Flandria (cycling team)
| Team information | |
|---|---|
| Registered |  Belgium |
| Founded | 1957 |
| Disbanded | 1979 |
| Discipline(s) | Road |
| Status | UCI Division I |
| Key personnel | |
| General manager | Briek Schotte |
| Team manager(s) | Jean de Gribaldy |
Team Flandria was a Belgian professional cycling team that existed from 1957 to 1979. It was sponsored by Flandria a bicycle manufacturer located in West Flanders that also manufactures mopeds, lawnmowers, and motorbikes.
History
Started with a team built around Jo Planckaert, and Rik Van Looy. Youngsters Eddy Merckx, Peter Post, Herman Van Springel, and Walter Godefroot all joined at early stages of their career, although some such as Merckx left soon after to become leader of his own team.
After Van Looy's retirement, Belgian Freddy Maertens took over the leadership mantle, famous for his rivalry with Eddy Merckx. Irishman Sean Kelly also started his professional career with Flandria, as Maertens' super-domestique.