Wouter Weylandt: 27.09.1984 – 09.05.2011

Paul Etherington

11th May 2011 11:36am

R.I.P Wouter.

Jon Cannings

11th May 2011 10:38pm

My first friend in Belgium. We met on the 16th June 2004. I approached a friendly looking young guy and his helper and asked to borrow their track pump at a kermesse in Kruibeke. I later found out this was Wouter and his dad. the race got underway, a few laps in I double punctured and had to quit the race. So, back to the finish area I went. Problem, no spare inner tubes with me. I had ridden to the race and had brought no spares. I spotted Wouters dad, explained my situation, Mr Weylandt handed over two michelin inner tubes and wouldn't accept any Euro's for them. He then told me about his son, about how he had got 3rd in the Espoir Paris Roubaix a couple of weeks before. I knew this guy was onto something special. He had the look and desire to be a pro.
Off I went, googled him from the results online. Went onto his teams homepage, Bikeland Bornem. There was his email address. I added him on MSN, and got chatting. Mainly to thank his dad again for the inner tubes really,as I could of been stuck earlier in the day.
anyway, we got chatting and just remained in touch. Seeing each other at races etc. Including me dropping an absolute clanger, telling him in a race that I thought the girl working in his sponsors bikeshop was a "lekkerstuk". he replied, "I know man, she's my girlfriend". At that point I went bright red and simply grinned. He found it funny.
We carried on throughout the season, via MSN mainly. He went on to be a stagiaire at QuickStep. I went home to England.
My parents introduced themselves to Wouter at a race when he was an official pro at QuickStep, he replied "is Jon here? he should come out to race again". When my family told me this, I felt a warmth inside. A pro, riding for my favourite team, was asking after me! And I can class him as a friend, this felt really nice.
Another fond moment of Wouter was seeing a small article in a cycling magazine about Wouters hair. This made me chuckle, so I sent him a text message and he replied asking for a scan of it. So dutifully I did, and he loved it. He was a proud man and carried off the Euro cycling look brilliantly. Always immaculate on and off the bike and earning the admiration of many. He was someone I looked upto and followed always in the results.
At the team presentation of the Ster Elektrotoer I found myself close by. A quick text message to him to see if he was free to meet up. Of course he replied. It was raining but still made time to chat to me whilst signing autographs and posing for photo's with fans. This was a really nice thing, after all, it was raining and he didn't want to catch a cold etc, but still found the time for a friend.
The following winter the Quickstep team came to stay for a fortnight at a sports resort I was managing. It was great to be back out on the bike with a man that years before I had raced with. This time, I was racing just to keep up with him. Wouter would often look around with his cheeky smile or grin at me to see how I was coping. He was a cool guy, someone who you knew just loved riding his bike and when it was his day, he was the fastest there was. Seeing him at the Vuelta in 2008 was great, he was on the startline in Cudillero, we had a chat and shared a joke about something very funny that was going on at that time. This moment is captured here: https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/223415_10150583204200562_540455561_18472079_2418977_n.jpg

Two days later Wouter was on the top step of the podium! he had won a stage of the Vuelta! I was so happy for him, this was simply amazing. His career has already involved plenty of wins, but to win a stage of a Grand Tour, simply breathtaking.

I could go on and on talking about these moments.
He was a rider I admired, respected and believed in. To class Wouter as a friend is an honour. To lose him is a piece of me taken away. The sadness that struck me massive, the tears running down my cheeks will go on for a long time. Pedaling and punishing the bike thinking of leading him out for a win to see his victory salute will go on for longer.
I miss you jongen, I miss you.

Daniel MArtinez

12th May 2011 11:36am

By the way, A donation page has been created by the leopard Trek Team. For the family and future baby:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/leopard-trek/donations-wouter-weylandt/161493960581968

Gavin Gould

13th May 2011 04:36am

Rest in Peace, Wouter. I didn't know him, but I was a fan over here in the States. Seemed to be a class act all the way, and will be missed greatly.
The guys from StomachOfAnger.com are producing a shirt with profits also going to the fund Leopard-Trek has set up. I'm certainly buying, maybe a few others would be interested.