Pieter (44) rode Giro of 2017 for charity: ‘We even got the support of Eddy himself’
In 2017, Tom Dumoulin became the first Dutchman since Joop Zoetemelk in 1980 to win a Grand Tour. A group of five riders from the Pajottenland also holds warm memories of this 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia. Pieter De Cort (44) rode the entire Giro that year in support of the KID Fund of KU Leuven. “A total of 3,572 kilometers,” he grins.
The 2017 Giro started in Sardinia and led the riders all the way to Milan. Wim Cloots, Bram De Saedeleer, Tom Van Damme, Pieter De Cort, and Dimitri Berlanger copied this route (although Wim ultimately had to withdraw due to a broken ankle). It was an epic feat, but one with a noble purpose. The men rode for children suffering from immune disorders—because it’s simply not fair that they should die from a trivial infection.
“Two members of our group had already organized a similar initiative during the 100th edition of the Tour, and the idea began to take shape again for the Giro. When it came to choosing a good cause, we were inspired by Wim and the difficult journey his daughter Eleonore had gone through. The decision was quickly made.”
The 2017 Giro started in Sardinia and led the riders all the way to Milan. Wim Cloots, Bram De Saedeleer, Tom Van Damme, Pieter De Cort, and Dimitri Berlanger copied this route (although Wim ultimately had to withdraw due to a broken ankle). It was an epic feat, but one with a noble purpose. The men rode for children suffering from immune disorders—because it’s simply not fair that they should die from a trivial infection.
“Two members of our group had already organized a similar initiative during the 100th edition of the Tour, and the idea began to take shape again for the Giro. When it came to choosing a good cause, we were inspired by Wim and the difficult journey his daughter Eleonore had gone through. The decision was quickly made.”
Blockhaus
“The greatest cyclist of all time, Eddy Merckx, didn’t hesitate to express his support. His good friend and football legend Paul Van Himst even became a patron of our initiative. Both were there to see us off at our departure. Many companies, associations, and sponsors decided to give us a financial boost. In return, they received a cute teddy bear as a symbol of their support.”
The pro peloton passed Mount Etna, climbed the Blockhaus, and finished in the Dolomites. Along the way, there were more than 44,000 meters of climbing, and the route was sprinkled with tributes to great Italian cycling legends. One of the queen stages through the Apennines was a tribute to Gino Bartali, with a passage by his museum. The 14th stage even started in his birthplace. “That stage to the Blockhaus, in turn, was a tribute to the Tamburlaine of the pedals. In 1967, he won his first-ever stage in a Grand Tour there. At the time, everyone still knew him as a sprinter. Fun fact: the bikes he donated to our team were also the Blockhaus 67 model.”
The five cycling heroes from the Pajottenland rode the exact same route, always one day ahead of the pros. “Luckily, I had a top-notch Eddy Merckx bike from the master himself. His brand gave us five bikes to complete our challenge. Afterwards, these were auctioned off. The cherry on top: Eddy Merckx Bikes developed a special edition bike engraved with the Cannibal’s signature. This one went to the highest bidder. Because this turned out to be such a success story, I’ve remained loyal to Eddy Merckx Bikes ever since, out of gratitude.”
The pro peloton passed Mount Etna, climbed the Blockhaus, and finished in the Dolomites. Along the way, there were more than 44,000 meters of climbing, and the route was sprinkled with tributes to great Italian cycling legends. One of the queen stages through the Apennines was a tribute to Gino Bartali, with a passage by his museum. The 14th stage even started in his birthplace. “That stage to the Blockhaus, in turn, was a tribute to the Tamburlaine of the pedals. In 1967, he won his first-ever stage in a Grand Tour there. At the time, everyone still knew him as a sprinter. Fun fact: the bikes he donated to our team were also the Blockhaus 67 model.”
The five cycling heroes from the Pajottenland rode the exact same route, always one day ahead of the pros. “Luckily, I had a top-notch Eddy Merckx bike from the master himself. His brand gave us five bikes to complete our challenge. Afterwards, these were auctioned off. The cherry on top: Eddy Merckx Bikes developed a special edition bike engraved with the Cannibal’s signature. This one went to the highest bidder. Because this turned out to be such a success story, I’ve remained loyal to Eddy Merckx Bikes ever since, out of gratitude.”
One True Winner
Pieter initially rode on an Eddy Merckx Wallers 73, a bike named after the victory in Paris-Roubaix. “In January this year, I switched to a Pévèle Carbon so I could also take on gravel rides. I had this bike custom-built in collaboration with my dealer, De Coureur in Meise. I opted for a retro design and DT Swiss wheels. I mainly use the Pévèle on the road now, since I’ve put gravel tires on the Wallers 73.”
Beyond his love for the brand, Pieter emphasizes that the real winner of the entire story was the cause: “We raised €20,000 for the KID Fund. That money truly makes a difference. Even if it saved just one life, then every single kilometer was worth it!”
Finally, he also took home a special ‘souvenir’ from his Giro adventure. “My wife was waiting for me at the finish line in Milan. Nine months later, our son was born. I actually wanted to name him Eddy, but in the end, we went with Lance Edouard De Cort. A nice nod to our adventure.” A perfect example of how the 2017 Giro changed not only Tom Dumoulin’s life, but also that of a devoted Merckx fan.
Beyond his love for the brand, Pieter emphasizes that the real winner of the entire story was the cause: “We raised €20,000 for the KID Fund. That money truly makes a difference. Even if it saved just one life, then every single kilometer was worth it!”
Finally, he also took home a special ‘souvenir’ from his Giro adventure. “My wife was waiting for me at the finish line in Milan. Nine months later, our son was born. I actually wanted to name him Eddy, but in the end, we went with Lance Edouard De Cort. A nice nod to our adventure.” A perfect example of how the 2017 Giro changed not only Tom Dumoulin’s life, but also that of a devoted Merckx fan.
