Thijs Roks (30 November 1930 – 7 February 2007) was a Dutch
racing cyclist. He rode the
Tour de France in 1952–1954 with the best result of 29th place in 1953; that year he finished in third place at the first stage of the Tour. He competed in the
Giro d'Italia four times (1952–1955), and won the road race at the national championships of 1955.
Roks married on 10 August 1953. In the late 1960s he developed an acute form of
rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorders are conditions causing chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints or connective tissue. Rheumatism does not designate any specific disorder, but covers at least 200 different conditions, including art ...
and ended up in a wheelchair. One of his sons was killed in a driving accident in 1973, aged 17. Ten years later, his other son drowned while fishing, aged 21. His wife died in 1991 of
thrombosis, aged 58. Yet despite all those events, Roks was noted for his cheerful spirit through his life.
Het leven na de tour
wielerexpress.nl. December 2005
References
1930 births
2007 deaths
Dutch male cyclists
Cyclists from Rucphen
Cyclists from Zundert
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