Don’t be surprised if you suddenly hear the name Frank van den Broek mentioned often during a cycling broadcast this season. This is not the regretted ex-pilot, but a young Dutch boy. “But maybe I recognize myself a little in Frank Vandenbroucke,” says the DSM-Firmenich PostNL rider.
“I was often asked my name, especially in Belgium,” laughs Frank van den Broek.
The affable Dutchman was born in 2000, a year after Frank Vandenbroucke won Liège-Bastogne-Liège and 2 stages of the Vuelta with extraordinary feats of strength. It can’t be a coincidence.
“I’m not sure if I was named after Frank Vandenbroucke. But there’s a good chance his successes influenced my choice of name.”
Van den Broek did not consciously experience Vandenbroucke as a cyclist. “But I’ve seen most of the documentaries about him.”
“I find it difficult to compare myself to Frank Vandenbroucke, because he was a very good driver.”
“But maybe I recognize myself a little in certain aspects. Just like Frank Vandenbroucke, I like to race aggressively.”
Frank van den Broek already ran several races in the DSM jersey last year.
Late flowering due to spleen rupture
The life story of Frank van den Broek has thus far been very different from that of his illustrious namesake.
Due to a heavy fall and a ruptured spleen, the Dutchman was barely able to race as a junior.
A professional career seemed distant, but Van den Broek has fully blossomed in the last two years. And this did not go unnoticed.
“Two years ago, after my overall victory at the Tour of Namur, I was allowed to do tests at the DSM. But nothing came of it,” says Van den Broek, who even seemed to be on track for the title Dutch elite last time. year.
“When a spot suddenly became available on the DSM development team last season, I made the switch.”
I dream of winning a stage of a Grand Tour.
Frank van den Broek
And now Van den Broek (23) is realizing his professional dream at a slightly older age than the average rider in the peloton.
“I dream of one day winning a stage in a Grand Tour. But in my first year I mainly want to run a lot of races, gain experience and see what type of competition is suitable for me.”
Van den Broek will begin his journey to discover the Middle East in February with the Muscat Classic and Tour of Oman. In Flanders you can immediately admire it at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Let’s see if Van den Broek immediately makes a name for himself in the classic that Frank Vandenbroucke wrote in his list of accolades 25 years ago.
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2024-01-10 14:56:34
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