Antoine Dignef, actually won the Vuelta

Antoine Dignef was born on October 3, 1910 in Velm and actually won the Vuelta in 1935. if he hadn't been knocked over by a motorcyclist. He lost 20 minutes as a result.

In the first real mountain stage he ever contested, without a gearbox and on the bad Spanish roads, the young Haspengouwer rode all the Madrileños, Catalans and Basques at a great distance, even the brown-legged climbers who drank bull's blood, and the dwarfs from the mountains of Torrelavega and Galicia. After the last col he flamed on alone for a long time without weakening and without ever having seen the Spanish landscape. He thought he had a lead of many minutes, but suddenly a honking truck came and urged him to stop. Three Spanish riders jumped out and secretly got back on their bikes. Fresh water bottles and bananas were handed out, also to Toine. Everyone laughed as if that was normal, there was even an official sitting next to the driver. Toine van Velm didn't understand anything about the fuss, about the explanation in such a strange language, and the Belgian thought there had been a mistake on the road, with neutralization. But no, for the race organizers it was just much better that the three Catalans would sprint for the stage win and that's how it happened. Toine accepted this, did not quarrel, got some pesetas, and remained silent. He didn't win the Tour of Catalonia, but he did win the lifelong friendship of all those great Catalans.

Especially in 1935 Antoine Dignef was very strong. The war and problems with his health forced him to stop when he was not yet 30 years old. He became a café owner and taxi driver.

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