TIGNON André (+)

12/04/2024

André Tignon, who died at the age of 79, is a figure in Tournaisis cycle tourism. President for several years of the Audax Tournai Union, author of "Nous les Cyclos", webmaster of the tignon.be section on the Net, correspondent for Nord-Eclair cycle tourism, he was also a great cyclist.

Winner of Paris-Brest-Paris, highly ranked in the Cent Cols, he advocated the dynamism of cycling. With a strong character, he often stood out in meetings deciding the future of cycle tourism. He was a character, a striking figure.

He was at the basis of the creation of the Col de la Croix-Jubaru on the slopes of Mont Saint-Aubert where his ashes are scattered. It’s an era that is passing away with him.
 

LUCAS Eric (+)

It is a huge void that he will leave and replacing his multiple skills will require multiple stakeholders. His imagination gave the name Natachas and his amazing deep work gave the modus operandi of the selection of our climbs. He launched with Daniel Gobert the numbers 1 to 32, through the whole Europe, of those national challenges. His 40 years of archives wera a great help.

In August 1993, Raymond Mayeur died while riding his bike. Raymond was one of the pioneers of the challenge.

When he died he had cycled 164 BIGs and this number lives on to remember him as it is the amount of BIGs one has to cycle to reach BIG level 5.

He is the father of Etienne who reached as 1st BIG member 1,000 BIGs and hence fulfilled the promise to his father to reach 1,000 BIGs as the 1st member.

A Belgian pioneer of the challenge BIG, our nr 37, Germain Geenens (B),
230 BIGs, 62 years old, has left us yesterday evening (april 2010) for the eternity.
He was a pioneer, he was also the official Belgium manager of the Cent Cols Club.
Living in Ronse (Renaix), he was a fantastic cyclist and cycloclimber, with more the appearance of Petit-Breton than Mario Cippolini, a very strong "randonneur", very kind man with the sense of the responsibility. We will miss him but we'll think about him during our climbs.

Thank you, Germain, for what you've done in your life for us.

LAVIEVILLE Bernard(+)

11/06/2024

Bernard Laviéville, living in Amiens, was the creator and the president of the "Association des Monts de France". He died being 85 years old. Not so much time before his disparition, he climbed his 2000th pass counting for the Cent Cols. He was a wellknown cycletourist of Picardy. His score was the round number of 300 BIGs in our association.

With a terrible passion, he would like to share this cycletouring dynamism with as much people as possible, he was Bernard, symbol of the french people living in the North wishing to increase heir region to the top.

Bernard was this kind of man, ready to upgrade the mountains to motivate cyclists in all the cycloclimbing associations ; with this target, he created the Monts de France and the Super Grimpeur Franco-Belge.

During a lot of years, he improved his challenges, with the ears turned to the advices of the members. He didn't hesitate to cross the France with the railways (he was an old worker in SNCF), to meet a member and to give him company in a climb.

On 18 meetings of the Monts de France, 16 were honored by his kindness.

Those last years, he forgot the road cycling to visit gravelled tracks on the bike.
Now, Northern France cycletouring lost one of his fathers. Bernard is just climbing to the eternity.

He was long inside our Top 10, long our French BIG-member in the general classification, with more than 400 BIGs. He was above all a long long travel rider, globe-trotter.

He tried one year to reach 50.000 km a year and he was very near to succeed. He created the "Centrionales" in France.

A friend of him told that one day after 200km non stop cycling, he suggested to have a small break and that Patrick answered: "Now already?" He was an adventurer and a mystic person, someone very special but plenty of humanity and thirsty of knowledge all over the world.

On his bike, yesterday, 27th of November 2012, 70 years old, a tractor hurt him and spent him to follow his ride and his climbs in the sky. We have lost an Indian prince of cycling...

