Monday, April 21, 2025

Rob Griese – “Alex Taylor wanted me in the British Tour team – Tom Simpson said ‘no way'”

-

HomeInterviewsRob Griese - "Alex Taylor wanted me in the British Tour team...
Rob Griese
Rob Griese.

It’s always nice when readers write in and get involved with our mutual passion; especially if it’s something new to us at VeloVeritas.

Graham Robson enjoys our pieces about riders from the past and emailed us to ask us if we had any plans to track down Englishman Bob Griese, who’d ridden for Mercier in the 60’s.

To my shame, I hadn’t heard of the man but started my investigations – I was told by one of my contacts that sadly, Mr. Griese was dead.

End of story – but not quite.

As Mark Twain said; ‘the report of my death was an exaggeration’ and we were delighted to receive an email from Bob who now lives in Canada.

Here’s his story from the 60’s when there was no Easyjet, internet, mobile phones and Belgium was still functioning as it had around 1934.

Tell us about your roots, Bob

“I’m originally from Bristol in the UK – my Dad was a cyclist – I rode for Western RC and Kingwood RC.”

Did you do much in the UK race-wise?

“No, I didn’t take it very seriously as I knew from age 15 that I was going to go to Belgium because “Sporting Cyclist” was full of stories of guys who had “made it” in France never to be heard of again.

“Belgium was the toughest place to race in the world.

“In 1964 I went for two weeks holiday and got a third place in Gavere; I went back in ’65 for a full season and took two wins – Elsele and Saint Livens-Houtem, I think.

“But it’s a long time ago so forgive me if the spellings are incorrect; I was also 12 times in the first three.”

Rob Griese
Rob in his way to a solo win at Boekhoute on the Belge/Dutch border, in 1966. Photo©Rob Griese

Tell us about your pro career.

“I turned professional when I didn’t get selected for the GB amateur Worlds team.

“I initially rode ‘en musette’ [bike and clothing only – no contract, ed.] with the Terrot Leroux team.”

Rob Griese
Rob enjoys the celebrations after a Kermis win. Photo©Rob Griese

How about the pro results?

“In 1966 I had four wins; in Boekhoute, Waregem, Sinaai and Zwanaarde and I had one other third and a sixth in two Star Races – they were the top Belgian amateur races of the day, like the ‘InterClubs’ today.

“I was third on Stage Three of the Ronde Artois, and over the course of the season returned 36 top three placings.

“I was sixth in the Circuit of the Port of Dunkirk and rode the four days Tour De Nord.

“In that race I spent most my time getting puncture victims back; averaging a dozen or more times per stage.

“I was caught three miles from the end of the last stage after a 60 mile solo over the hell of the north.”

Rob Griese
Strong and tall, the sort of teammate you need in the Belgian pro races. Photo©Rob Griese

“In 1967 I was with Mercier BP, thanks to Barry Hoban [one of GB’s greatest riders with eight Tour stage wins and Gent Wevelgem on his palmarès too. ed.] who was on the team, albeit again, I was ‘en musette.’

“Barry was a real gentleman and a big help to me.

“In Liege-Bastogne-Liege I crashed 15 kilometres from the finish with just 22 of us left in the race – it was freezing cold rain that day.

“Then in August in the Antwerpse Pijl I was in collision with a car at the finish of the race and broke my shoulder blade.

“In 1968 I was with Mercier again, ‘en musette’ and rode all the spring classics in Belgium as a domestique – mainly off the back bringing puncture and crash victims back.

“But I crashed at in a race at Petite Enghien and shattered my hip; the thing is that I had been told to pull out at 100 miles to save myself for Liege-Bastogne-Liege which was in three days’ time.

“It was ironic because Mercier management was coming to Liege-Bastogne-Liege and I was to sign a “real” contract with the team.

“I was knocked off on the Muur of Grammont by Graham Webb – there was irony in that too because he was a Mercier rider!

“I shattered my pelvis and hip joint and was in hospital for three months.

“That basically finished my career.”

Rob Griese
Rob (l) in Gentse colours, racing alongside Ray Plimmeran, an Engel regular. Photo©Rob Griese

You rode in Britain for a while?

“In 1969 with Wilkins Lutz, riding one legged basically.

“I couldn’t cut it in the UK dodging cement trucks and stopping at ‘Halt’ signs after riding in Belgium where you could ride good races five or six days each week.

“I did get a contract to ride at Le Poire Sur Vitre for £30 start money but after that I finished up.

