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s70rguy
is a prolific poster on BikeForums regarding
vintage Dutch race bikes, with emphasis on the Champion Mondial
from Gazelle. Here's one of his many informative contributions: |
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In the mid 60s, the then
CEO of Gazelle mr. Breukink (yes, the father of later pro-rider and
now RaboBank teammanager Erik Breukink) thought it necessary to change
the somewhat conservative image of Gazelle. So he started a professional
racing team, Willem II-Gazelle, with prominent names like Peter Post.
A young neo-pro rider was Rini Wagtmans, who pretty soon became rather
successful in stage races: 3rd in the Vuelta of 1969, 6th in the (his
first) Tour de France of that year, and even 5th in the Tour of 1970.
As far as I know, the Willem II-Gazelle team were riding the first
incarnations of the Champion Mondial. I visited the office of mr.
Wagtmans company (Gowa) yesterday, where one of his Gazelle's is displayed.
Or rather, it was just standing there in the entrance hall, nobody
there, who would have stopped me putting it into the trunk of my car?
(My conscience probably!).
Anyway, it gave me a chance to look over the details of the frame,
the components (hey! Sugino chainset???). Actually, it is exactly
like any other Champion Mondial from the 70s that I have seen, only
a bit simpler: simpler 'butterfly' brake bridge, simple fork crown,
no braze-ons, etc. Nothing magical here, it would seem.
Frame number: 2852788, with '70' stamped into the shell as well, so
that's a 1970 frame. |
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Seventies aero tuck! |
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Back
to Gazelle Main |
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