Book describing him HERE . Stone reminding him

LEQUIEN Abel

26/11/2020

Abel Lequien was very wellknown by his magazine "le Randonneur". Old member of the FFCT, one of the first bikers on MTB, he published, during a long time, three times a year, this amazing magazine with wellknown writers like Pierre Roques, Paul Fabre, Raymond Henry, Claude Raffenne, Henri Bosc…
En 1998, Abel suggested to his readers a three days meeting every year in Auxi-le-Château.
From 2000 to 2011, Abel approved his magazine with colors and a linked website.
From 2012, after so manuch work, he gave the leadership to a new young team lead by François Piednoir.
Since a few years, a long illness gave him very hard aches until he left us. Read more HERE .

He was a lover of a typical kind of biking, without competition but against oneself.

With a strong character and a sense of the creation, he was a pioneer for new ideas in the belgian cyclotouring federation.

He created with some other ones the wellknown Mons-Chimay-Mons with his first club DAM.

He wrote the book "L'aventure sur le page de la porte" (cover HERE)

A very good tribute to him HERE .

He had a long life, passed over at the age of 90 with an amount of 71 bigs

Emerit member and dynamic and enthusiastic promoter of the british Ordre des Cols Durs (OCD)

Conceptor of the british list of the bigs (zone 2), pioneer on personal maps with level lines

Wellknown alpinist wellknown under the nickname "the Clem', winner of all the irish "over 2000 feet", called the Irish Hewitts, listed by him HERE.

He passed away last sunday... on the road, just like his friend and similar cycletourist Patrick Plaine. His name was Gérard Decrouy, hit by a large car near Vienna where he decided to live retreated, after a long professional and civil life in Switzerland.

Gérard was our nr 120, the 2nd swiss member ever subscribed, just after our wellknown Ard Oostra. He climbed 227 BIGs and is currently still in the top100 of our general classement with a 97th place.

Gérard was a real cycletourist. When I offered him the place of Swiss manager, in a long mail, he answered me that he doesn't like really too much the cyclesport idea and that he preferred the travel without fighting spirit, but always with respect with the other practices and that in this way, he didn't wish to become a delegate, being a little away of the sport events.

In the same mail, he told me his fabulous discovery of the "Guidon du Bouquet" thank to the BIG and told me to follow the way of this organisation, useful for many people, but just a little far of his own real way to cycle. He also asked me to respect the names used for Switzerland according to the amount of people in each language: German, then French and finally Italian when we wrote Svizzera in a first place in our review.

Our sport is always somewhere dangerous, even more in the trafic of the cities. At the age of 66, Gérard met Patrick in the globe-trotters'saloon of the cycling paradise.

We'll have thoughts for you, very often Gérard.

Member of the BIG and of the  Gruppo Crescenzago.

Sergio was a big passionated with cyclism

Born the 12/01/1942, he passed over  the 16/10/2005 after a long and hard illness

He liked to climb the Stelvio with his group

It's life, but it's always terrible to learn. One of us just died. One of the first Spanish members in our challenge, living in Gijon, and fond of the Asturian mountains, Rafael Riesgo, has left.

Rafael died at 37 last Saturday after a quick illness. We'll think to him each time that we'll climb his dear Asturian climbs.

Passed over at the age of 38, on his bike, splashed by a truck in a fuel station. He had 61 bigs.

He was the Czech manager of BIGCYCLING

Creator of the first existing profiles of the czech cycling climbs HERE.

He was one of the main manager of the meeting and tours inTatras (CZ-SK-PL)

We'll miss you, Jacques Franck. We'll miss you so much !

For the B.I.G Challenge, your both names with Jules Dejace, always or so often together climbing with an advanced age, all the best or most beautiful climbs in Europe, were quite unforgettable. Now, since a few days, Jules (Dejace) is alone to follow this way.

Yes, sad news, Jack Franck died with an heart attack last week. He was one of the symbol of the longevity thanks to sport and particularly cycling. In the civil life, he was a doctor in medicine and above all a kind man, always ready to include an association helping people.

In Rotheux, his club organized since a long time the Jacques Franck Tour (before named Redoutable with the passage on the slopes of the côte de la Redoute). Every year, with this event, we'll remember this great cycloclimber and B.I.G's symbol. Help us from there up to follow our way here just like you did before your accident, Jacques. We'll miss you deeply!

