.jpg) Desmet in 2019 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Smetje van Lichtervelde |
| Born | 2 February 1931 Roeselare, Belgium |
| Died | 30 June 2024 (aged 93) Rumbeke, Belgium |
| Team information | |
| Discipline | Road |
| Role | Rider |
| Professional teams | |
| 1952–1955 | Groene Leeuw |
| 1956 | Bertin–d'Allessandro |
| 1957–1959 | Faema–Guerra |
| 1959–1962 | Carpano |
| 1963–1965 | Wiel's–Groene Leeuw |
| 1966–1967 | Roméo–Smith's |
| Major wins | |
| Paris–Tours (1958) La Flèche Wallone (1964) Four Days of Dunkirk (1964) Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne (1958) | |
Gilbert Desmet (2 February 1931 – 30 June 2024), nicknamed Smetje van Lichtervelde, was a Belgian cyclist who was professional from 1952 to 1967. In the 1956 Tour de France, he wore the yellow jersey for two days, and in the 1963 Tour de France he wore it for nine days. Desmet won 101 professional races, including Paris–Tours, La Flèche Wallonne and Four Days of Dunkirk. His best result in the Tour de France was his 4th place in 1962. He finished second in the 1959 Paris–Roubaix.[1] In total, Desmet won 101 professional races.[2]
Throughout his career, he was often confused with Gilbert De Smet, another Belgian cyclist with a similar name.
Desmet died on 30 June 2024, at the age of 93.[3]
- ^ "57th Paris – Roubaix, 1959". bikeraceinfo. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- ^ "Voormalig geletruidrager Gilbert Desmet op 93-jarige leeftijd overleden". VRT (in Dutch). 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Voormalig geletruidrager Gilbert Desmet (93) overleden". Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Retrieved 1 July 2024.