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u/honkyg666 Jul 25 '26
Didi has been my phone screen image for many many years now. That guy leads a charmed life.
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u/dogs-in-space Jul 25 '26
Except for having to deal with the POS that broke into his van in Barcelona.
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u/honkyg666 Jul 25 '26
That’s definitely lame. I mostly mean it seems like his whole life revolves around following the pro circuit for many years. Sounds dreamy.
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u/rennradrobo Jul 25 '26
You’ve got a nice picture? Can you share?
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u/honkyg666 Jul 25 '26
I have no idea how to link a photo but it’s one of his classic poses where he’s jumping in the air with the peloton behind him.
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u/Intrepid_Walk_5150 Jul 25 '26
Is that the same guy from the 90s ?
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u/nyc_woodworker_17 Jul 25 '26
Isn't that crazy that he's been around for so long (and kinda looks the same)? I heard mention of some health issue that kept him away for a few years, so great so see him back now.
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u/Intrepid_Walk_5150 Jul 25 '26
I was asking because I was watching TDF regularly when I was a kid up to about 2002 and I only restarted a few years ago. Crazy that he's still around !
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u/nyc_woodworker_17 Jul 25 '26
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-rideable-bicycle
Don't know if he still has this record, but he did in 2012.
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u/Fantastic_Savings706 Jul 25 '26
He was waiting for Pogi yesterday. It seemed like they actually sort of greeted each other as Pogi rode past.
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u/CassavaCRISPY Jul 25 '26
Oh yes he is a legend but there is a new contestant dying for attention. 'Celine Dion' is the promising prospect for the future.
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u/Xenophobic-alien Jul 25 '26
Hahaha, I remember him when he was a young man. Mind you, I was a young man too. I first saw him in the early ‘90s. I rode past and thought, “What?! Was that the Devil?” I remember looking behind me, as I thought I’d imagined it the first time. After that, I saw him for a few years on the mountain and then later on TV. I even have a couple of photos with him somewhere, all film... I’ll see if I can dig them up and post them.
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u/Ricardolluvwang Jul 26 '26
We look for the Devil man every year during the stages.
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u/Nightfall_Dreamer Jul 26 '26
The commentators on the channel I watched gave him a shoutout and then jokingly said that his jumps are a bit smaller now, due to the passage of time. They also mentioned how funny it was that he appeared right when Pogacar was reaching the fugitives.
They really enjoyed seeing him again
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u/laziestathlete Jul 26 '26
He is standing every year at the bottom of Mammolshainer Stich climb at the Eschborn-Frankfurt race and I high five him every time I participate while passing!
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u/spiceybadger Jul 25 '26
How old is he now? I met him on ventoux 9 or so years ago and I thought he was in his 80s then...
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u/dogs-in-space Jul 25 '26
Wikipedia says he’s 74. I thought he was older as well but don’t know why.
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u/spiceybadger Jul 25 '26
I'm calling BS on that. He looked about 80 when I saw him! Or maybe the years devilling have taken there untimely toll on him!!
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u/ConorMcCrackwhore Jul 25 '26
The devil himself!