One of the great person of the bigcycling world, near to 90 years old, left us the 29th of June.

Jules dejace is now the cyclist's paradise, meeting again his old friend and climbing teamer, Jacques Franck.

That was Jules who climbed with Etienne Mayeur, his 1000th big, congratulating him all along the climb to be the first finisher of this idea, about which he said : "it's such a pity that I didn't know it sooner".

Nevertheless, he claimed 365 bigs. Great sportman, scientist, and so friendly included in our team, Jules is for us a symbol. We loved him for what he was and above all for who he was. RIP Jules !

The review of the "Cent Cols Club" alarmed us with the announcement of the disparition of Michel Nau.

The Couzeix Club in France, of which Michel was a long time president, informed us when we inquired that in October 2007, our 184th member left us.

Sad news like each time that one of us reaches his last top with all his souvenirs in his luggage.

Michel reached BIG2 level with 62 BIGs in France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy.

Luigi Capellani passed over after an accident on his bike with a truck.

See the article HERE .

With the nr 198, he was one of the first italian member in the B.I.G. He came 2 times in our meetings, and was there in Oberstdorf for example. He had 384 bigs and 322 italian natachas.

All out thoughts to his family and to his numerous cycling friends from Italy.

Political manager of the city called Villemandeur in France, Bernard had cycling as passion.

He succeeded in Corsica Tour 1999, France cycletouring Tour in 20000, Pyrenees Cross in 2003 and the Alps through the highest passes in 2006.

He claimed more than 300 passes.

We learned a very sad news happened a few weeks ago about one of our member, nr 272, Georges Rossini.

Giorgio died at the age of 88. But Georges is very more than a BIG member, He is the creator of  many very wellknown challenges like Thonon-Trieste,... of the UIC (Unione Internazionale dei Cicloscalatori).

His nickname L'Alpino revealed how he was implicated in the cycloclimbing life, with promotion of the alpine great passes and great mounts. Author of a book about all the passes in Italy (Ediciclo) available HERE, he was also member of the cent cols club even if at the end of his life, he was a little more far but his aim was all along his life with all the cycloclimbers.

We remember when he received our BIG group in Trento or when he met us on the so cold top of Glacier de Moiry in company with another "ronchetto" who left us a few years ago, Jules Dejace.Thank you for all you did, Giorgio. Ciao, make everybody climb still in the sky.

Our large friend Piero Rota was a man passionate about cycloclimbing and a formidable friend.

He was the UIC webmaster, part of the newsletter team as Italian translator for 4 years and part of the BIG Committee for Italy for many years.

Thanks Piero for all your support and friendship.

05/11/2024

Gabor Vincze left this Earth due to cancer, the 5th of november 2024.

From 2005 his target was the BIG Challenge, in company with Gábor Kreicsi, his friend. He loved this activity and climbed 217 Superbigs and became godfather of three ironbigs. He also became half-finisher of the hungarian national challenge.

He was on the offical BIG Meeting in Oberstdorf and eleven regional BIG meetings in Hungary. He was always selfless, helpful and patient.

HOCHULI Olivier (+)

24/08/2019

Olivier had nearly 200 BIG in his palmares. He liked mountains and was an outdoor active person in his region. A page is dedicated to him in a moto club. He was very active as a swiss member and wished before his dead to take part in the building of the swiss national challenge. he suggested many climbs.

He died in an accident on a motorbike.

Frederic Rafols left us with a fantastic score of 847 BIGs. Sadness , big sadness. With such a score, Frederic was near the Graal and one of our most fidel and active members.

He climbed nearly all those bigs with his wife Nura.

He was the author of a book on catalan cycling climbs available HERE and also on railways.

In August 2022, Willem Vodde died. He was a citizen of Heerhugowaard and an active member, volunteer and one of the founders of the cycling club of this city. The club is called Omnisport. Other members are also BIG lid, Henk and Ria Veul, John and Wil Timmermans and also Meindert Brugman. Meindert made Willem a BIG-member.

