Richard Groenendaal
Den Bosch, Netherlands | |||||||||||||||||||||
Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team | Retired | ||||||||||||||||||||
Discipline | Cyclo-cross | ||||||||||||||||||||
Role | Rider | ||||||||||||||||||||
Professional teams | |||||||||||||||||||||
1994–1995 | Concorde–American Eagle | ||||||||||||||||||||
1996–2006 | Rabobank | ||||||||||||||||||||
2007–2009 | AA Drink | ||||||||||||||||||||
Major wins | |||||||||||||||||||||
UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Richard Marinus Anthonius Groenendaal (born 13 July 1971) is a Dutch former professional cyclo-cross cyclist. Groenendaal won the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in 2000 and the overall titles in the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup 1997–1998, 2000–2001 and 2003–2004 and in the Cyclo-cross Superprestige in 1997–1998 and 2000–2001.
Early career
Groenendaal's father Reinier was an Elite cyclo-cross cyclist and was Dutch Elite champion in 1985. Groenendaal began to ride as a junior in 1987. He was Dutch Junior champion in 1987–1988 and 1988–89 where he also won the Junior World Cyclo-Cross championships. The following season he joined the Amateur category which he stayed until the 1993–94 season when he turned professional. Early in his career he showed promise as a road rider by finishing in the top ten in the 1992 Tour de l'Avenir, the year he also took part in the Summer Olympics road race.[1] At the start of Groenendaal's career he was often compared to his father Rein and one commentator in Belgium sometimes referred to him as Reintje. However, after two seasons, Groenendaal had stood on more international podiums than his father and the comparisons stopped.[2]
In 1996 Groenendaal joined the newly formed
For the 2003–04 season, Groenendaal suffered from a knee injury at the start of the season. At the end of the season, he recovered some form and won the Dutch national champions jersey. In an unexpected finale, Groenendaal took the 2003–04 World Cup classification after the final event of the season. Groenendaal won the final world cup race where there were double points on offer in Pijnacker, while teammate and World Cup leader Sven Nys finished further back and lost the lead in the World Cup classification.[5] Groenendaal kept up his form to win the final Gazet van Antwerpen race.
In the 2008 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships Groenendaal helped Dutch National teammate Lars Boom to launch his attack at the start of the final lap and win the gold medal. Groenendaal finished in twelfth place.[6]
Major victories
- 1993–1994
- Netherlands National Cyclo-Cross championships
- 1st, Telleriarte Cross
- 2nd place World championship cyclo-cross
- 1994–1995
- 2nd place World championship cyclo-cross
- 1st, Telleriarte Cross, Soestduinen & Wetzikon Cross
- 1995–1996
- Netherlands National Cyclo-Cross Championships
- 1st, Cyklokros Tábor, Zeddam & Harnes
- 1996–1997
- 1st, Steinmaur, Eschenbach, Zurich-Waid, Prada di Pordenone, Vossem
- Superprestige Gavere, Grand Prix Nommay& Soestduinen
- 1997–1998
- World Cupoverall title
- Superprestigeoverall title
- Netherlands National Championships
- 1st, Steinmaur, Eschenbach, Zurich-Waid, Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse,
- Superprestige Gieten, Hagendorf, Dijon, Brouilly-Odenas, Heerlen,
- Haarnes, Super Prestige Sint-Michielsgestel,
- Cyclo-cross Kalmthout, Essen & Duinencross Koksijde
- 1998–1999
- 1st, Harderwijk, Prague, Eschenbach & Zurich-Waid
- 1999–2000
- World Cyclo-cross Championships
- Netherlands national champion cyclo-cross
- 2nd place World Cup
- 2nd place Superprestige
- 1st, Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse
- 2000–2001
- World Cup overall title
- Superprestige overall title
- Netherlands national champion cyclo-cross
- 2001–2002
- World Cupoverall title
- 2nd place Superprestige
- 2002–2003
- Netherlands national champion cyclo-cross
- Koppenbergcross
- 2003–2004
- World Cup overall title
- Netherlands national champion cyclo-cross
- 2004–2005
- 2nd place Superprestige
- Netherlands national champion cyclo-cross
- 2005–2006
- 1st, Surhuisterveen Cross, Nacht van Woerden & Gieten Cross
- 2006–2007
- 1st, Surhuisterveen Cross
- 2007–2008
- 1st, Hamburg Cross
See also
References
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Richard Groenendaal Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- ^ "De periode dat Richard Groenendaal..." Wielersport. Retrieved 4 March 2008.
- ^ "Rabobank win:at what cost?". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
- ^ "Vervecken finally does it". Cyclingews.com. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
- ^ "Groenendaal scores surprise double". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
- ^ "Groenendaal blaast de aanvalstrompet". Brabants dagblad. Retrieved 4 March 2008.