Tino Tabak Media Fact Sheet

Born Jentinus (Tino) Johannes Tabak in the Netherlands on 6 May 1946

Immigrates to New Zealand in 1952, aged 6

Dreams of riding the Tour de France from age 10

Wins 1965 Senior New Zealand Road Cycling Championships, age 19

Wins Tour of Southland (youngest rider ever) in 1965, then again in 1966 and 1967

Wins Tour of Manawatu in 1966 and 1967

Wins Dulux Six-day Tour of the North Island in 1966 and 1967

Is the only rider ever to win all three major New Zealand tours (Manawatu, Dulux and Southland) in one year – and he does this twice (1966 & 1967).

Leaves for Europe “To learn how to ride a bike” in December 1967.

Races as an amateur from 1968 to 1970, winning several races, including,

• 1970 Tour of North Holland (beating future world champion Hennie Kuiper)

Turns professional in 1971 and at last rides the Tour de France

• Places top ten in two stages, and is reported as “The Revelation of the Tour”

Wins 1972 Netherlands Professional Road Cycling Champs – career highlight

18th in 1972 Tour de France

• Still the best result of any New Zealander - second best was Harry Watson who came 28th in 1928, and third best was Hayden Roulston who came 79th in 2009

Wins major criterium, Acht Van Chaam, in 1972 and 1974

Over 20 victories and 40 top three placings between 1972 and 1975

7th in 1977 Bordeaux-Paris, 597-km French Classic (longest race in Europe)

Major teams were Mars-Flandria, TI-Raleigh and Flandria-Velda

Retires from cycling after crash in 1978 Tour of Holland

Returns to New Zealand in 1995 to live quietly in mid Canterbury.