INTRODUCTION WIM AND PHILIEP
Wim Vanneste (on the right) is a long time friend of mine, we lived in the same town of Moorsele (near Wevelgem and Ypres) in the early noughties when I lived there with my wife Maggie (2002-2005) and we where both involved with the local top amateur team Decock – Mannavital – Van Mossel now called. Wim was a police area commander in his professional life (Commissaire) and pilot for the camera crew of Sporza TV to mention one of his roles in cycling in his free time. He came with the above mentioned team (then called Decock-Capino) to compete in the Tour of the North around 2009-2010, and he was also involved with the Belgian Project in his beginning with advice and support. Peter Hawkins raced for the team at the time, before becoming professional. Some Ulster lads will remember Wim, Philip Bremner and Stuart Henry to mention a few, all graduates of the project in the early years. When I am in Belgium, he and his lovely wife Joke always invite me for a meal to catch up, and certainly a man who has been involved in the success of the Belgian Project.
Philiep Derthoo (here below) I only know through the blog of the lads, Garage owner, Ex DS of the Delsol team, and ex cyclist for the Atlas Deerlijk Cycling team. His expertise very helpful as garage man and fix problems if they occur, and his cycling knowledge. He joined his neighbour Wim in the second year of the blog who has now his 5th anniversary!!
Their job is transporting the matrasses to the hotels the teams are staying, each cyclist has his own matrass, and it seems an easy job, but every day they have to collect, finding ways to get ahead of the racers, sometime to give bottles, and be at the next hotel before the riders arrive, negotiating Italian country roads, washing cars of the team etc… but beats working for a living ( both on pension age) Here below some photos of their first job, collecting the massive van in Holland (Hertogenbosh service cours of Visma-Lease a Bike) and for more go to https://giro-italia25.blogspot.com/ who will be up dated each stage of the Giro. The last few years blogs are to be found there aswell!! You will meet the stars, and see what happens behind the scenes of the race…the unsung hero’s such as mechanic’s, cooks, soigneurs, medical staff, chauffeurs and so many more the team have on their pay roll… Wim and Philiep are doing it for the love of the sport. I wish them a great time, and looking forward to their blogs…their is a translating button, so available to us all!! Sent them a message, they will love it!!
Follow them on this blogshot: https://giro-italia25.blogspot.com
