The picture Hennie didn't put in.

What a joy it was to browse through the Hennie Kuiper pictures Ev recently brought to our notice on this Blog. Late 70's early 80's, marvellous pictures of an era of heros, riding proper bikes, no hats so we could recognize them, nothing stuck in their ears or on their handlebars and pushing proper racing gears. What an old fart I am! I searched all through the pictures looking for one of the most dramatic moments in bike racing I ever saw on TV and it is there. http://www.flickr.com/photos/henniekuiper/3749388186/in/set-72157621681116938/
Hennie was away on his own with only a few kilometres to the finish of Paris-Roubaix, the Classic everyone wants to win. On a right hand bend his rear tyre rolled off and he slithered to a halt in the kerb. What a panic! Hennie's face was a picture of intensity. He flung down his bike, turned to look behind him for help and to see where the chasers were. He clapped his hands to hurry up the mechanic. He needed his spare bike but the lad came with a wheel and made a pigs ear of the change. Then another guy ran up with his complete bike and he was away again, still in the lead. The whole incident took only 30 seconds but it must have seemed like a lifetime to Hennie. He won on his own. Here he is with Mick in the square in Westouter at Gent-Wevelgem a few years ago when he was with Rabobank. I always thought he looked a bit like a young Millsy.