Rider Obituary: Relaxation in Peace, Dutchman Hurt Ottenbros who died lately at 78 years-of-age. The person was greatest identified for his world skilled highway race championship title in 1969; however sadly his win has been added to the record of ‘unworthy’ world champions together with the likes of Benoni Beheyt, Luc Leblanc and Laurent Brochard.
Hurt Ottenbros, World champion forward of Julien Stevens
It has escaped most people discover that the mere incontrovertible fact that the person was within the greatest someday race on this planet, on the Dutch workforce together with the likes of Gerben Karstens, Rene Pijnen and Rini Wagtmans signifies that he was a ‘high quality boy’ as we are saying in Scotland. The Dutch selectors acquired it completely proper that day, selecting him for a circuit completely suited to his traits.
The duvet of ‘Biking Weekly’
He got here up by means of the Dutch newbie ranks using races just like the super-fast Olympia’s Tour and was an everyday podium finisher leading to a professional contract with Willem 11 Gazelle for 1967, profitable a stage within the Tour de Suisse that 12 months, he additionally took three podium finishes Giro phases within the firm of huge finishers like Dino Zandegu and Michele Dancelli.
Hurt Ottenbros and Gerben Karstens
He remained with the Dutch squad for 5 years, Willem 11 dropped out after 4 years and for 1971 the workforce was Gazelle. In 1968 he received one other stage within the Tour de Suisse and was second within the Dutch Nationals to former Beginner World Champion, Evert Dolman.
1969 World highway champion
The 12 months he received the Worlds, 1969 noticed him take two podiums in Vuelta phases and twice end second in Tour de France phases, crushed in a single by Britain’s Barry Hoban. That 12 months additionally noticed the 5’ 6” former inside decorator who was born in Alkmaar in The Netherlands however lived in Hoogerheide verify his status as a ‘Crit and Kermis King’ with a raft of podiums.
Ottenbros exhibiting his jersey and medal on the Olympisch Stadion in Amsterdam
After his win an interviewer requested what he was going to do with all the cash he’d make as champion of the world? “Give most of it to the taxman,” got here the fast as a flash reply. He was pragmatic about his success; “It was an odd feeling,” he later stated. “The nearer the end line got here, the extra I needed to inform myself I used to be simply in a kermis, though with just a few extra spectators than normal. I needed to overlook that I used to be using for a world title as a result of if I’d realised that, I’d by no means have received.”
The worlds break with Stevens
Season 1970 began effectively with third on GC in Ruta del Sol however crash in de Ronde, the place he broke his wrist compromised the Classics season for him, albeit there was a Tour of Luxembourg stage win in June. He rode le Tour and had three prime 10 stage placings earlier than defending his world title in England, at Leicester the place he completed in twentieth place.
Bert Pronk, Joop Zoetemelk and Hurt Ottenbros
The lack of his proper to put on the rainbow jersey induced him no sorrow; “Imagine me, I wasn’t within the slightest bit sorry when my 12 months as world champion was over and I didn’t need to put on that jersey any extra. I may simply return to being the unknown rider in village criteriums. However the outdated feeling by no means got here again. I used to be by no means glad once more.”
Tour of Holland 1975 – Hurt Ottenbros
In 1971 he loved his perennial higher than common share of crit and kermis podiums however no huge outcomes. The 1972 season noticed him with low finances Wybert Lakerol however he loved some huge criterium wins, together with the GP Stad Vilvoorde and GP Stad Antwerpen. The title on the jersey for 1973 was Kela Tapijt and the crit and kermis podiums continued to pile up. For 1974 he was again on a prime line workforce with Frisol, alongside the likes of Fedor Den Hertog, Leo Duyndam, Cees Priem and Theo Smit – all huge Dutch stars of the 70’s.
The Frisol workforce
There was the standard rash of crit and kermis podiums and he stayed with the workforce for 1975 when it turned Frisol GBC. That 12 months, former Olympic Champion, Hennie Kuiper joined the squad and would go on win the world title that 12 months. Ottenbros and Kuiper’s workforce mate at Frisol, Vuelta stage winner and 6 day star, Australia’s Don Allan instructed us that Kuiper rated Ottenbros extremely as a workforce participant. However Kuiper moved on to TI Raleigh for 1976 and it was again to low finances Ormas Sharp for Ottenbros. It goes with out saying that the crit and kermis podiums continued however ’76 was his final season.
Hurt Ottenbros and Francesco Moser on the ‘Gala der Kampioenen’
Don Allan gave us his remembrances of a person he was proud to name his workforce mate; “Hurt was an ideal man, quiet and a deep thinker. After profitable the world title in 1969 he was criticised and even ridiculed and a few referred to as him ‘The Eagle of Hoogerheide’.” [A reference to his lack of flair for climbing and the pan flat landscape where he lived, ed.]
The Worlds profitable dash
“He received that world title honest and sq. profiting from the rivalry between Van Looy and Merckx. After biking he went by means of a darkish interval the place he was unrecognisable in look and behavior, even to these near him. To his credit score he decided to come back again to a standard life, which he did. I final noticed Hurt on the Frisol workforce reunion in 2007 and he was wonderful, pleasant and chatty. I did name him after that as he was concerned in a severe accident and I rang to test on his well being. He appreciated the decision.”
“The final I heard he had recovered and was biking repeatedly with a bunch having fun with their firm and his companions having fun with his firm. They are saying Hurt was a reluctant world champion although he beat a rattling good bike rider in Julien Stevens. I don’t suppose he coped effectively with the strain and what was anticipated from him being world champion. Unhappy information and one more telephone quantity I received’t want anymore. Relaxation In Peace, Hurt.”
Frisol workforce 30 years later: (l to r) Fred Rompelberg, Hurt Ottenbros, Hennie Kuiper, Cees Priem and Peter Put up
“Amen to that, Don” we are saying – what number of of these critics and sceptics who mocked him ever earned the correct to put on that stunning rainbow jersey?
Hurt Ottenbros – Wereldkampioen in 1969
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