Henri Van Lerberghe
In 1919, “Ritte” Van Lerberghe showed up bikeless to the starting line of the Tour of Flanders. The First World War had just ended, and Ritte traveled to the race straight from the frontline. He borrowed a bike from a local, and in the typical Ritte style, attacked the pack almost immediately. Ritte built up such a sizable lead by the finishing town that instead of heading to the velodrome for the victory lap, he decided to veer off course and stop at a pub for pint. One beer turned into three or four, and despite the fact that he now felt more like hanging out with the locals than winning the biggest race of the year, Ritte was coaxed back on his borrowed bike and wobbled across the street to complete the finishing laps on the velodrome. Ritte had won Belgium’s greatest race and had fun doing it.
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