Aad van den Hoek, from Dirksland,  was a professional cyclist between 1974 and 1983. He was part of the legendary TI-Raleigh and rode nine seasons with them. The team was famous for its success in team time trials. Together with the team, Aad van den Hoek won four Team Time Trials in the Tour de France of 1976, 1978, and 1981. 

In 1976, he finished last in the Tour de France general classification and carried the Lanterne rouge. Although it was never an official classification at the Tour, the Lanterne Rouge was always a fan favourite. The fans gave the name to the last guy on the GC. It became so popular that the lanterne rouge would get invited to the post-Tour criterium races which took place in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. 

In addition to his appearances in the Tour de France, van den Hoek rode in the 1971 World Championships, where he won a silver medal in the Team Time Trial. The following year, he became an Olympian, competing in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany.

Aad will join us in October for the Braveheart Cycling Fund Diner and Ride.