Henri Luyten

Henri Luyten

Henri Luyten (born August 1, 1873 in Koningshooikt , † September 28, 1954 in Boechout ) was a Belgian cyclist .

Henri Luyten was a professional racing driver from 1895 to 1897. As early as 1894 he had become Belgian amateur road champion. At the track cycling world championships in Cologne in 1895 , he came second in the professional standers . On this success he was invited to the court of the tsars in Russia . He traveled to Moscow with his own motorcycles and pacemakers and returned with awards and gifts.

Also in 1895 Luyten - his top name was "Hardi" - became Belgian road racing champion for the first time. The date and award for the race, which was organized by the “Safety Club Liegois” in Limburg near Smeermaas , had only been announced three days before. At the start were 18 drivers, professionals and amateurs together. Luyten won by more than 16 minutes; his closest competitor broke down. In 1986 he was again Belgian champion on the same track, but this time behind a pacemaker. In 1896 he became vice-European standing champion.

Luyten then retired from cycling and opened a café that was well attended due to its popularity as a racing driver.

literature

• Herman Laitem, Jozef Hamels: De Tricolore Trui. 1882-2007. 125 Jaar Belgian Campaign Schappen. Pinguin Productions et al., Balegem et al. 2008, ISBN 978-90-73322-21-9 , p. 23f.

Web links

• Henri Luyten in the Radsportseiten.net database