# Willy Vannitsen

Willy Vannitsen (8 February 1935 – 19 August 2001) was a Belgian professional road bicycle racer. In 1962, Vannitsen won two stages in the 1962 Tour de France.

## Early life

Vannitsen was born on 8 February 1935 in Jeuk, Limburg. In his time, Vannitsen was known as one of the fastest legs in the peloton. In the youth categories he won more than 100 competitions. In 1951, he became Belgian champion with the novices, ahead of Frans Schoubben. As an enthusiast, he won 70 races in two years (1952, 1953).

## Career

Vannitsen made his debut as a professional cyclist with Peugeot in 1954, with four victories. In his entire professional career (1954-1966) he achieved a total of 91 victories. His most honored year was 1958, when he received the victory flowers 14 times. There is one classic victory on his palmares: the Flèche Wallonne in 1961. Vannitsen was part of a leading group, which he was able to join in the full final in the wake of Jacques Anquetil. The Belgian made it in the sprint, ahead of the French race sprinter Jean Graczyk.
Vannitsen won two Tour stages and one stage in the Giro. His other most important victories include the Ronde van Limburg (1957 and 1960), the Omloop van Limburg (1958, 1961 and 1966), the Omloop van Centraal Brabant, Milano–Vignola (1961), Borgloon, Aalst and Vorst–Brussels (1962), the Grand Prix of Dortmund and Zonhoven-Antwerp-Zonhoven (1963), the Scheldeprijs (1965) and the famous Acht van Chaam in 1962.
His most important places of honor are a second place in Paris–Brussels in 1959 behind Frans Schoubben, in the Tour of Lombardy behind Rik Van Looy, in the Belgian championship in 1960 behind Frans De Mulder, and a third place in 1965 Paris–Roubaix behind Rik Van Looy and Edward Sels.
Willy Vannitsen finished 70th in his first Tour de France in 1962. That year he won the 10th and 15th stage. In his three other Tour participations (1963, 1964 and 1966) he gave up every time. He also rode the Tour of Italy four times, each time leaving the race early, but in 1958 he won the first stage, which earned him a day in pink.
Vannitsen also took part in the Tour of the Netherlands twice. In 1956 he finished fifth and won a stage. In 1965 he was 34th. He rode the Tour of Belgium five times: 4th in 1955 with a stage victory, retired in 1959 but a stage victory, 73rd in 1965 and 13th in 1966.
Vannitsen was also quite good on the track. He won two Six Days: in 1957 in Brussels, together with fellow countryman Rik Van Looy and in 1961 in Antwerp with the same Van Looy and the Dutchman Peter Post.

## Death

At the age of 64, Vannitsen suffered acerebral haemorrhage. He completely recovered, but died two years later after a fall.

## Major results
### Road
#### 1951

    1st Road race, National Novice Championships

#### 1953

    1st Stages 1 & 5 Tour of Belgium amateurs
    1st Upsala
    1st Vaasteras
    2nd Omloop der Vlaamse Gewesten amateurs

#### 1954

    1st Stages 1, 2, 6 & 8 Tour of Belgium amateurs
    1st Stages 4 & 5 Tour of Limburg amateurs
    1st Heistse Pijl
    1st Antwerpse Havenpijl
    1st Hoegaarden
    1st Momalle
    1st Zele
    3rd De Drie Zustersteden

#### 1955

    1st Brussegem
    1st Geel
    1st Heusden–Limburg
    1st Tessenderlo
    1st Omloop van de Gete
    1st De Drie Zustersteden
    1st Grote Bevrijdingsprijs
    1st Itegem
    1st Circuit de la Gette
    3rd Flèche Hesbignonne
    4th Overall Tour of Belgium
       1st Stage 1

#### 1956

    1st Omloop van de Fruitstreek Alken
    1st Beerse
    1st Herent
    1st Jeuk
    1st Wellen
    1st Beersel
    4th Milan–San Remo
    5th Overall Tour of the Netherlands
       1st Stage 2
    7th Overall Driedaagse van Antwerpen
       1st Stage 1

#### 1957

    1st Omloop van de Fruitstreek Alken
    1st Overall Tour of Limburg
    1st Beerse
    1st Brazzaville
    1st Houthalen-Helchteren
    1st Lommel
    1st Londerzeel
    1st Loverval
    1st Oviedo
    1st Putte-Mechelen
    1st Overpelt

#### 1958

    1st Omloop van Limburg
    1st Giro di Toscana
    Giro d'Italia:
       Winner Stage 1
       Held after Stage 1
    Paris–Nice
       Winner Stages 2 & 3
    1st Fontanelas
    1st Melsele
    1st Paal
    1st Sint-Truiden
    1st Wavre
    1st Vijfbergenomloop
    1st Heusden Limburg
    1st Florenville
    1st Hoepertingen
    1st Zele
    5th La Flèche Wallonne

#### 1959

    1st Berlare
    1st Beverlo
    1st Puurs
    1st Rummen
    1st Wingene
    1st Nazareth
    1st Tienen
    2nd Giro di Lombardia
    2nd Paris–Brussels
    2nd Milano-Mantova

#### 1960

    1st Overall Tour of Limburg
    2nd National Championships Road race
    1st Averbode
    1st Stage 1 Brussels–Sint-Truiden
    1st Koersel, Koersel
    1st Lommel
    6th Circuit de Louest

#### 1961

    1st La Flèche Wallonne
    1st Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli
    1st Milano–Vignola
    1st Tre Valli Varesine
    1st Primus Classic
    1st Molenstede
    1st Oedelem
    1st Omloop van Limburg
    1st Omloop van Centraal-Brabant
    1st Critérium of Winterthur
    1st Critérium of Charleroi
    1st Eke
    1st Wingene
    8th Brussels–Ingooigem
    9th Super Prestige Pernod

#### 1962

    Tour de France
       1st Stages 10 & 15
    Tour de Luxembourg
       1st Stage 2
    1st Aalst
    1st Acht van Chaam
    1st Borgloon
    1st Omloop Groot Oostende
    1st Critérium of Peyrehorade
    1st Vorst – Brussel
    5th GP Roeselare
    7th Tour of Flanders
    7th Gent–Wevelgem

#### 1963

    1st Bree
    1st GP Union Dortmund
    1st Helchteren
    1st Omloop van de Fruitstreek Alken
    1st Zonhoven – Antwerpen – Zonhoven
    4th Tour of Flanders
    7th Gent–Wevelgem
    8th Tour de Wallonie

#### 1965

    1st Scheldeprijs
    1st Opgrimbie

#### 1966

    1st Omloop van Limburg

## Track
### 1955

    3rd National Track Championships Sprint

### 1956

    2nd National Track Championships Sprint

### 1957

    1st Six Days of Brussels (with Rik Van Looy)
    2nd National Track Championships Sprint
    3rd Six Days of Ghent (with Gerrit Schulte)
    3rd Six Days of Antwerp (with Rik Van Steenbergen and Emiel Severeyns)
    3rd Six Days of Paris (with Leon Van Daele) and Alfred De Bruyne)

### 1960

    2nd National Track Championships Sprint

### 1961

    1st Six Days of Antwerp (with Rik Van Looy and Peter Post)

### 1963

    European Championships
       2nd Madison (with Peter Post)
    2nd Six Days of Antwerp (with Reginald Arnold and Peter Post)
    3rd National Track Championships Madison
    3rd National Track Championships Omnium

### 1965

    2nd National Track Championships Madison