Written by VC Montpellier at 14:30 17/11-2013
Louis-Philippe Van Kamp came to the team after being booted from his original contract on day 2 of his professional career. Obviously down heartened by such an event, VC Monpellier scooped him up for a cheap signing fee. After a handful of races in his first season, with his best performance a lowly 20th in the lowest of divisions, over the winter break it became apparent Louis-Philippe had more talent hidden away than previously thought. His breakthrough came in his second season with the team, scooping the team's first ever victories in the process with wins at Lanark - Hamilton (which he'd go on to repeat podium in two seasons later), Kirchhellen - Gladbeck, ZGP, Beklinge - Skåne - Halland, and Leuwarden - Harlingen. Arguably his most successful season with the team, but then he was the unchallenged leader, with no other rider capable of leading on the team at that time. Further wins in season 13 and 14 led into a trio of wins in Season 15 before the team underwent a little financial struggle and had to sit out for a season or two.
Not a rider to take that to heart, Louis-Philippe showed there was still a heart in the team as, during his rebuilding race fitness, he clinched a solid podium placing in Season 18. Another great Season (19) rolled around, but by now his age was starting to show slight signs of affecting his performance.
A reshuffling in the team pecking order away from slightly hilly, mainly rouleur classic style finishes to a more puncheur style race left Louis-Philippe a little under-supported by season 21, and by Season 23 his position as undisputed team leader was definitely gone.
Although the team retained his services in an effort to help develop the youth, and because Louis became a valuable lead out man, with his last win being at GP Mors, in Season 25, it is time for Louis-Philippe to retire, or move on to greener pastures.
A career spanning 15 seasons, with 19 wins, and 20 more podium finishes, Van Kamp will be very hard to replace.
Subscribers: 2
| |
Comments
Lucky bastard!
It was a felt lined coffin though! No expense spared for the man.
You kept him around for so long he almost left in a coffin ;)
Good luck with finding a replacement!
Yeah, at 38 years of age his racing days are definitely over.
In fact he's so old that he's ready for the old age retirement home never mind being out on the road trying to race a bike.
Good bye Louis-Philippe, you had a fine career but its now time to go to the big road race in the sky... :-(
|
Other Team's Press Releases
|
|
|
|
No press releases available..
|
|
|
|
