ERIC VANDERAERDEN DEMIGOD AT AGE 23
First name: Eric
Last name: Vanderaerden
Nationality: Belgium
Age: 61 years old
Date of birth: 11-02-1962
Place of birth: Herk-de-Stad (Limburg), Belgium
Eric Vanderaerden flew into the pro peloton like a comet. He had his best years at age 23 and 24, followed by another peak year at age 25. Even before he turned 23, he already had stages in Paris-Nice, the Tour of Switzerland, the Tour de France and the Vuelta to his name, was Belgian Champion and also winner of Paris-Brussels. But even more impressive, when he was 23, he became winner of Ghent-Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders. He rode from 1984 to 1989 for the Panasonic team, which then reigned supreme in the classics. Together with his teammate Eddy Planckaert, he was one of the most imaginative riders in the peloton at the time. Eric never avoided confrontation and never minced words.
The way he won the 1985 Tour of Flanders as a 23-year-old youngster in apocalyptic circumstances was phenomenal. The 1985 edition is recorded as one of the toughest ever because of those improbable weather conditions. Of the 173 riders who took off, only 24 reached the finish line. Vanderaerden won solo in Meerbeke and in the top 10, we find the names of Phil Anderson, Hennie Kuiper, Claude Criquielion, Walter Planckaert and Greg Lemond. All world top riders who were driven home by the 23-year-old Vanderaerden. After that victory, Vanderaerden was elevated to hero status in the cycling-mad Flemish cycling landscape. For so long, Belgium had been waiting for the new Merckx, and a new cycling hero was more than welcome.
After his transfer to the Buckler team in 1990 – at the age of 28 – Vanderaerden became a “normal cyclist” again, picking up his occasional victory. From the demigod he was to some at a young age, he once again became an ordinary flesh-and-blood human being.
Vanderaerden was a professional from 1983 to 1996 and won 94 UCI races in his career. His eventual palmares include Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, E3 Harelbeke, Ghent-Wevelgem, Paris-Brussels, five Tour stages, the green jersey in the Tour de France, three stages of the Vuelta, five stages of the Tour of Switzerland and five times overall in the Three Days of Bruges-De Panne.
After his career
After his active racing career, Eric remained in the racing scene, albeit at a lower level. For example, he was team manager of the Yawadoo – Colba – ABM team where his brother Gert was also under contract. In 2006 Vanderaerden became team manager of Team Cyclingnews.com, an Australian continental team. In 2010, he became team manager of Qin Cycling Team. Eric also was/is a sponsor escort and VIP driver at various cycling events.
Text: Patrick Van Gansen
