Idol: Pierre Schroyen
Actually, I'm not really into “having idols”. I didn't have posters of my favorite band or movie star on the wall. My walls were full of cross posters, but really full. It was then the time of Peter Herlings, Kees van der Ven and of course the Americans such as Bob Hannah and Broc Clover were great examples who made me dream away in my own little cross world. Once you start cycling yourself, you will of course see how far you can go and you will be less concerned with the achievements of the “greats of the cycling world”.
I rode Mon (Gelimbra) for years and had a good time. Friends of mine were more concerned with our southern neighbors and came out for the BLB. A pleasant situation with many spectators at that time. My friends who made things unsafe there, such as Peter Hoendervangers, Marco Hopmans and Peter Nefs, even had their own supporters' club there. I believe I rode there for 1 season and then did some individual races when there was nothing special to do in the Netherlands.
Once in my life I had a cross idol and that was with the BLB. At that time, Pierre Schroyen from Belgian Limburg rode for the inters. Pierre was the man for me. He never knew that until now. The strange thing is that I never visited him in the riders' quarters, no contact in any way whatsoever. I actually didn't even know what he looked like. That wasn't important to me at all, I wanted to see him drive. His beautiful style and his fighting spirit. He was a big strong guy then and always sat on the motorcycle with his head bowed. Pierre drove fast, very fast. I recently saw a photo of him on the internet wearing a champion's jersey, so he must have been champion a number of times in his "heyday", I have no idea, but that doesn't really interest me at all. I don't know what the official conditions are for having an idol. Maybe you should know all that, but I feel like Pierre was that for me when I was in Belgium. For a while I even tried to imitate his style, it was so crazy to me. Of course that's not possible. You sit the way you sit and that's fine, but I didn't want that. I wanted “just like Pierre”.
Pierre doesn't know me and won't even recognize me if I bump into him, but a while ago I said hello to him again. I rode a race with the VBM veterans in Belgium and who got into the trap? That's right, Pierre! So I just rode with him once, and I loved the idea alone. I have had Pierre on Facebook for a while now and I saw that he is still very active in cross and cycling sports. He is still an example, especially for the youth. He is one of the many people who are committed to the well-being of our young people. Passing on norms, values and perseverance from the right heart. He is a source of inspiration and fitness. If you are allowed to remain injury-free, you can last a long time, in any sport, and Pierre is a living example of that. There are still athletes who cannot follow him, not then and still not. Pierre, thank you for the many wonderful moments and continue to be that example, then and now, for many...
Text: Olav Heijt
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