Willy Vannitsen

Willy Vannitsen (8 February 1935 – 19 August 2001) was a Belgian professional road bicycle racer. In 1962, Vannitsen won two stages in the 1962 Tour de France.

Early life
Vannitsen was born on 8 February 1935 in Jeuk, Limburg. In his time, Vannitsen was known as one of the fastest legs in the peloton. In the youth categories he won more than 100 competitions. In 1951, he became Belgian champion with the novices, ahead of Frans Schoubben. As an enthusiast, he won 70 races in two years (1952, 1953).

Career
Vannitsen made his debut as a professional cyclist with Peugeot in 1954, with four victories. In his entire professional career (1954-1966) he achieved a total of 91 victories. His most honored year was 1958, when he received the victory flowers 14 times. There is one classic victory on his palmares: the Flèche Wallonne in 1961. Vannitsen was part of a leading group, which he was able to join in the full final in the wake of Jacques Anquetil. The Belgian made it in the sprint, ahead of the French race sprinter Jean Graczyk.

Vannitsen won two Tour stages and one stage in the Giro. His other most important victories include the Ronde van Limburg (1957 and 1960), the Omloop van Limburg (1958, 1961 and 1966), the Omloop van Centraal Brabant, Milano–Vignola (1961), Borgloon, Aalst and Vorst–Brussels (1962), the Grand Prix of Dortmund and Zonhoven-Antwerp-Zonhoven (1963), the Scheldeprijs (1965) and the famous Acht van Chaam in 1962. His most important places of honor are a second place in Paris–Brussels in 1959 behind Frans Schoubben, in the Tour of Lombardy behind Rik Van Looy, in the Belgian championship in 1960 behind Frans De Mulder, and a third place in 1965 Paris–Roubaix behind Rik Van Looy and Edward Sels.

Willy Vannitsen finished 70th in his first Tour de France in 1962. That year he won the 10th and 15th stage. In his three other Tour participations (1963, 1964 and 1966) he gave up every time. He also rode the Tour of Italy four times, each time leaving the race early, but in 1958 he won the first stage, which earned him a day in pink.

Vannitsen also took part in the Tour of the Netherlands twice. In 1956 he finished fifth and won a stage. In 1965 he was 34th. He rode the Tour of Belgium five times: 4th in 1955 with a stage victory, retired in 1959 but a stage victory, 73rd in 1965 and 13th in 1966.

Vannitsen was also quite good on the track. He won two Six Days: in 1957 in Brussels, together with fellow countryman Rik Van Looy and in 1961 in Antwerp with the same Van Looy and the Dutchman Peter Post.

Death
At the age of 64, Vannitsen suffered acerebral haemorrhage. He completely recovered, but died two years later after a fall.

Road

 * 1951
 * 1st MaillotBélgica.PNG Road race, National Novice Championships


 * 1953
 * 1st Stages 1 & 5 Tour of Belgium amateurs
 * 1st Upsala
 * 1st Vaasteras
 * 2nd Omloop der Vlaamse Gewesten amateurs


 * 1954
 * 1st Stages 1, 2, 6 & 8 Tour of Belgium amateurs
 * 1st Stages 4 & 5 Tour of Limburg amateurs
 * 1st Heistse Pijl
 * 1st Antwerpse Havenpijl
 * 1st Hoegaarden
 * 1st Momalle
 * 1st Zele
 * 3rd De Drie Zustersteden


 * 1955
 * 1st Brussegem
 * 1st Geel
 * 1st Heusden–Limburg
 * 1st Tessenderlo
 * 1st Omloop van de Gete
 * 1st De Drie Zustersteden
 * 1st Grote Bevrijdingsprijs
 * 1st Itegem
 * 1st Circuit de la Gette
 * 3rd Flèche Hesbignonne
 * 4th Overall Tour of Belgium
 * 1st Stage 1


 * 1956
 * 1st Omloop van de Fruitstreek Alken
 * 1st Beerse
 * 1st Herent
 * 1st Jeuk
 * 1st Wellen
 * 1st Beersel
 * 4th Milan–San Remo
 * 5th Overall Tour of the Netherlands
 * 1st Stage 2
 * 7th Overall Driedaagse van Antwerpen
 * 1st Stage 1


