Gerard Friedrich "Gerrie" Knetemann (6 March 1951 in Amsterdam – 2 November 2004 in Bergen, North Holland) was a Dutch road bicycle racer who won the 1978 World Championship. He wore the Yellow Jersey early in each Tour de France for four consecutive years between 1977 and 1980.
A four-time winner of the Ronde van Nederland, he also rode the Tour de France 11 times between 1974 and 1987, winning 10 stages, a Dutch record equalled only by Jan Raas and Joop Zoetemelk. Knetemann won 127 races as a professional.
Knetemann maintained an Amsterdam accent and a sharp sense of humour that made him a favourite with reporters and earned him television and radio appearances. His best year in the Tour de France was 1978, when he led from the sixth stage. Although he lost the leader's yellow jersey two days later, he won the stage into Lausanne and then the final stage on the Champs Elysées in Paris.
Together with Raas and his TI-Raleigh teammates Knetemann played a pivotal role in the victory of Zoetemelk in the 1980 Tour de France, one of the most dominating team performances in Tour de France history in which the team won twelve stages.
His career dwindled after a crash in Dwars door België in Belgium in March 1983. Recovery took months and, although he did again ride the Tour de France, there was not much left of the once sparkling star. Knetemann did however win the Amstel Gold Race in 1985. He retired from racing in 1991 and became Dutch team selector.
Knetemann died while riding his bike. He collapsed from a heart attack with friends in Bergen.
His wife, Gre Donker, was also a racing cyclist. They had a son and two daughters. Their daughter Roxane, born in 1987, was a professional cyclist as well.
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Some of their strengths
Gerrie Kneteman has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Intuitive, Imaginative, Hardworking, Generous, Achievement-oriented, Intelligent, and Intense.
Soulful and Understanding
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Gerrie Kneteman is someone who is a soulful, understanding, and conscious person, who combines smarts with a deep talent for creativity and imagination. A person who is known for being a good communicator.
Adaptable and Versatile
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Gerrie Kneteman well know them as someone who can be adaptable, flexible, and polite, like a flower or a sapling.
Organized and Achievement-oriented
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Gerrie Kneteman as someone who is organized, goal-oriented, practical, and persevering.
Who is hardworking, intellectual, and easygoing, who loves higher education and learning and sharing ideas with others, and who loves healthy competition.
Dynamic and Imaginative
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Gerrie Kneteman is someone who can bring a purifying element to situations, and who is a risk-taker with vision and imagination.
They are also someone who is confident and creative, and who has a love for starting new projects, inventing new things, and giving back to the community.
Creative and Imaginative
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Gerrie Kneteman tends to be someone who is sensitive, imaginative, creative, and somewhat of a dreamer. Who is intuitive and compassionate, and who has a friendly, easygoing, calming and relaxing effect on people and for whom friends and family mean the world.
Some of Gerrie Kneteman's challenges
While Gerrie Kneteman has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Gerrie Kneteman can be Callous, Indecisive, Unrealistic, Rebellious, Emotionally Distant, Suspicious, and Stubborn.
Indecisive and Unrealistic
One of Gerrie Kneteman's key challenges is that they are someone who can come across as indecisive and unrealistic.
Callous and Selfish
Gerrie Kneteman is someone who can be standoffish, pessimistic, and ruthless, who can have difficulty concentrating and be impatient, can have difficulty discovering the keys to personal contentment, and who can have a tendency to overwork and hoard wealth and possessions.
Lethargic and Unrealistic
Finally, Gerrie Kneteman also can be too soft, lazy and lethargic, and who can have difficulty finding others who share a similarly dreamy outlook on life.
