Albert Van Damme
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Albert Van Damme | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Berten The Lion of Laarne | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 1 December 1940 Laarne, Belgium | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Current team | Retired | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Cyclo-cross | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Rider | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional teams | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1964–1965 | Marcel Kint–Reno | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1966–68 | Goldor | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1969 | Okay–Diamant | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1970–71 | Geens–Watneys | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1972–73 | Rokado | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1973 | Siriki–Munck | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1974–76 | Munck–Beck's | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976–77 | Marc Zeepcentrale | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1977–78 | IJsboerke–Colnago | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1977–78 | Marc Zeepcentrale–Superia | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Major wins | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cyclo-cross World Champion
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Albert "Berten" Van Damme (born 1 December 1940) is a former Belgian cyclo-crosser. He won more than 400 individual races, became six times Belgian National Champion and once World Champion, in 1974.[1] His career lasted from 1959 till 1978.[2][3]
He was active in the same years as the brothers Eric and Roger De Vlaeminck. Together with his own brother, Daniël Van Damme there was a bit of a "battle" between the two families.[4]
The first Albert Van Damme A-cyclocross race was held in October 2011 and was won by Sven Nys.
Major results
Source:[5]
- 1961
- 9th World cyclo-cross championship
- 1963
- 3rd Jaarmarktcross Niel
- 6th World cyclo-cross championship
- 1964
- 5th World cyclo-cross championship
- 9th Omloop der Zuid-West-Vlaamse Bergen
- 1965
- 6th World cyclo-cross championship
- 1966
- 3rd Jaarmarktcross Niel
- 1968
- 6th World cyclo-cross championship
- 1970
- 2nd World cyclo-cross championship
- 2nd Jaarmarktcross Niel
- 1971
- 1st Jaarmarktcross Niel
- 2nd World cyclo-cross championship
- 1972
- 4th World cyclo-cross championship
- 1973
- 4th World cyclo-cross championship
- 1974
- 1st World cyclo-cross championship
- 1975
- 1st Jaarmarktcross Niel
- 5th World cyclo-cross championship
- 1976
- 1st Jaarmarktcross Niel
- 9th World cyclo-cross championship
- 1977
- 5th World cyclo-cross championship
References
- Albert Van Damme at Cycling Archives (archive)
- ^ "Albert Van Damme, ex-veldrijder". laarne.be (in Dutch). 12 June 2025.
- ^ "Albert Van Damme wordt 85…". ronnydeschepper.com. 1 December 2025.
- ^ "Albert Van Damme". dewielersite.com (in Dutch). 18 May 2024.
- ^ De Koninck, Jordi (30 January 2024). ""Als mensen me een hand geven, is het precies alsof ze God zien." Een portret van Albert Van Damme, de Leeuw van Laarne". servicekoers.be (in Dutch).
- ^ "Albert Van Damme". FirstCycling.com. 28 December 2025.