[CR]Pic of the Day - Wim van Est's Birthday (yesterday)

Pic of the Day 25 March, 2006

Wim Van Est Special

Yesterday was Wim Van Est's birthday. Born in 1923, the Dutch racer passed away on May 1st, 2003.

He was the first Dutchman to wear the Yellow Jersey. His fall into a ravine while in yellow during the 1951 Tour de France is one of the more dramatic moments in cycling lore:

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/album27

Footage of the stage and his retrieval from the ravine is available on the "Monuments in Cycling" web page:

http://home-1.tiscali.nl/~edwinsel/misc_monuments.htm

Scroll down to "Wim Van Est" and click on "Video: Accident (Real)", or click here:

http://home-1.tiscali.nl/~edwinsel/video/van_est,wim,aubisque%20(rtl-nieu ws,51-5-2003).RM

Aldo Ross
Middletown, Ohio