be so understood that under his leadership the team tolerated doping.

While de Rooij's time at Rabobank won the Dutch team six world titles, 81 national championships, ten World Cup victories and 27 stage success in Grand Tours. Since 2008 he has been sports director of the Ronde van Overijssel. Since 2010 will be held in Overijssel and Theo de Rooij Classic.

Entrepreneur

2008 Theo de Rooij founded together with a business partner, the company TDR, which produces e-bikes. The company was honored for its model TDR 2011 FluxX the Golden Award of the Euro bike. Shortly before de Rooij had taken a job as a supervisor of the Dutch speed skating national team in preparation for the 2014 Olympic Games, had this commitment but due to overwhelming demand for the excellent wheels give up again two months later.

Publication

2009 put de Rooij before his autobiography BeZIELd. He handed over the first copy to his former boss Peter Post.