Anatomy of a photo: Gun Check, Gent-Wevelgem 1965
The above photo was liberated from a Dutch website which appears to be dedicated solely to a book about Dutch and Belgian riders both old and new. I can’t read a lick of Dutch, in fact, I’m not even 100-% sure it’s a Dutch site (based on the “.nl” though I’m pretty sure). The website is rad though and the book looks mint, anybody know it? Check it out and see what you think. The guy in the back of the gruppetto is, of course, Rik Van Looy.
I did some checking last night. Even as late as 1973 in the Giro teammates of Merckx on the Molteni team carried spare tubs and pumps with them so that they could fix their own flats after the team cars were gone. In this instance, Van Looy doesn’t carry a pump or spare as his tubs wouldn’t dare puncture.
@Nate
And there we have the answer as to why the Dutch are good climbers. Awesome vid. Thanks, mate. I guess that’s a day not to ride the “aero” bike, huh?
Just noticed the rider in the Ford jersey is the same guy as on the cover of A Dog in a Hat.