Wilfried Wesemael

Wilfried Wesemael started out cycling as a child, as he was a poor runner due to a weak ankle. As an amateur, he excelled on the track, and won national amateur titles in the team pursuit (1971-2), individual pursuit (1972), Madison (1973) and omnium (1973). This earned him a spot in the Belgian Olympic team for Munich, placing 12th in the team pursuit and 18th individually. In 1973, Wesemael became a professional road racer.

He switched teams annually until joining the notable TI Raleigh team 1978-1981. Usually riding as a domestique, Wesemael did earn various notable victories. In 1974 he won Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, and won the opening stage in the 1975 Vuelta. His greatest achievement came in 1979, when he won the Tour of Switzerland. He could not follow up with a good Tour de France performance, as he crashed out in the third stage. He suffered serious ankle, leg, and back injuries, and never fully recovered.

In 1982, Wesemael retired. First in Gijzegem, and later in his home town of Aalst, he started a successful chip shop, called “WilFrit”, a pun on his name and the fries he sold. In 2003, his shop was recognized as the best chip shop in Belgium. He sold his business to retire at age 70.