Victor Van Schil (21 December 1939 – 30 September 2009) was a Belgian
racing cyclist
Cycle sport is competitive physical activity using bicycles. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, and cycle speedway. Non-racing cycling s ...
.
He rode in 21
Grand Tours
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour is one of the three major European professional cycling stage races: Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España. Collectively they are termed the ''Grand Tours'', and all three races are similar in ...
in his career, including 11 editions of the
Tour de France
The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consists ...
, four editions of the
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España (; en, Tour of Spain) is an annual multi-stage bicycle race primarily held in Spain, while also occasionally making passes through nearby countries. Inspired by the success of the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia, the ...
, and six editions of the
Giro d'Italia.
Career
Van Schil's main victories were two stages of the
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España (; en, Tour of Spain) is an annual multi-stage bicycle race primarily held in Spain, while also occasionally making passes through nearby countries. Inspired by the success of the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia, the ...
, in 1964 and 1968, and the
1968 Brabantse Pijl. He also had success in the
1969 Liège–Bastogne–Liège, finishing alongside his teammate
Eddy Merckx
Édouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx (, ; born 17 June 1945), better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional road and track bicycle racer who is among the most successful riders in the history of competitive cycling. His victorie ...
, eight minutes ahead of the next rider.
Van Schil was a teammate of
Eddy Merckx
Édouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx (, ; born 17 June 1945), better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional road and track bicycle racer who is among the most successful riders in the history of competitive cycling. His victorie ...
for nine years, riding with him on
Faema
FAEMA (Italian acronym: Fabbrica Apparecchiature Elettromeccaniche e Affini) primarily engaged in the production of espresso machines, was founded in 1945 by Carlo Ernesto Valente, in Milan, Italy.
Faema was to become synonymous with the post ...
from 1968 to 1970, and from 1971 to 1976, and was known for being Merckx's main
domestique
In road bicycle racing, a domestique is a rider who works for the benefit of their team and leader, rather than trying to win the race. In French, ''domestique'' translates as "servant".However, in French, the term used is ''équipier''. In I ...
. He also rode with
Raymond Poulidor
Raymond Poulidor (; 15 April 1936 – 13 November 2019), nicknamed "Pou-Pou" (), was a French professional racing cyclist, who rode for his entire career.
His distinguished career coincided with two other outstanding riders – Jacques Anquet ...
from 1962 to 1966 on .
Death
Van Schil committed suicide at his home on September 30, 2009, at age 69, due to suffering from
depression.
Major results
;1962
: 1st
Tour du Condroz
The Tour de Condroz was a Belgian cycling race organized for the last time in 1978.
With Brussels as starting place, the major part of the course was situated in the Condroz region of the Ardennes, Liège. Nandrin was the finish place.
The c ...
: 3rd
Scheldeprijs
The Scheldeprijs is a cycling race in Flanders and the Netherlands which starts in Terneuzen, crosses the Scheldt River, and finishes in Schoten. Until 2018 it was held entirely in Belgium. The event, ranked as a 1.HC race on the UCI Europe Tour, ...
;1963
: 1st
Schaal Sels
Schaal Sels is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in September in Merksem, Belgium. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour
The UCI Continental Circuits are a series of road bicycle racing competitions wh ...
;1964
: 1st Stage 11
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España (; en, Tour of Spain) is an annual multi-stage bicycle race primarily held in Spain, while also occasionally making passes through nearby countries. Inspired by the success of the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia, the ...
: 2nd
Brussels–Ingooigem
: 3rd
Grand Prix du Midi Libre
: 3rd Overall Circuit du Provençal
;1965
: 3rd
Tour du Condroz
The Tour de Condroz was a Belgian cycling race organized for the last time in 1978.
With Brussels as starting place, the major part of the course was situated in the Condroz region of the Ardennes, Liège. Nandrin was the finish place.
The c ...
: 4th
Paris–Roubaix
Paris–Roubaix is a one-day professional bicycle road race in northern France, starting north of Paris and finishing in Roubaix, at the border with Belgium. It is one of cycling's oldest races, and is one of the ' Monuments' or classics of th ...
;1966
: 1st Stage 1a
Tour of Belgium
The Tour of Belgium ( nl, Ronde van België; french: Tour de Belgique) is a five-day bicycle race which is held annually in Belgium, and is part of the UCI ProSeries.
It was held annually between 1908 and 1981, except during both world wars. Bet ...
: 2nd
Liège–Bastogne–Liège
Liège–Bastogne–Liège, also known as ''La Doyenne'' ("The Old Lady"), is a one-day classic cycling race in Belgium.Cycling Weekly, UK, 13 March 1993 First run in 1892, it is the oldest of the five '' Monuments'' of the European professional ...
