Γκέρι Κνέτεμαν

|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle |bgcolor=gold| Χρυσό || 1978 Nürburgring || Elite Men's Road Race Πρότυπο:MedalBottom Gerrie Knetemann (March 6, 1951 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland – November 2, 2004 in Bergen, Noord-Holland) was a Dutch road bicycle racer who won the 1978 World Championship.

A four-time winner of the Ronde van Nederland, he rode 11 editions of the Tour de France between 1974 and 1987, winning a total of 10 stages. It is a Dutch record equalled only by his team-mates Jan Raas and Joop Zoetemelk. Knetemann won 127 races as a professional.

Knetemann, born in Amsterdam, maintained an Amsterdam accent and a sharp sense of humour that made him a favourite with reporters and earned him many television and radio appearances. His best year in the Tour de France was 1978, when he led the race from the sixth stage. Although he lost the leader's yellow jersey two days later, he won the stage into Lausanne and then the prestigious final stage on the Champs Elysées in Paris.

His career dwindled after a crash in A Travers la Belgique in Belgium in March 1983. Recovery took months and, although he did again ride the Tour de France, there was nothing left of the once sparkling star. He retired from racing and in 1991, became Dutch national team selector.

Knetemann died while riding his bike. He collapsed from a heart attack while riding with friends in Bergen, the Netherlands.

External links

• Knetemann's death on Yahoo! News
• Report on Knetemann's death in Le Monde (Γαλλικά)

Πρότυπο:Netherlands-sport-bio-stub Πρότυπο:Cyclingbio-stub