In the days when only amateurs raced at the Olympics, “Joop” Zoetemelk was the only Tour de France winner to also have won an Olympic gold medal. His gold medal came in the 100 kilometre team time trial in 1968. He had a very long career (18 years), riding in the Tour de France through 1986 and retiring after the 1987 season. He was a great all-rounder with few weaknesses but was unable to prevail over Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault for most of his career. However, Hinault rode in 1980 and Zoetemelk still won, although Hinault was forced to retire with knee problems. He had 10 stage wins in the Tour and set a record by finishing the race 16 times. In 1985 he capped his career by outsprinting Greg LeMond to also win the rainbow jersey of world professional road champion. Zoetemelk also won the 1979 Vuelta à España. His other major victories included La Flèche Wallonne in 1976; the 1987 Amstel Gold Race; Paris-Tours in 1977 and 1979; and Paris-Nice in 1974-75 and 1979.
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