Frank Vandenbroucke (cyclist) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Frank Vandenbroucke

Vandenbroucke at the 2002 Paris–Tours
Personal information
Full name	Frank Vandenbroucke
Nickname	VDB
Born	(1974-11-06)6 November 1974 Mouscron, Belgium
Died	12 October 2009(2009-10-12) (aged 34) Saly, Senegal
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	64 kg (141 lb; 10 st 1 lb)
Team information
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	Rouleur
Major wins
Grand Tours Vuelta a España Points classification (1999) 2 individual stages (1999) Stage races Paris–Nice (1998) One-day races and Classics Liège–Bastogne–Liège (1999) Gent–Wevelgem (1998) GP Ouest-France (1996) Omloop Het Volk (1999) Scheldeprijs (1996)

Frank Vandenbroucke (born 6 November 1974 – died 12 October 2009) was a Belgian professional road racing cyclist. He showed great talent in track and field when he was young. Later, he started cycle racing in the late 1980s. Many people hoped he would become a big star in Belgian cycling during the 1990s. He won many important races, including Liège–Bastogne–Liège, stages in Grand Tours, and Omloop Het Volk.

Even though he tried to keep racing with different teams from 2000 to 2008, Frank Vandenbroucke faced many challenges. These difficulties eventually led him away from the cycling world. In 2009, he said he was feeling better mentally. However, he sadly passed away in October 2009 at 34 years old from a pulmonary embolism.

Early Life and Introduction to Cycling

Frank Vandenbroucke was born in Mouscron, Belgium. He grew up in Ploegsteert, a village where people speak French and Dutch. When he was four years old in 1978, a rally car hit him while he was cycling. This accident led to four operations on his right knee. He had problems with his knee throughout his life.

Frank first tried athletics and became a regional schoolboy champion in 1986. In 1989, he got a cycling license and won a race in Brakel. People noticed his amazing talent for cycling early on. One person described him as a skinny, blond kid who could easily keep up with older, experienced cyclists. He was very confident and skilled even at a young age.

In 1991, when he was 17, Frank won the national road championship for beginners. The next year, in 1992, he finished third in the world junior road championship in Athens.

Frank Vandenbroucke's Cycling Career

Frank Vandenbroucke became a professional cyclist in 1993. He joined the Belgian team, Lotto. His uncle, Jean-Luc, was the team's manager. Over the next six years, Frank won 51 races. One of his biggest wins was the 1999 Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 1999. After 2000, he often appeared in the news for trying to make comebacks and for personal challenges.

In 1995, Frank left Lotto and joined Mapei–GB–Latexco. There, he became teammates with Johan Museeuw. The team manager was Patrick Lefevere. In 1997, his team chose him for the Tour de France. This was his first of only two times racing in the Tour de France. He almost won a stage twice, finishing second on stage 3 and stage 16.

In 1998, Frank had a very successful year. He won Gent–Wevelgem. He also won two stages and the overall competition of Paris–Nice. Additionally, he won two stages of the Tour de Wallonie. This was his last season with the Mapei team.

Best Year in 1999

In 1999, Frank Vandenbroucke moved to the French team Cofidis. At just 24 years old, he had the best year of his career. He won Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Omloop Het Volk, and stages in Paris–Nice and the Vuelta a España. His victory in Liège–Bastogne–Liège was very impressive. He had told everyone on television exactly where and when he would attack during the race. He even pointed out the house number where he would make his second attack!

However, 1999 was his last year with major victories. He had a contract that paid him a lot of money, which some people thought led to difficulties for him. He continued to face challenges and his performance in 2000 was not as strong. People in cycling started talking more about his life outside of racing.

Later Career and Challenges

In 2001, Frank moved to the Italian team, Lampre–Daikin. The next year, he joined the Belgian team Domo–Farm Frites, where he reunited with manager Patrick Lefevère and teammate Johan Museeuw. Frank stayed with Lefevère when he started the Quick-Step–Davitamon team in 2003. That year, he finished second to Peter van Petegem in the Tour of Flanders. Frank was happy with his effort, but Lefevère felt he didn't try hard enough, so Frank left the team.

In 2004, he joined the Italian team, Fassa Bortolo. He even asked not to be paid unless he won races. However, he had a difficult season and was later released from the team. Frank then joined Mr Bookmaker for 2005. He missed many races, and the team director asked him to show he was still serious about racing. In two seasons with the team, he only had one small success. He was eventually let go for not keeping in touch with the team. In 2008, he signed with Mitsubishi but was later suspended.

On 4 April 2009, Frank won a stage in a French race called La Boucle de l'Artois. It was a 15 km time trial, and it was his first win in a UCI-recognized race since 1999. Frank once said in 2004 that he had disappointed sponsors and managers. He felt troubled and exhausted by his personal difficulties.

Death

Frank Vandenbroucke passed away on 12 October 2009. He was on holiday in Saly, a coastal town in Senegal, Africa. He had planned to stay there for 12 days with a former teammate. An examination in Senegal showed that he died from a pulmonary embolism, which is a blockage in an artery in the lungs.

Major Results

Grand Tour General Classification Results

Grand Tour	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Giro d'Italia	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tour de France	50	—	—	DNF	—	—	—
/ Vuelta a España	—	DNF	12	—	—	—	DNF

Images for kids

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  Vandenbroucke, riding for Acqua & Sapone in 2006