René De Rey
René De Rey (22 June 1931 – 28 November 2024) was a Belgian cyclo-cross cyclists.
René De Rey | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 June 1931 Zemst, Belgium |
| Died | 28 November 2024 (aged 93) Mechelen, Belgium |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Occupation | cyclo-cross cyclists |
De Rey became Belgian National Cyclo-cross Champion in 1957 and 1959. He represented Belgium five times at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships. He won in total 40 cyclo-cross races during his career.
Biography
changeRené started as a cross-country runner. Due to the popularity of cyclo-cross cycling he switched to cyclo-cross.[1][2]
At the Belgian National Cyclo-cross Championships he became national champion, as an amateur, in Budingen in 1957 ahead of Georges Furnière. Two years later in Hoeselt in 1959, he became again national champion as an amateur, winning ahead of Firmin Van Kerrebroeck. At the national championships he won the silver medal in 1964 (behind Roger De Clercq) and 1966 (behind Albert Van Damme).[1][3]
He represented Belgium five times at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships. His best achievement was the fifth place in Edelare in 1957.[1]
In 1958 De Rey won 16 cross-country races. De Rey started competing in the independent class from 1961. He was a professional cyclist from 1966 to 1970.[3] De Rey made cyclo-cross cycling very popular in the region of Mechelen.[1]
In 2020, a cycling race was named after him.[4][5]
De Rey celebrated in 2019 his diamond wedding anniversary with his for years younger wife Roza Beullens.[6] He died in Mechelen on 28 November 2024, at the age of 93 years old.[1][7]
References
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Oud-veldritkampioen René De Rey overleden". cyclingsite.be (in Dutch). 30 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ↑ "Oud-veldritkampioen- en pionier René De Rey (93) overleden". wielerflits.be (in Dutch). 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "René De Rey". cyclingarchives. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ↑ "Curieus viert oud-veldritkampioen René De Rey met grote prijs: "Ik hield ervan mijzelf af te martelen"". Het laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). 22 February 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ↑ "René De Rey (88) krijgt eigen Grote Prijs: "Twee keer kampioen geweest, maar nooit geld verdiend"". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). 10 March 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ↑ "Tweevoudig kampioen veldrijden viert briljanten bruiloft". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). 13 February 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ↑ Van Lindt, Aernout (1 December 2024). "Rust in vrede: veldritpioneer en meervoudig Belgisch kampioen overleden". wielerkrant.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 December 2024.