Gravel cycling is now popular. When Willem made a route, there were always off-roads tracks in it. In our club that tracks are called “Vodde-paadjes” named after Willem. Every body within Omnisport knows that term. Actually, Willem is the founder of gravel riding.

During his life Willem climbed lots of mountains. Each year he did several climbs. When he climbed, he was extremely happy. He always tried to climb the quiet side.

Willem was also one of the initiators of a cycling event for light-mental disabled persons. They learned them how to ride on a racing bike, and after an intensive training, they climbed together famous climbs in France.

And Willem still always had the little boy inside him. When he would ride below a concrete overpass or through a tunnel he would raise his voice and say: "“Wie is de burgemeester van Wezel” (“Who is the Mayor of Wezel) so you would hear the echo answer:...Ezel...ezel..." (ezel is Dutch for donkey). This is typical Willem.

Thanks for all positivity and help. Rest in Peace, Willem

In a group that includes more members, the sad news unfortunately often also exist.

We just learned that our member, Dany Dupire, registered in March 2008 and BIG capita Maison Saint-Gérard Belgium, died 3 months later (28 June 2008) on his bike.

He had in his plamares : Haute Route des Cols & Cinglés du Ventoux

It is always sad to hear such news in people who share our passion. Our thoughts go out to him in the slopes Namur he enjoyed. He joins the firmament of other cyclogrimpeurs members that we do not forget. All our thoughts to them all.

Member of the Avellino cyclist club

Very passionated by climbing in the mountains

Last week we received the sad news that Bernard Grevink, the Dutch BIG member nr 1753, on Sunday, May 9 became unwell while cycling and died on the spot.

Bernard was BIG member since 2009, but was for decades a cyclist who liked to bike in the mountains. Bernard joined the BIG day on March 21st in Velp and cycled with the group to Posbank and Italiaanseweg to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the BIG. During the funeral service on Saturday, May 15, Richard van Ameijden remembered Bernard in his speech.

He mentioned some prominent cycling experiences with Bernard. Bernard was 57 years. We wish family and
(cycling) friends strength with this unexpected loss.

Member of the biggest hungarian club of our association in Salgotarjan.

Gyula passed over at the age of 84, after a long cycling life.

She was a masterpiece of the "Confrérie des Brevets de France et d'Ailleurs" in the FFCT (section : Normandy)

Winner of a Paris-Brest-Paris

Totally unexpected Jürgen has passed away last week at the age of 51.

Way too young of course for such an active and enthusiastic cycling man! Jürgen was present at the annual BIG meeting of 2010 in the Lake & Peak Districts in the UK. A quiet, friendly man. Strong too!

He enjoyed the BIG meeting that much that he joined again on Corse in 2011. He teamed up with Rob Bosdijk and together they enjoyed cycling the BIGs on Corse and the friendship with the rest of the members. I vividly recall when we drove from Port de Centuri via the winding D35 that clings to the rockface high above the Mediterranean sea to Nonza. When we stopped briefly to enjoy the view Jürgen said with glittering eyes: "Das war eine tolle strecke!" (That was an awesome stretch!).

Jürgen was a very active and enthusiastic BIG member. He had 405 BIG claims and with his 2nd Iron BIG (Kesselbergstraße) he became our 100th Godfather. It's truly sad that he has passed away but he will always be there in the hearts of other BIG members who knew him.

Thanks Jürgen for the good times we spent together!

Born in Annemasse, he left France for Greece where he became a business man in Creta.

He promoted the bike practice in this non especially cycling country

Member of the club of Auvers-sur-Loire.

Every year, a cycletouring tour is managed as a tribute to him.

Paul Liard died from cardiac arrest on his bike on February 19th 2014.

He joined BIG when his friend Rémi Furon pointed him to our dear challenge.

So sad that Paul was a member for only 4 years and that now he passed away. Too soon...too soon. Together with Rémi Furon we will remember him.
 

25/09/2020

Living in Sat-en-Fagne, south of Belgium, Jean-Luc was a wellknown cyclist of the region.

He left us too soon.