;1967
: 1st Overall
Tour de Wallonie
The Tour de Wallonie is a stage race cycling race on the UCI Europe Tour. It runs in Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northw ...
;1968
: 1st Stage 13
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España (; en, Tour of Spain) is an annual multi-stage bicycle race primarily held in Spain, while also occasionally making passes through nearby countries. Inspired by the success of the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia, the ...
: 1st
Brabantse Pijl
The Brabantse Pijl ( en, Brabant Arrow, french: italic=yes, Flèche Brabançonne or ''Flèche Branconne'') is a Flanders Classics road bicycle race held annually in Flemish Brabant and in Walloon Brabant, Belgium. Since 2005, the race has been or ...
: 3rd
Grand Prix Fayt-le-Franc
Le Samyn is an annual single-day road bicycle race in Belgium, held usually in late February or early March. The event was created in 1968 as ''Grand Prix de Fayt-le-Franc'', named after the former municipality where it started and finished. In 1 ...
: 3rd Overall
Tour de Wallonie
The Tour de Wallonie is a stage race cycling race on the UCI Europe Tour. It runs in Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northw ...
: 5th
Paris–Roubaix
Paris–Roubaix is a one-day professional bicycle road race in northern France, starting north of Paris and finishing in Roubaix, at the border with Belgium. It is one of cycling's oldest races, and is one of the ' Monuments' or classics of th ...
;1969
: 1st Stage 4 Vuelta a Mallorca
: 2nd
Schaal Sels
Schaal Sels is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in September in Merksem, Belgium. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour
The UCI Continental Circuits are a series of road bicycle racing competitions wh ...
: 2nd
Liège–Bastogne–Liège
Liège–Bastogne–Liège, also known as ''La Doyenne'' ("The Old Lady"), is a one-day classic cycling race in Belgium.Cycling Weekly, UK, 13 March 1993 First run in 1892, it is the oldest of the five '' Monuments'' of the European professional ...
: 2nd
Brussels–Ingooigem
;1970
: 1st
Tour du Condroz
The Tour de Condroz was a Belgian cycling race organized for the last time in 1978.
With Brussels as starting place, the major part of the course was situated in the Condroz region of the Ardennes, Liège. Nandrin was the finish place.
The c ...
: 2nd
Brabantse Pijl
The Brabantse Pijl ( en, Brabant Arrow, french: italic=yes, Flèche Brabançonne or ''Flèche Branconne'') is a Flanders Classics road bicycle race held annually in Flemish Brabant and in Walloon Brabant, Belgium. Since 2005, the race has been or ...
;1972
: 1st
Tour du Condroz
The Tour de Condroz was a Belgian cycling race organized for the last time in 1978.
With Brussels as starting place, the major part of the course was situated in the Condroz region of the Ardennes, Liège. Nandrin was the finish place.
The c ...
: 2nd
Züri-Metzgete
Züri-Metzgete (Zürich German; en, Championship of Zürich; german: Meisterschaft von Zürich) was a European Classic cycle race held annually in Zürich, Switzerland, and continued as a non-professional mass participation event from 2007 unt ...
: 3rd Grand Prix Monaco
: 9th
Liège–Bastogne–Liège
Liège–Bastogne–Liège, also known as ''La Doyenne'' ("The Old Lady"), is a one-day classic cycling race in Belgium.Cycling Weekly, UK, 13 March 1993 First run in 1892, it is the oldest of the five '' Monuments'' of the European professional ...
;1973
: 2nd
Brabantse Pijl
The Brabantse Pijl ( en, Brabant Arrow, french: italic=yes, Flèche Brabançonne or ''Flèche Branconne'') is a Flanders Classics road bicycle race held annually in Flemish Brabant and in Walloon Brabant, Belgium. Since 2005, the race has been or ...
: 2nd
Grote Prijs Jef Scherens
Grote Prijs Jef Scherens is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in September in Leuven, Belgium. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. The race is named after the seven-time professional sprint world c ...
: 2nd
Schaal Sels
Schaal Sels is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in September in Merksem, Belgium. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour
The UCI Continental Circuits are a series of road bicycle racing competitions wh ...
;1976
: 2nd
Druivenkoers Overijse
Druivenkoers Overijse is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in August in Overijse, Belgium. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour
The UCI Continental Circuits are a series of road bicycle racing
Road ...
References
External links
*
1939 births
2009 deaths
Belgian male cyclists
Spanish Vuelta a España stage winners
Place of birth missing
{{Belgium-cycling-bio-1930s-stub