The Last Belgian Grand Tour Winner: Johan De Muynck

Ex-Rider Interview: The late 70s and early 80s was a great time for cycling, there were many ‘heroes of the road’, not just Eddy Merckx, but a load of Belgians and Italians. Johan De Muynck was a classy rider, but he was up against the system that kept the top men… at the top. De Muynck should have had a much bigger palmarès – he didn’t do too badly, Ed Hood finds out more.

Name the last Belgian rider to win a Grand Tour, please. Let me help. It’s Mister Johan De Muynck and it’s now 42 years since the man from Sleidinge in East Flanders won the 1978 Giro d’Italia ahead of ‘Gibi’ Baronchelli, Francesco Moser, Wladimiro Panizza and Giuseppe Saronni – four of the biggest names in Italian cycling of that era.

De Muynck followed by Moser and Visentini

De Muynck had been second in 1976 but with a more committed team could have won that edition of the ‘pink race’ too. He was fourth in the 1980 Tour de France and again feels that with a more committed team behind him he could have been on the podium, if not won ‘le Grande Boucle.’

A talented amateur he turned professional with the ‘Red Brigade’ – the mighty Flandria team in 1971, Mars being the co-sponsors that year. He made pro podiums from the start in places like De Pinte, Geraardsbergen, Herstal, Sinaai, Roselaere and in the ‘sprinter’s race,’ the Scheldeprijs. He stayed with Flandria for three seasons before heading south and joining the team with arguably the coolest jersey ever – Brooklyn. He was with them for four seasons before opting for another team from la Bella Italia, Bianchi Faema.

Johan de Muynck, Freddy Maertens, Roger de Vlaeminck, Klaus Peter Thaler, Herman van Springel, Jean Luc Vandenbroucke, Bernard Thevenet – Rund um den Henninger Turm 1978

There followed two seasons with Splendor back in Belgium with his final two seasons spent with French team La Redoute – a move which he tells us was the worst decision of his career. Through the kind offices of Johan’s ex-Splendor team mate, New Zealand’s Vuelta stage winner, Paul Jesson we put our questions to the man the Belgian media always come to talk to at Giro time.

Tour ’80 TT

PEZ: As a Scotsman I am interested that you rode the Tour of Scotland in 1969, what are your memories?
Johan De Muynck: I have very fond memories of that Tour, of the beautiful mountainous landscapes and of the people. It was a very good experience.

With Flandria

PEZ: You turned professional with Flandria in 1971, how did the contract come about and what was it like adapting to the professional race scene?
The contract came about because of my good results in amateur races. I had no difficulties adapting to the professional race scene because I had already adjusted my life style; I lived like a monk.

The great Alberic “Briek” Schotte

PEZ: Mr. Schotte was the manager, what was it like to ride for him?
Briek was good at managing young people. He was a man of few words, but his quotes were smart, they gave you food for thought. He gave young people a chance without exerting too much pressure. It was a positive collaboration.

PEZ: And Marc Demeyer the ‘road captain’ – I believe he was a hard task master?
I don’t think he was a hard task master. He was my teammate and we were about the same age; it was Briek Schotte who was in charge.

The late Marc Demeyer – Died at only 31 years of age

PEZ: You rode cyclo-cross too?
Yes, I did. It liked it, it was a good experience, but you can’t do everything and I chose road races over cyclo-cross.

PEZ: You won the Brabantse Pijl in 1973 – a hard race for a ‘climber’ to win?
It was not difficult to win, because the finish was uphill, on the Alsemberg.

Brooklyn team card

PEZ: Tell us about your move to Brooklyn and how was the mentality different from a Belgian team?
Everything was much more professional, all the details were taken care of. The equipment, the entourage were all better. It was a positive experience.

On the podium with ‘teammate’ De Vlaeminck

PEZ: I believe Roger De Vlaeminck was not an ideal teammate for you?
He was not really my teammate but my boss.

PEZ: You won the Tour of Romandie in 1976, a very nice result.
To me, it was a fantastic experience. It was my international breakthrough and I consider it my greatest win. It was all against one during that Tour and I managed to win.

Riding the cobbles of the Ronde van Vlaanderen 1976, followed by Gilbert Duclos Lassalle

PEZ: Second in the Giro that year, what are your memories?
On the one hand, it was a positive experience because I was the best rider in that Giro. On the other hand, it was a negative experience because I didn’t win and I felt I should have.

PEZ: You were second in Paris-Tours in 1977, the ‘sprinters classic’.
It was really Tours-Paris, in the opposite direction. That is why there were a lot of hills at the end of the race. It is clear from the ranking: 1. Zoetemelk, 2. De Muynck, 3. Kuiper.

With Bianchi

PEZ: Bianchi, how did that contract come about and how was your relationship with Felice Gimondi?
The contract came about after the Tour of Romandie of 1976. It was first annulled and then signed again in 1977. It was annulled because Brooklyn threatened to stop sponsoring the team. My relationship with Felice Gimondi was very good.

‘The Pink Panther’

PEZ: Your Giro win in 1978, your memories?
I have very fond memories of this Giro. I was the best from start to finish and for me it was a confirmation of the Giro of 1976.

PEZ: Splendor for 1980, why go back to a Belgian team – and how was your relationship with Claude Criquielion?
I went back to a Belgian team because I wanted to be home more, but it was a big mistake. From a professional point of view, I should have stayed in Italy or Spain. My relationship with Claude Criquielion could have been better. It was a case of “young against older”.

Making De Vlaeminck suffer in the 1980 Worlds

PEZ: Fourth in the Tour that year, tell us about that.
I was fourth, but I could have won if my team had supported me. So to me, it was a disappointing result because I could have won.

PEZ: La Redoute in 1982, how was the French team mentality compared to the Belgian and Italian teams?
The mentality was very bad. I had the French chauvinism to contend with. Opting for a French team was the biggest mistake of my career.

TT in the 1980 Tour de France with Splendor

PEZ: You are still the last Belgian Grand Tour winner, does this still generate a lot of media attention?
Yes, it does. I still get requests to do interviews, especially before and during the Giro.

PEZ: If you had your career over, what would you do differently?
I would go to Italy or Spain as soon as possible because the mentality in those countries suited me best.

Merckx and De Muynck

# With thanks to Yannick, Johan De Muynck, Paul Jesson and all the unknown photographers. #

Two Giro winners – De Muynck and Pollentier