Herman Vanspringel
Herman Vanspringel, also spelled Herman Van Springel, was a Belgian road racing cyclist, from Grobbendonk, in the Flemish Campine or Kempen region. He achieved podium finishes in all three of the grand tours with second place in the 1968 Tour de France and 1971 Giro d'Italia, and third place in the 1970 Vuelta a España. He wore the maillot jaune during four stages of the 1968 Tour de France and for three stages in 1973.
Career
Vanspringel was an accomplished time-trial rider, almost winning the Tour de France in 1968. He was beaten in the last stage by Dutch rider Jan Janssen in a time-trial. This remains as one of the closest races in Tour de France history. In the autumn that year, he won the classic Giro di Lombardia.He won a record seven editions of the marathon Bordeaux–Paris. He also won the Green Jersey in the 1973 Tour de France without winning a single stage. He finished in 6th place overall that year, the third time in his career he would finish in the top 10 of the Tour de France. He would finish in the top 10 one final time during the 1974 edition. He would win a total of five stages during his ten participations in the Tour.
He was not allowed to ride the 1972 Tour de France due to signing for rival team Rokado for the 1973 season.
Vanspringel cycled through the 1970s and ended his career at the end of the 1981 season. As a professional cyclist, he eventually won 136 road races.
Flemish TV-maker and presenter, Mark Uytterhoeven, motivated by the 1968 Tour, founded a Herman Vanspringel fan club.
Major results
Sources:;1963
;1964
;1966
;1967
;1968
;1969
;1970
;1971
;1972
;1973
;1974
;1975
;1976
;1977
;1978
;1979
;1980
;1981
Grand Tour general classification results timeline
Source:| Grand Tour | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 |
| Vuelta a España | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 11 | — | — | 29 |
| Giro d'Italia | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tour de France | 6 | 24 | 2 | 18 | DNF | 14 | — | 6 | 10 | 31 | DNF |
| — | Did not compete |
| DNF | Did not finish |
Honours
- A cycling race, Herman Vanspringels Diamond: From 1988
- Honorary Citizen of Grobbendonk
- Honorary Citizen of Kalmthout
- A bust in Grobbendonk: 2022
Books
- Herman Vanspringel – De Winnende Verliezer by Robert Janssens and Tom Willems: 1999
- Herman Vanspringel by Noël Truyers: 1999
- Herman Vanspringel 68 by Mark Uytterhoeven: 2011
- Herman Vanspringels Diamonds For Ever by Luc Wuyts and Marc Uytterhoeven: 2020