Multiple Tour de France stage winner and legendary team manager passes away - Rini Wagtmans dies aged 79
Cycling
Former Dutch cyclist Marinus 'Rini' Wagtmans passed away on Friday aged 79, his family have confirmed. A legendary figure in Dutch cycling, he leaves behind a rich legacy in the sport, previously working as a team manager and national coach.
Wagtmans enjoyed a successful career as a rider in the 1960's and 1970's. He won three stage wins in the Tour de France , two stage wins in the Vuelta a España, and a third place in the general classification of the same race.
He also wore the yellow jersey for one day in the 1971 Tour. As a rider, he was known as one of the best descenders in the peloton and was given the nickname "witte bles" - which when translated means "white blaze" in tribute to his downhill skills.
He retired in 1973 due to heart problems.
Wagtmans continues involvement in cycling
After his career, he continued to work in cycling, continuing as a national team coach and a brief spell as a team manager. Furthermore, the Brabant native was one of the key leaders in bringing the Tour to the Netherlands in 1978.
He also helped establish the Dutch Cycling Museum. Wagtmans had recently received the Golden Wheel, one of the most prestigious awards given by the KNWU, the cycling federation of the Netherlands. He received the award for his services to Dutch cycling.
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Earlier this month, Wagtmans announced to BN DeStem that he was in the final stages of his lifebut did not discuss his illness.
"Nobody benefits from that. The prizes are awarded at the finish line. I am almost at the finish line now,” he said.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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