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

VeloJello says:

Apr 7 2014 at 7:31 am

@andrew

Unbelievably dumb place to stand, in my view, but surely there should have been a marshal or clearer marking or signposting of street furniture more visible to those at the back of a group of riders. Once riders started going both sides of the traffic island, I can imagine there would have been stuff all time to see it if behind a few other wheels.

There were a lot of spots unmarshalled which could have done with a man with a flag...
Chris says:

Apr 7 2014 at 7:42 am

@wiscot

I've said it here before and I'll say it again, sooner or later a rider will be taken out by some cretin standing in the road/running across the road, and the outcome of a race will be severely impacted. As races such as PR, RVV etc get more popular, they attract more casual fans there for the "party atmosphere." They don't know or understand bike racing and completely fail (never having done it themselves) that these guys are riding at 30 mph. Fingers crossed that we have a"clean" PR on Sunday.

I haven't got it to hand but there was an interesting article in the current Rouleur about how badly out of control things had got with the fans at the Carrefour de l'Arbre. From memory, the local council/government cam close to not letting the race go through because of the mayhem the fans we causing, not only during the race but also in terms of rubbish, damage to crops etc.
Chris says:

Apr 7 2014 at 7:45 am

@andrew I suspect that spot didn't get the usual flag waving marshal as it was straight after a roundabout and they may have expected the pack to stay spilt. A horrible oversight.
andrew says:

Apr 7 2014 at 7:59 am

@VeloJello @chris Yeah, sad and unfortunate all round, and no question JVS was going to be hurt as soon as he hit the curb. I have the appalling feeling he's better off having hit someone who broke his fall better than concrete would have, and can only hope the woman recovers OK.
Teocalli says:

Apr 7 2014 at 8:47 am

@Chris

@andrew I suspect that spot didn't get the usual flag waving marshal as it was straight after a roundabout and they may have expected the pack to stay spilt. A horrible oversight.

I've often wondered how visible those flag wavers are to anyone bar those at the head of the peleton and thought that they should have bigger signs on poles that could be seen above the riders in front. Though appreciate that the man waving a flag is cheaper/easier on route that is a rolling road closure as it "just" needs a few blokes on motorbikes.
wiscot says:

Apr 7 2014 at 8:59 am

@Chris

@wiscot

I've said it here before and I'll say it again, sooner or later a rider will be taken out by some cretin standing in the road/running across the road, and the outcome of a race will be severely impacted. As races such as PR, RVV etc get more popular, they attract more casual fans there for the "party atmosphere." They don't know or understand bike racing and completely fail (never having done it themselves) that these guys are riding at 30 mph. Fingers crossed that we have a"clean" PR on Sunday.

I haven't got it to hand but there was an interesting article in the current Rouleur about how badly out of control things had got with the fans at the Carrefour de l'Arbre. From memory, the local council/government cam close to not letting the race go through because of the mayhem the fans we causing, not only during the race but also in terms of rubbish, damage to crops etc.

It's the same thing on certain climbs in the tour etc. I'm no Pharmy fan but when they rode that TT up L'Alpe d'Huez, I was just waiting for someone to punch him and as much as I'm not a fan, he wouldn't have deserved that. You lose a race because you don't have what it takes (eg Boonen on Sunday - clearly ran out of gas at the end) not because some drunk takes you out.

What makes our sport great is the proximity fans can get to the riders. However, that comes with a responsibility: you respect what you came to see and do not interfere. You don't bring your dog - except on a very short leash. You don't cross the road when there's a rider remotely close to you. You obey the marshalls. You don't get stupid drunk. You don't show up in a stupid costume and try and get on TV - it's not about you, it's about the riders/race. They are doing their job - how would you like it if someone showed up shitfaced at your place of work and started messing with you?
Chris says:

Apr 7 2014 at 9:15 am

@wiscot

you respect what you came to see and do not interfere. You don't bring your dog - except on a very short leash. You don't cross the road when there's a rider remotely close to you. You obey the marshalls. You don't get stupid drunk. You don't show up in a stupid costume and try and get on TV - it's not about you, it's about the riders/race. They are doing their job - how would you like it if someone showed up shitfaced at your place of work and started messing with you?

Absolutely, but you forget that our Supreme Leader has shown us the path and this is not it.
Buck Rogers says:

Apr 7 2014 at 9:27 am

@VeloJello

@Buck Rogers @andrew @Wiscot When you watch the video of the crash it's hard to see how he would of come out of it well even without the spectators there. From what I can see it looks like that pedastrian crossing point has a fenced off or hedgerow'd island behind it which he would have crashed into anyway. Thoughts go out to the family of the lady, she was hit very, very hard.

Jesus. Just saw the video. What the FUCK??? Why/how was he jumping that curb anyways??? Was he totally pinched and had no where to go? If he had not hit the woman he would have hit something else with that jump. He was fucked as soon as he took that course (was forced onto that course???). REALLY strange. He gave an interview today (or yesterday) and said that he did not want to talk about it or explain what happened as he did not want to lay blame. REALLY, really unfortunate accident. Bizarre.
fignons barber says:

Apr 7 2014 at 2:34 pm

@Buck Rogers

Jesus. Just saw the video. What the FUCK??? Why/how was he jumping that curb anyways??? Was he totally pinched and had no where to go? If he had not hit the woman he would have hit something else with that jump. He was fucked as soon as he took that course (was forced onto that course???). REALLY strange. He gave an interview today (or yesterday) and said that he did not want to talk about it or explain what happened as he did not want to lay blame. REALLY, really unfortunate accident. Bizarre.

Yes, very sad. Watching the interview, he seemed genuinely crushed that the woman was injured. As for how: In a race, when you take into account your pushed to the limit, following the wheel an inch in front, and then .....bang, an obstacle! You have to make a punch-drunk split second decision , often relying on instinct. Most times, the rider makes it through, to fight another day. This time, terribly, the numbers caught up.

I read that the belgian authorities are investigating to see if JVS or the race are at fault. I don't see how JVS could be blamed. Once a fan crosses over the edge of the road, they are in the "field of play". As horrible as I feel for the state of that poor women, the race organizers can't be responsible for marshalling off all 270km of the course. It's a sad event that took place, certainly, but no one's fault.
Rhodri says:

Apr 7 2014 at 3:44 pm

Seems a bit harsh to blame either rider or spectator from the poor video I saw. God knows he couldn't have wanted to be on that line.

I didn't even think it looked like *too* bad a place to stand, well, not in terms of affecting the race at least (think there was a fence or hedge behind her so no way through anyway)? Looked like he'd already hit the kerb and was going over by then anyway? I guess from a personal safety point of view it wasn't the best.

It seems a real shame though when there are genuine idiots running in the road or standing places where it really will affect the race. Who was it who got taken out by someone's coat/bag? (and then the spectator seemed to sheepishly slip off and let someone else deal with it)