.jpg) Demeyer (centered) after hisDwars door België victory in 1972 (CollectionKOERS Museum) | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Marc Demeyer |
| Nickname | De Beul van Outrijve (The Executioner of Outrijve) Markie Meyers |
| Born | (1950-04-19)19 April 1950 Avelgem, Belgium |
| Died | 20 January 1982(1982-01-20) (aged 31) Merelbeke, Belgium |
| Team information | |
| Discipline | Road |
| Role | Rider |
| Professional teams | |
| 1972–1979 | Beaulieu–Flandria |
| 1980–1981 | IJsboerke–Warncke Eis |
| 1982 | Splendor–Wickes Bouwmarkt–Europ Decor |
| Major wins | |
Grand Tours
| |
Marc Demeyer (19 April 1950 – 20 January 1982) was a professionalroad racing cyclist fromAvelgem, Belgium.[1] Although known as the "master servant" forFreddy Maertens, the powerful Demeyer was able to win 60 professional road races.[2] He died of a heart attack at the age of 31.[3]
Demeyer turned professional in 1972 for the Flandria team managed byBriek Schotte. He signed the contract while resting it on a car beside the start ofDwars door België, which he then won. Shortly afterwards he won theGrand Prix d'Isbergues.[4]
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Demeyer was one of the so-called "Three Musketeers", riding with and forFreddy Maertens andMichel Pollentier He led out sprints for Maertens in particular but could win them for himself, including stages of theTour de France. He rode the Tour six times, finishing 72nd in 1973, 41st in 1974, 42nd in 1975, 56th in 1976, 49th in 1978 and 57th in 1979.[5]
He won the intermediate sprints competition, known then as Points Chaud ('hot spot sprints') in the Tours of 1973 and 1975. He won two stages: the 19th in 1978 fromLausanne toBelfort, and the 14th in 1979 fromBelfort toEvian-les-Bains. In 1974 he wonParis–Brussels and two years laterParis–Roubaix.[6]
In January 1982, two weeks after an ambitious-looking Demeyer was presented as the new signing ofSplendor, he died of a heart attack. Various causes were subsequently mentioned, including suicide.[7]
Demeyer was particularly suited to thecobbled Classics and won the1976 edition of Paris-Roubaix, famously captured inJorgen Leth’s filmA Sunday in Hell.[8]
Demeyer was honored in the2012 edition of Paris–Roubaix.[9]
A bookMarc Demeyer-Een Flandrien uit Outrijve by Eric Demets was published in 2016.[2]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
