Following the announcement that Sandijs Semerjaks, the 35 year old Latvian cobbler, was retiring, we decided to take a look back at his long and illustrious career.
He started with JJL24SS in the first division. He immediately thrived and, seemingly unperturbed by the massive teams and names around him, began to perform beyond expectations. In his first full season he narrowly won the Tweedaagse van Antwerpen, taking stage 4 and the youth classification in the process. The Latvian had announced himself to the world. Semerjaks finished off the season with a fourth place finish in the Astana GP, narrowly missing out on the podium.
The next season he won the Tweedaagse van Antwerpen youth classification for a second time. However, this was to be his last major win.
He continued to score the odd result - making himself the bridesmaid in the
Soignie...
Read more Following the announcement that Sandijs Semerjaks, the 35 year old Latvian cobbler, was retiring, we decided to take a look back at his long and illustrious career.
He started with JJL24SS in the first division. He immediately thrived and, seemingly unperturbed by the massive teams and names around him, began to perform beyond expectations. In his first full season he narrowly won the Tweedaagse van Antwerpen, taking stage 4 and the youth classification in the process. The Latvian had announced himself to the world. Semerjaks finished off the season with a fourth place finish in the Astana GP, narrowly missing out on the podium.
The next season he won the Tweedaagse van Antwerpen youth classification for a second time. However, this was to be his last major win.
He continued to score the odd result - making himself the bridesmaid in the
Soignies - Jemeppe one day race before winning it at his third attempt. He always kept his best for the classics, fifth in the Antwerpen - Huy classic, eighth in another edition of the Astana classic and other notable results in the Minsk classic.
It will be a fond farewell for a man with 23 results in his career including two at Svalbard Trek and 8 victories. A charismatic and hard working cyclist - admired by all around him.
Latvia