RE: [CR]Freddy's birthday

(Example: Framebuilding:Paint)

Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 08:14:37 -0800 (PST)
From: "Thomas Adams" <thomasthomasa@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: [CR]Freddy's birthday
To: "Kenneth Naylor (MOLC)" <knaylor@microsoft.com>, aldoross4@siscom.net, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <63A74D8D427E8B428AF35D6476A0557F6FE5B8@rno-msg-02.northamerica.corp.microsoft.com>


The story as it came to me, as handed down through history, says Maetens caught Merckx & Ocana in the late stages, bringing Gimondi with him. Maetens was then to lead Merckx out, but went so hard Merckx came off his wheel and Gimondi jumped into the gap. When Gimondi came around Maertens, Freddy was too surprised and/or gassed to get back up on his monster gear (Maertens liked to sprint in something like a 54x12), and Gimondi won the Rainbow jersey. Both Merckx and (especially) Maetens were better sprinters than Gimondi, and both have said that the poor tactics and/or form of the other cost them the win.

I also heard, however, that Merckx and Maertens were reconciled within the last 24 months and have buried the hatchet.

Tom Adams, Shrewsbury NJ

"Kenneth Naylor (MOLC)" <knaylor@microsoft.com> wrote: I have a book about Merckx that devotes a few pages in-depth to the controversy at the '73 Worlds. It was a big deal between the men that seems to go on to this day. I will re-read tonight and add more tomorrow, but it has something to do with Maertens agreeing to lead out Eddy in the sprint, Eddy not being able to win, and Freddy thinking Eddy screwed him, just not wanting him to win.

Vizzini: "You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! (and also, don't mess with two Belgians in a bike race).

Ken S. Naylor Fargo ND

-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of aldoross4 Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 9:41 AM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Freddy's birthday

According to "Cycling Hall of Fame", today is Freddy Maerten's 54th birthday:

http://www.cyclinghalloffame.com/riders/rider_bio.asp?rider_id=19

One of my favorite pieces of cycling film is from "La Course en Tete", showing Maertens as he leads-out Merckx, Gimondi, and Ocana in the final sprint of the 1973 World Championships in Barcelona. The camera is right there with the riders for the final few hundred meters - Extraordinary!

But cyclinghalloffame says that Maertens had chased-down Merckx in the final stages... anyone know more of the story? At the finish he was clearly leading-out for Merckx.

Aldo Ross Middletown, Ohio

----- Original Message Follows ----- From: "Brandi Matteo" To: "classicrendezvous" Subject: [CR]messengers Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 16:21:30 +0100
> Joel
>
> I believe that also Bartali did some sort of local
> "bike-transport"Few da ys ago i was reading(on a rush
> actually) about Bartali being awarded pos t-mortem for
> his "smugglin" of paperwork (inside the pipes of the
> frame) for jewish refugees that were hidin around Florence
> and local hills,proba bly there i ssomething about it on
> the web, Matteo Brandi Firenze Italy
>
> _______________________________________________

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