Impe impe impe impe...impe!
Pieter and I were chatting about today's results, and he wondered out loud whether the current Van Impe was the son of one of his old favorites, Lucien Van Impe. A little googling turns up the full extent of the Van Impe dynasty (with a huge tip of the helmet to the good work done at the Cyclingwebsite.)
Lucien, the uncle, you probably have heard of. "The small guy from Mere." His wins stretch from a first in the 1968 Tour de l'Avenir and include such oddities as 2nd in the Manx international (who knew?) as well as tons of stage wins in most of the major tours, and a not-insignificant haul of climbers' jerseys (polka-dotted and otherwise) tapering off to a last gasp in 1987, and an additional career off the bike.
Lucien's brother is Frank Van Impe. A specialist in minor races, but clearly first-rate in passing along skills and attitude to his son, the current Van Impe.
Three other Van Impes are given as cousins of Frank and Lucien, but they seem to be cousins, removed (based on the dates).
Achiel (racing in 1949/50), Remi and Constant were 3 racing brothers (with very cool names, no?) Constant won the 1931 Ronde Van Vlanderen, and it looks like he was also the Belgian champion in 1934. Remi came in 3rd in the 1927 Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen. Needless to say, this makes it much cooler that the current Van Impe has done well in some of the same strange (to me) small(er) races won by other Impes in their day, like Lede and [ahem] Buggenhout. (Which sounds like something you tell the other guy to do, when he's sucking your wheel.) A Scheldeprijs for him, too, someday? How nice that would be.
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Another Impe
van Impe dedicated his victory to his little son Jadyen van Impe that passed away one year ago shortly after being born. You might remember the infamous cycling episode in which a doping official came by to collect an urine sample a few hours after this devastating personal experience.
Kevin had a rough year so it is nice to see him win.
Now PEZ is spreading rumors
From the Eurotrash Thursday:
Van Impe claimed the victory in a two-up sprint and in doping so, denied Nico Eekhout the chance for a record equalling third win
That’s a really unfortunate typo when you’re in the cyclingjourno-business. :-D
Did your favourite rider just win Montepaschi Strade Bianch Eroica Toscana? OK then.
Don't forget Ed
Ed Van Impe was a legendary hockey player
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Van_Impe
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
third cousin's girlfriend's brother's best friend
Jack van Impe is pretty awesome too…
by plinytheelder on Mar 26, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Uh, I'll take yr word for it, 'K?
Didn’t get very far with that link. No bicycles, no bad music videos.
Lucien was such a little terror on the big GC climbs
seemed like he was pretty much always wearing the climber’s jersey. But he also had trouble turning over bigger gears on the climbs when the group attacks came, maybe due to his tiny build. I love that famous TdF pic of him throwing a water bottle at the photo moto (Watson?) when he felt it was too close and impeding his rhythm. I just tried to find it unsuccessfully, maybe I’ll look more later. Anyone have it to post?
"....Up Sestriere on a rental clunker in jeans and loafers? Brother, lemme buy you a beer."
by Rolls on Mar 26, 2009 1:10 PM EDT reply actions
Throwing things at Watson.
If I were AC, I’d make it my new hobby.

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