WLWielerfotografie                        

 

                          
                                       
                                       
    About me ...              
                 
   
     
                                       
   

My name:

  Wim Lemmens        
                                       
   

Greatest hobby:

  Cycling sport      
                                       
   

When did it all start:

  In 1967 at the World Championship in Heerlen. I was still a kid and my parents took me to the race.      
             The main obstacle De Bergseweg was just around the corner, a 3-minutes walk.      
             Big crowds on hand supporting the Dutch favourite Jan Janssen but he came in second. A real disappointment!      
             Some months earlier I heard my parents talking about a rider that was killed in the Tour de France.      
             But the roots go tens of years back. My dad and his brothers where also very interested in cycling.      
             Immediate after the Second World War they visited all the big races in the region mainly in Valkenburg.      
             The 1948 world championship in Valkenburg was one of the highlights.      
             And when the Tour or the World's (1952 Luxembourg and 1954 Solingen) where not to far away they rented a bus      
             and together with their friends they visited those races also.        
                                       
   

First race seen on TV:

  Tour de France 1968. Jan Janssen became the first Dutchman ever to win the race.      
             I can remember that we watched on tv the final outcome of a very tense final stage. What a climax!      
             During the summer vacation I always watched the Tour de France.      
             From the years 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973 and 1975 I can still remember some moments.      
             The 1976 Tour de France was the first race that I watched in total on the television.      
             I do remember the world championships of 1972, 1974 and especially 1975 in Yvoir when Hennie Kuiper claimed the title in front of hostile crowds.      
             In the seventies most of the big races were already covered by Dutch television.      
                                       
   

Photo camera:

  I bought my first camera a Minolta slr. in 1985. Almost Fl.800,-. At that time a lot of money.      
             The spectacular 1986 Amstel Gold Race was the first race I took some photos. Nobody was interested in my pics.      
             The night before the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded.      
             For almost 12 years Minolta cameras where my working tool.      
             In 1998 I switched to Nikon. From 1995 to 2008 I also had a Bronica medium size camera. A Bronica SQ-Ai 6x6.      
             Some of my best photos ever are made with this very special gear.      
             In 2003 I sold my gear and bought 2 digital cameras. In 2010 I also sold my Bronica equipment. A real shame!        
                                       
   

My website:

  I started my own website in 2005. That was a real challenge then before that time I had never worked with a computer.      
             Now my website contains several thousands of photos.      
                                       
   

Visit to the races: 

 In 1978 I followed the Amstel Gold Race for the first time on my bike.      
             I am still following the races in my region on my bike. It makes me more flexible and gives me easier access.      
             Early nineties my mobility had increased so I could visit more races.      
                                       
   

Most interesting races to visit:

  Paris-Roubaix, Tour de Romandie, Vuelta a Espana.      
                                       
   

Worst races to visit:

  Amstel Gold Race. The race is in my backyard but since the early nineties organisers made a mess of it.      
                                       
   

Best professional photographer:

  Graham Watson. Unfortunately he went in retirement at the beginning of the 2017 season.      
                                       
   

Most memorable cycling moments:

  Joop Zoetemelk winning the 1985 world championship title in Italy. What a moment!      
             And that day in May 2003 visiting the Giro d'Italia when Italian legend Marco Pantani signed several of my photos.      
             He gave me a compliment for my excellent work. 'Bella fotos!'      
                                       
   

Worst cycling moment:

  Many!      
                                       
   

How long will it go on:

  I don't know, but when my time has come al photos will be destroyed. I am not Vincent van Gogh!      
                                       
                                       
   
     
     

 

 

      

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