Making a name for yourself in the pro ranks during the heyday of Merckx, De Vlaeminck, and Maertens would have been tougher than making a name for yourself in the pro ranks during the heyday of Merckx, De Vlaeminck, and Maertens. Especially, I would think, if you also happened to be Belgian. But with somewhere around 145 victories in a career which spanned from 1965 to 1981, Herman Van Springel did just that. Well, as much as anybody was able to racing against the Hardmen of the day.
Van Springel’s palmares includes podium finishes in all three Grand Tours. He lost the ’68 edition of the Tour by 38 seconds in the final stage, an individual time trial, to Jan Janssen. Sound familiar? (Faux sneeze into arm, Fignon). He also won the Tour’s green jersey in 1973. He did so without winning a single stage. Also sound familiar? (Faux sneeze into arm again, Hushovd). Sprinkle in some podium finishes at Paris-Roubaix and the World Championship Road Race and you’ve got the makings of the top of the also-ran list.
Where Van Springel really shined was in the 560km, derny-paced, Bourdeaux-Paris. With seven wins in the former classic, he could have been aptly named “Mr. Bourdeaux-Paris”. No other rider comes close to his record at this race.
The proudest moment of Van Springel’s career probably came in the 1968 edition of the Giro di Lombardia. Coming into the day, Van Springel held the lead in that year’s Super Prestige for best ‘all-rounder’ with 194 points. Everybody who was anybody back then lined up at the start. Imagine looking around the peloton and seeing the likes of Merckx, Gimondi, Godefroot, Van Looy, Poulidor, and Janssen. By race’s end, Van Springel soloed to victory, exacted revenge on Janssen for that year’s Tour and collected the 60 points to secure the Super Prestige Pernod Trophy.
While no doubt celebrated in his day, Herman Van Springel seems to lack frequent mention in the cycling annals of today. So we at Velominati thought we’d give the old chap a bump and a chapeau. For winning the best ‘all-rounder’ in a time when the all-rounders out-classed, out-ranked, and out-numbered the ‘specialists’ of the time deserves praise.
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@frank
Thanks! Though I would argue that the real "nice work" is all the effort you and the other folks put into the site and publishing new content nearly every day - I just leave silly comments.
@Marko
I don't know, that guy certainly looks like he is having more fun than the dude behind him. Also, what do they keep in the little metal tin canister on the front? A mid-ride snack of KFC double-downs, perhaps?
@mcsqueak
That's the petrol tank!
Yes, I'm going to fly to Australia to lend my awesome expertise in flood disaster relief. Hell, I can't believe I didn't go to Chile when they had their earthquake - I'm in the same hemisphere, after all!
And Brett HAILs from Australia. ;-)
This is my first time commenting on here, so I hope respect your net'iquette!
This is another great picture from the archives, and yes, Van Springel isn't so well known these days, yet he was considered a major contender in his day. For example, when he rode for Molteni in '71, which was Merckx's 'year out' he was the de facto team leader, even above other contenders in the team like Bruyere and De Schoenmacher, both capable of winning classics.
The Flandria bike in the picture is a bit tasty, and as it's 'tout Campa' it dates the picture to '75, when he beat Regis Delepinne (Peugeot). The following year, when he was beaten by Walter Godefroot, Flandria's had Chrome forks. It's also sporting what look like one of the first pairs of the legendary Mavic SSC Blue rims, and Cinelli 65 bars, which were always de Vlaeminck's preferred option. A great rider though, I think he finished his career riding alongside Patrick Sercu at Marc/Zeepcentraale/Superia.
@fermapiedi
Welcome, that's quite an entrance, and quite a load of information! I now absolutely must have a set of those blue rims. My VMH will thank you later.
@fermapiedi
Nice contribution. I love when articles here pull posts and knowledge like yours out of the woodwork and impel folks like you to take things a step further. Nice. I agree on the Cinelli 65's. It looks like they've got the sloping tops whereas the 64's and 66's have more of a level top.
@Marko
Thanks for the welcome chaps! 3 of my bikes have got Cinelli 65-42's, it's shame no-one makes anything similar now. Their only drawback was they weren't so good for riding on the tops on the flat - not that any of you serious, rule 5 riders out there would ever be seen doing such a thing ;-)
@fermapiedi
I've got 66's on one of my bikes. I immediately found them to be more comfy than the K-wings I had on another bike so I summarily switched those out for 3T rotundos. I'm finding the trad drop bars much more to my liking. I've only got two gripes really with the Campione del Mundos. The first is the clamp diameter only allows for use with cinelli stems, which isn't a bad thing but it'd be great to use them with a newer stem. The second is that the small diameter tops are a bit too narrow for my hamfists but that just calls for a dose of the V.
You'll have to post some pics of those bikes of yours over on the bikes page.
@Marko
66's are a bit deep for me, as I'm just under 5ft 7, but the 64's do quite nicely, in fact I've just put a pair on my 1982 Cinelli SuperCorsa that I've had rechromed and painted by Argos Cycles here in England, and though it's got Record 9 speed, I've gone for a blue suede Rolls saddle and Cinelli bars, so it's got a nice retro/modern thing going. Here's the bit that will interest you though, the Japanese Pearl stems that keirin riders use on their home turf are a perfect fit for Cinelli bars and look very much like the original Cinelli stem, AND have the beautiful milky anodised finish that early Campag brakes had. I'll post a picture or two once I can work out how from a Mac!
Hope this is useful and that I haven't worn out my welcome!
I do remember reading about the Japanese Pearl stems but was able to find a NOS 101 to mate with the 66's. Now you've got our interested totally piqued about your bikes. Get on the MAC issue stat!!
No, of course your welcome is not worn out. Way to make an entrance as frank said.
And when kiwicyclist cyclist resurfaces he'd be way into this conversation. You hear that G'Phant?