Rider Interview: If you happen to had any pastime in skilled motorbike racing within the 70’s and 80’s you will have to be mindful a definite arduous rider from the Flemish Ardennes’ village of Deftinge. If the race used to be tricky, then Ferdi Van Den Haute used to be on the entrance. After an opportunity assembly on the Gent 6 Days, Ed Hood controlled to arrange an interview with Ferdi.
Ferdi Van Den Haute on the Gent 6 final week
If you happen to’ve learn my ramblings from the Six Days of Gent you then’ll know that sitting in entrance folks in ‘t Kuipke used to be Belgian 70’s and 80’s big name of street and observe Ferdi Van Den Haute. Ferdi very kindly agreed to an interview with us however earlier than we pay attention what he needed to say allow us to take you thru his occupation hi-lites.
Excursion of Holland 1975
Within the mid 70’s he used to be a prolific winner as an novice on street and observe, successful Nationwide Championships within the madison and particular person pursuit. He grew to become professional with Ebo-Cinzia in 1976 and kicked his occupation off with an early level win within the Excursion of Sardinia and later within the season took the GP Lucien Van Impe.
Subsequent to Michel Pollentier (Flandria) – Ronde van Vlaanderen 1976
The next season noticed him win the Belgian Elite Madison Championship and not using a much less a personage than Patrick Sercu and there have been a lot of successes within the kermis koerses. The ’78 season noticed him within the colors of Marc Zeepcentrale for arguably his best possible ever season with two Vuelta level wins and total issues identify in addition to triumphing in Gent-Wevelegem. Nonetheless with Zeepcentrale for ’79 there have been level wins in races as numerous because the Excursion of the Netherlands and Excursion de l’Aude.
A win for Marc Zeepcentrale
In 1980 he joined the group with which he’s most likely maximum related, La Redoute – a significant mail order catalogue corporate from Northern France. Maintaining his observe legs in form he received the Belgian Omnium Championship and had street luck, together with a level within the Etoile des Beseges. In ’81 he received the harsh Northern France semi-classic, GP Denain. The next yr there have been the standard kermis koers wins and fourth within the gorgeous however overdue lamented Trofeo Baracchi two guy time trial, partnered with Theo De Rooy.
Worlds Nurburgring 1978: Andre Dierckx, Roger de Vlaeminck, Ferdi Vandenhaute and Jan Raas
The hi-lite of season ’83 used to be a Paris-Great level win. Season 1984 noticed a Excursion de France level win and some other tricky French semi-classic victory, the GP Fourmies. In ’85 there used to be some other level win within the Etoile des Beseges and the 6th of 7 wins within the GP Stad Geraardsbergen the place he’s all time, ‘recordman.’ With Skala Skil for ’86 he received the prologue within the Excursion of Belgium and triumphed for the general time in Geraardsbergen. His final season in ‘87 noticed one among his greatest successes, the all the time arduous fought Belgian Skilled Highway Race Championship.
Roger de Vlaminck and Ferdi Van Den Haute in Paris-Roubaix
PEZ: You have been an overly a hit novice, let us know about that first professional contract with Ebo.
Ferdi Van Den Haute: I by no means had it in my head to show skilled, I had a excellent occupation as a instructor however I used to be approached through Mr. Ebo, who owned a meat industry; he sought after to construct a qualified group round me. I’ve excellent reminiscence of my time there and I used to be very fortunate that during handiest my 2d or 3rd race I received a level within the Excursion of Sardinia – an ideal begin to my occupation.
Ferdi Van Den Haute, Fons de Wolf and Roger de Vlaeminck
PEZ: Then you definately went to Zeepcentrale.
Extra excellent reminiscences there, I received two Vuelta phases and the full issues classification with them, it used to be within the spring again then – and naturally, I received Gent-Wevelgem with them too.
Flanders’84: Greg Lemond and Ferdi Van Den Haute
PEZ: Then the group with which most likely you’re maximum carefully related – La Redoute, you have been there for 6 seasons.
They recruited me for the Classics however as it used to be a French group I rode the Excursion de France with them as a fortify rider – but it surely wasn’t a race I truly loved, I used to be all the time drained after a difficult spring Classics marketing campaign.
Van Den Haute mountaineering the Muur within the Ronde van Vlaanderen 1984
PEZ: Your greatest win, Gent-Wevelgem, beating Walter Planckaert, Francesco Moser and Jan Raas – your memories of that day?
It used to be an overly chilly day, there used to be snow beside the roadside and naturally, it used to be an overly arduous race over 246 kilometres that yr – I were given transparent alone with 15 or 16 kilometres to move and received through a minute from Planckaert.
PEZ: The GP Denain and GP Fourmies are all the time arduous races to win.
FVDH: The ones races got here every now and then of the yr which suited me and have been essential races for a French sponsor.
Ferdi in Bordeaux-Paris with Derny pacer Jos Meesters
PEZ: You had two notable ‘close to misses,’ in 1981, 2d in Bordeaux-Paris and Paris-Excursions, any ‘with hindsights?’
No, in Bordeaux-Paris I used to be overwhelmed through Herman Van Springel, he used to be referred to as ‘Monsieur Paris-Bordeaux;’ he received that race seven instances – so he wasn’t simple to overcome there! While within the 1981 Blois-Chaville, as Paris-Excursions used to be at the moment, I used to be overwhelmed through Jan Raas – he used to be beautiful speedy on the end.
Roubaix with Adrie van der Poel
PEZ: You received the Belgian Skilled Championships in 1987 however that used to be your final season?
Once I grew to become professional I made up our minds that I’d do 12 seasons and that might be sufficient, I handiest wore the jersey for 6 months.
With Skala-Skil in 1986
PEZ: Then instantly into the Panasonic group automotive as DS below ‘guy of iron,’ Peter Put up.
Sure, I authorized Peter Put up’s be offering to change into a DS together with his group and sure, he used to be a difficult guy however very right kind, you’ll by no means pay attention me say a nasty factor about him.
Within the Panasonic group automotive in the back of Eric Van Lancker
PEZ: Let us know about your coaching again then.
I by no means had a trainer and it used to be handiest in my final season that I did any what you could name ‘medical’ coaching once I bought SRM cranks. I set my very own methods again then, a large number of kilometres with periods integrated relying on what races I used to be getting ready for.
Crash at the Koppenberg
PEZ: Do you want to be a qualified now?
I believe I used to be fortunate with the time I used to be a professional, there used to be extra friendship and camaraderie, now they don’t combine, they keep within the bus till 5 mins earlier than the beginning. We was in combination much more and naturally there have been no good telephones, pill and laptops to stare at.
TT motion with ADR-Fangio-IOC-MBK in 1987
PEZ: You have been an achieved observe guy, did you experience the six days?
Sure, Gent, Grenoble, Munich. . . They have been arduous after a complete street season however we needed to experience them as a way to generate income, there have been no riders’ wages like they’re now.
Superklassieker – Ferdi Van Den Haute
PEZ: How used to be the transition from rider to DS for you?
It used to be no drawback, it used to be one thing I all the time had in thoughts to do and used to be ready to offer my riders excellent recommendation on techniques and coaching – and as I mentioned, from 1987/88 I embraced coaching on energy and used to be ready to advise on that.
PEZ: Regrets?
None, I all the time gave my best possible. . .
Race director on the Benelux Excursion 2021
# A large due to Ferdi for his time and phrases. #
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