Categories: Defining MomentsRacingThe Hardmen

Here Stands a Man: Johan Van Summeren

Working man Van Summeren wins in Roubaix. Photo: Fotoreporter Sirotti

Here stands a man. A quiet man. A hard working man. A Belgian man. A man from a life of grit, cold, and rain.

Here stands a man who has chosen a life of hard work and sacrifice; a hard life even within the context of Cycling. A man who spends long hours in the wind and in the rain, in the service of his team. A man who despite those long hours in the wind and in the rain, typically tastes victory only upon the tongue of others.

Here stands a man who even today, spent the day in the service of another. A man who’s loyalty lay elsewhere, for another man’s glory. But he is also a man who was given an opportunity. A man who more so than any other today, wanted that opportunity and grabbed hold with both hands, resolving only to let go if the very air within his lungs abandoned him.

Here stands a man who only required air in his lungs – not his tires – in order to reach the velodrome alone. A man who even as the air escaped his tire five kilometers from the finish refused to let up on the pedals.

Here stands a man who despite a half minute lead entering the final two kilometers had me biting my nails since the man chasing at 30 seconds happened to be the fastest man in the world, known for making the impossible possible. A man for whom my legs twitched in sympathy as he circled the velodrome and as I continued to wonder if a Swiss gentleman aboard a brommer wouldn’t appear out of nowhere to steal his glory.

Here stands a man who’s name is forever changed by the words, “Vainqueur de Paris-Roubaix.”

Here stands a man. A quiet man. A hard working man. A Belgian man. A man from a life of grit, cold, and rain. No other man stands today who better represents the wondrous power of this sport in general, and the magic of Paris-Roubaix in particular.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

michael says:

Apr 10 2011 at 1:54 pm

Here stands a post that spoiled the coverage that I was going to watch later today. Despite my best efforts to avoid anything cycling related up until then, this popped up in my rss reader.
frank says:

Apr 10 2011 at 1:59 pm

Ah, bummer. Sorry mate. Stupid interwebs. I guess you'll have to play like the rest of us and watch the live feed at 5am on the west coast.
michael says:

Apr 10 2011 at 3:39 pm

I saw no live feed available otherwise I think I would have watched it before that post came up or at least have been afk for it.
G'phant says:

Apr 10 2011 at 4:04 pm

Nice post. What a great guy to get the win. And what a great race. I enjoyed it as much second time around as I did the first. (In addition to the racing, which was just as fantastic second time around, there were two other reasons for this: (i) every time I spoke to Brett I could see the fear flash over his face that I was going to tell him the result and that he would therefore have to risk spilling his Leffe Blonde as he attacked me with his mini-pump; (ii) our watching was regularly punctuated by paunchy chaps wondering into the pub expecting / hoping to watch some golf with their breakfast and finding themselves trumped by a far better sport. And you think Spartacus looked grumpy ...
Xponti says:

Apr 10 2011 at 4:37 pm

Here stands a man that also got the girl. He proposed to his girlfriend after winning. @bigringriding posted "I hope she has a big finger cause he sure has a big ring."
Oldschooly says:

Apr 10 2011 at 4:47 pm

To avoid surprises one must endure rising at an early hour, 5a.m. Pacicfic, to watch this monument live (cyclingfans,Steephill). Live the V. Don't whine if you find out the result before your early evening VS. broadcast.
Scuba Steve says:

Apr 10 2011 at 5:08 pm

It was great to see an outsider, a non favourite, a non BIG name get a win an be so roundly congratulated and respected by everyone.

Generally when a non favourite or non team leader takes a win like this they play it off as a mistake by the peleton or a lucky day by the winner, but not Vansummeren every article I have read today describes him as a deserving and worthy winner. Fantastic race and another great Roubaix to inspire me for the rest of the season.

Bit of bad luck for spartacus although he came agonisingly close in the end. Still had him in my tips (as did every other tipster)
Scuba Steve says:

Apr 10 2011 at 5:09 pm

A double handed victory salute with a flat rear tyre is impressive!
il ciclista medio says:

Apr 10 2011 at 5:13 pm

Great race, great post frank.
Like you I was watching, waiting to see if Faboo could do it. If his group hadn't fucked around so much earlier as to who was going to do the work, he just may well have.
wiscot says:

Apr 10 2011 at 5:58 pm

Dear fellow Velominati,
Please allow me some late sunday evening musings as to why we are practiotioners/adherents of the finest sport. Today, two sports celebrated (arguably) their finest events. We had Paris-Roubaix, golf had the masters. Both were won by journeymen who may never again achieve what they did today. Both were rewarded with covered trophies: a plinth-mounted cobblestone, a green jacket. There the similarity ends. Some freakishly warm to hot weather here in Wisconsin saw me do a couple of stellar rides: 131 kms yesterday and 88kms today (full disclosure, today's last 16kms were into a bastard of a wind. Severe storms are expected tonight). Anyway, one both rides I say golfers out - no doubt inspired, as we are, by the of their heroes. What appalled me was that everybody was using a cart. Really? you can't stroll a few miles AND carry your bag? FFS. Not only that, imagine subscribing to a game (not sport) where you have a limited number of places to play and even then, after you've paid for your equipment, you still have to pay to play! Not us. We are free to ride wherever we want, whenever we want. We don't have to wait for courses to open. No sir. Even the few good-weather riders were having fun in the sun and could go where they pleased for free. Both sports have hallowed colors: the yellow or pink jersies, but have you ever seen such a vile green as the masters jacket? Not only that, the one they gave the winner was WAY too large. What? you don't have a closet full of various sizes to get something that doesn't look like it was tailored for John Daly? A couple of other differences: the masters of played on perfectly manicured grass, P-R is on conserved pave. Both saw late surges by established champions. I saw footage of Cancellara being gracious to JvS. Woods gave an all-too common surly and brief interview. Who has the class? Nuff said.
Anyhoo, just thought I'd share my thoughts. For golf, read most other sports and games: at someone else's place on their times and their schedule.
It's going to be a good year for riding wherever and whenever we want for as long as we want. Perfect!