Aad van den Hoek

In the early 1970s Dutch cyclist Aad van den Hoek won several amateur races in the Netherlands to earn himself a place on the national team. In 1971 Van den Hoek, Fedor den Hertog, Frits Schür, and Adri Duycker won silver in the team time trial at the UCI Road World Championships in Switzerland. One year later he was part of the quartet that competed in the same event at the München Olympics. Initially the Dutch team finished third; however, Van den Hoek failed a doping test, having taken the stimulant Coramine. The drug was allowed by the Union Cycliste International (UCI), but not by the IOC, resulting in the Netherlands being disqualified and no bronze medal being awarded.

Despite this, Van den Hoek continued his career as a professional cyclist, riding nine seasons with TI-Raleigh as a time trial specialist. In 1973 he had wins in the team time trial stages at the Olympia’s Tour in the Netherlands and the Milk Race in England. His best record came at the Tour de France, where he won four team time trial stages, with one each in 1976 and 1978, and two in 1981. The 1976 Tour was bitter-sweet for Van den Hoek, with him earning the lanterne rouge for being the last-placed rider to complete the race.