Categories: Defining MomentsRacingThe Hardmen

Here Stands a Man: Johan Van Summeren

Working man Van Summeren wins in Roubaix. Photo: Fotoreporter Sirotti

Here stands a man. A quiet man. A hard working man. A Belgian man. A man from a life of grit, cold, and rain.

Here stands a man who has chosen a life of hard work and sacrifice; a hard life even within the context of Cycling. A man who spends long hours in the wind and in the rain, in the service of his team. A man who despite those long hours in the wind and in the rain, typically tastes victory only upon the tongue of others.

Here stands a man who even today, spent the day in the service of another. A man who’s loyalty lay elsewhere, for another man’s glory. But he is also a man who was given an opportunity. A man who more so than any other today, wanted that opportunity and grabbed hold with both hands, resolving only to let go if the very air within his lungs abandoned him.

Here stands a man who only required air in his lungs – not his tires – in order to reach the velodrome alone. A man who even as the air escaped his tire five kilometers from the finish refused to let up on the pedals.

Here stands a man who despite a half minute lead entering the final two kilometers had me biting my nails since the man chasing at 30 seconds happened to be the fastest man in the world, known for making the impossible possible. A man for whom my legs twitched in sympathy as he circled the velodrome and as I continued to wonder if a Swiss gentleman aboard a brommer wouldn’t appear out of nowhere to steal his glory.

Here stands a man who’s name is forever changed by the words, “Vainqueur de Paris-Roubaix.”

Here stands a man. A quiet man. A hard working man. A Belgian man. A man from a life of grit, cold, and rain. No other man stands today who better represents the wondrous power of this sport in general, and the magic of Paris-Roubaix in particular.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Bongo says:

Apr 12 2011 at 9:36 am

@mcsqueak
My guess is they would demonstrate their passion differently if they actually had to pay for the bike ;^)
JP says:

Apr 12 2011 at 9:59 am

A fair amount of The V by Kurt Asle Arvesen! 20 km without a saddle at Paris-Roubaix
http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_opvallend/1.1000639
wiscot says:

Apr 12 2011 at 10:03 am

Just been watching some more P-R coverage. Full disclosure, I'm a Boonen fan. Even more so after this race. The pressure was on for him to do a good ride and everyone knew Cancellara was hot favorite. When he had his mechanical in the Arenberg and it took what must have seemed like hours to get a new bike as rider after rider whizzed by, he tried to fix the problem, then calmly waited for the team car. He had to know that his chances were slipping away as at the least he'd have a hell of a chase to get back on. You know the adrenaline has to be flowing like crazy in such situations. No histronics, no cursing, just pure professionalism. In contrast, here's Hennie Kuiper puncturing near the end of P-R in 83 and getting (understandably) very anxious. (Note how he almost gets pushed into the back of a motorbike too!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjm3dQVzsaA&feature=related Classic stuff.
frank says:

Apr 12 2011 at 10:46 am

@wiscot
I was also amazed at how calm Boonen was. Wondering when you earn the title The Lion of Flanders; I don't think it's been passed onto him yet, but after three Paris-Roubaix's, two Ronde's, a Green Jersey, and a Worlds, you might think he deserves. Tough title.

Anyhow, Kuiper's situation was a bit different as he was actually in the lead, but yeah...interesting contrast. He actually says he was totally calm at the moment, but the pictures don't convey that.

By the way, when was the last time a rider won both Roubaix and the stage to Alpe d'Huez? A rider who can ride the stones and climb? Doesn't seem to happen any more, eh?
Ron says:

Apr 12 2011 at 1:23 pm

The photo of Boonen getting back going after the second crash, I think, is amazing. Photographers in his face, fans screaming at him, team support getting him going...

I can't imagine having that many people so close to me in the middle of such a hard race when your HR has to be very high. I'm not that calm off the bike!
Gianni says:

Apr 13 2011 at 10:40 pm

I just looked at JvS's Garmin data for P-R. There is 4600 ft of climbing in that race!? WTF? C'est possible? I thought that was about as flat as a race can be.
il ciclista medio says:

Apr 13 2011 at 11:21 pm

@Gianni
Not sure how that is calculated? According to the interwebs, Compiegne is 31-134m elevation and Roubaix is 17-52m. So based on that it appears that one rides down from start to finish? So in answer to your question, fucked if I know how there is that much climbing? Tilt of the Earth? Very tall bloke on bike relative to ground distance between the two? Amount of Belgian toothpaste left in wake that other riders must climb?

Perhaps another reason to remove the Garmin from your bike?
Marcus says:

Apr 14 2011 at 12:46 am

@il ciclista medio
4600 feet (1,380m) isn't that much climbing over a course of 260-odd kms...
il ciclista medio says:

Apr 14 2011 at 1:30 am

@Marcus
putting that it into perspective, I guess every little rise would add up then?
frank says:

Apr 14 2011 at 8:10 am

Actually quite a bit of climbing, in all very small bits.