 * 1957
 * 1st Omloop van de Fruitstreek Alken
 * 1st Overall Tour of Limburg
 * 1st Beerse
 * 1st Brazzaville
 * 1st Houthalen-Helchteren
 * 1st Lommel
 * 1st Londerzeel
 * 1st Loverval
 * 1st Oviedo
 * 1st Putte-Mechelen
 * 1st Overpelt


 * 1958
 * 1st Omloop van Limburg
 * 1st Giro di Toscana
 * Giro d'Italia:
 * Winner Stage 1
 * Held Jersey rosa.svg after Stage 1
 * Paris–Nice
 * Winner Stages 2 & 3
 * 1st Fontanelas
 * 1st Melsele
 * 1st Paal
 * 1st Sint-Truiden
 * 1st Wavre
 * 1st Vijfbergenomloop
 * 1st Heusden Limburg
 * 1st Florenville
 * 1st Hoepertingen
 * 1st Zele
 * 5th La Flèche Wallonne


 * 1959
 * 1st Berlare
 * 1st Beverlo
 * 1st Puurs
 * 1st Rummen
 * 1st Wingene
 * 1st Nazareth
 * 1st Tienen
 * 2nd Giro di Lombardia
 * 2nd Paris–Brussels
 * 2nd Milano-Mantova


 * 1960
 * 1st Overall Tour of Limburg
 * 2nd National Championships Road race
 * 1st Averbode
 * 1st Stage 1 Brussels–Sint-Truiden
 * 1st Koersel, Koersel
 * 1st Lommel
 * 6th Circuit de Louest


 * 1961
 * 1st La Flèche Wallonne
 * 1st Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli
 * 1st Milano–Vignola
 * 1st Tre Valli Varesine
 * 1st Primus Classic
 * 1st Molenstede
 * 1st Oedelem
 * 1st Omloop van Limburg
 * 1st Omloop van Centraal-Brabant
 * 1st Critérium of Winterthur
 * 1st Critérium of Charleroi
 * 1st Eke
 * 1st Wingene
 * 8th Brussels–Ingooigem
 * 9th Super Prestige Pernod


 * 1962
 * Tour de France
 * 1st Stages 10 & 15
 * Tour de Luxembourg
 * 1st Stage 2
 * 1st Aalst
 * 1st Acht van Chaam
 * 1st Borgloon
 * 1st Omloop Groot Oostende
 * 1st Critérium of Peyrehorade
 * 1st Vorst – Brussel
 * 5th GP Roeselare
 * 7th Tour of Flanders
 * 7th Gent–Wevelgem


 * 1963
 * 1st Bree
 * 1st GP Union Dortmund
 * 1st Helchteren
 * 1st Omloop van de Fruitstreek Alken
 * 1st Zonhoven – Antwerpen – Zonhoven
 * 4th Tour of Flanders
 * 7th Gent–Wevelgem
 * 8th Tour de Wallonie


 * 1965
 * 1st Scheldeprijs
 * 1st Opgrimbie


 * 1966
 * 1st Omloop van Limburg

Track

 * 1955
 * 3rd National Track Championships Sprint


 * 1956
 * 2nd National Track Championships Sprint


 * 1957
 * 1st Six Days of Brussels (with Rik Van Looy)
 * 2nd National Track Championships Sprint
 * 3rd Six Days of Ghent (with Gerrit Schulte)
 * 3rd Six Days of Antwerp (with Rik Van Steenbergen and Emiel Severeyns)
 * 3rd Six Days of Paris (with Leon Van Daele) and Alfred De Bruyne)


 * 1960
 * 2nd National Track Championships Sprint


 * 1961
 * 1st Six Days of Antwerp (with Rik Van Looy and Peter Post)


 * 1963
 * European Championships
 * 2nd Silver medal europe.svg Madison (with Peter Post)
 * 2nd Six Days of Antwerp (with Reginald Arnold and Peter Post)
 * 3rd National Track Championships Madison
 * 3rd National Track Championships Omnium


 * 1965
 * 2nd National Track Championships Madison