“It was hard though in Belgium, living hand-to-mouth with just primes and place money – it was pretty tough and the Belgians’ attitude towards.

“Brits didn’t help, they’d often sit up when they saw you in the break and always chase no matter who else had slipped away.

“The average kermis koers – which were held six days each week – would have 100/150 starters.

“Along with the Merckxs, Van Looys, Sercus and the rest would be dozens of very good riders totally unknown outside of Belgium.

“Lots of these guys would be on contracts of 5000 francs per month, about the wage of an unskilled factory worker in Belgium.

“Many more of them would be en mussette.

“The result was that at the end of a race with a prize list down to thirtieth everyone sprinted – no holds barred.

“100 guys going for the line gouging, spitting, punching, hooking and switching not to mention jersey-pulling was pretty awe inspiring, absolutely no lead-outs, no rules… I wasn’t too bad at this, desperation brings it’s own rewards – or pile ups…

“I have no criticism with modern riders but it is kind of strange to watch them twiddling like demented Ken Cravens [fixed wheel time trial star, ed.]. My top gear was 55 x 13, most rode 53 x 13 and used that most of the time – certainly towards the end of a race.

“We took a lot of stick from the Vlaamands, cosseted in their tracksuits by moms and wives, doing nothing but riding their bikes whilst we had to cook, shop, clean and maintain our bikes, clean our apartments and all the rest with no time to relax – and all this in a very foreign environment, with a language and lifestyle barrier.

“I’d have liked to swop places with Daniel van Ryckeghem (talented and respected Belgian who never ‘won big’ but was always there – and did win Henninger Turm, the E3 and Kuurne) for a week – except for his wife!”

Rob Griese
An English team in the eight day tour of Belgium in 1965; left is Keith Maddox, Rob is 2nd left, Roger Newton on the right, Derek Green is 2nd right, Ken Hill in the team as well. Photo©Rob Griese

What did you do after you quit the bike?

“When I was finished on the bike I kept quitting jobs, floundered around, emigrated to Canada in 1970, got married, went back and forth across the Atlantic a few times – did various jobs.

“I ended back permanently in Canada in ’83.

“I don’t follow cycling much now, I took up horse riding and keep horses, still, on a small north Ontario farm.”

Rob Griese
Rob enjoys his horses today. Photo©Rob Griese

Regrets?

“If I had to do it all again I would have to say “No”, knowing the full story – but the experience does tend to define you.

“Yes, it was a buzz to race against these guys but at first it was hard not to be a tourist.

“Rik Van Looy (Classics King – he won them all) was a cool guy; Walter Godefroot (Paris-Roubaix and Flanders winner) and Peter Post (Paris-Roubaix winner and Six Day king), were really nice guys.

“But there were some real jerks – Arthur De Cabooter (Het Volk and Flanders winner), Roger Swerts (Belgian Champion and Gent-Wevelgem winner).

“Alex Taylor wanted me in the British team in the ’67 TDF… Tom Simpson said “no way” so I leave it to you to decide which category I put him in!

“Maybe you should write some more articles about the riders from that era who never made it, not necessarily for lack of ability: Peter Crinnion, winner of the Route de France, then riding in Belgium with Libertaas Lamot; Alan Ramsbottom; Derek Harrison, et al – not to mention myself.

“I have a hundred stories and anecdotes – and I’m sure they do too – about a time when it wasn’t cool to be an Anglo in the peloton.”

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed was involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he was a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He was also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months often worked in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed was a highly respected journalist, his tales of chasing the Giro, Tour, Vuelta, Classics and World Championships - and his much-loved winter Six Days - are legendary, never the same twice, they gave our site an edge other cycling media could never duplicate or challenge. Sadly Ed passed away in January 2025, two years after suffering a devastating stroke.

Related Articles

John Archibald – Racing with Contador’s EOLO-Kometa squad in 2021

There was never any doubt about Scotsman John Archibald’s talent; but we must lay aside UK results in the context of international racing, they simply don’t count with European team management. At 30 years-of-age our feeling at VeloVeritas was that John’s chances of a contract at the highest level were slim, despite his obvious class, however we’re glad to be proved wrong and John will be racing with Alberto Contador's EOLA-Kometa ProTeam squad next season.

Kyle Gordon – At Altitude on Mount Teide

Last season, after the Scottish Kilometre Championship we said that not many 100 milers have become kilometre riders. We were talking about that man Kyle Gordon, and he's done it again, stepping up to Bronze in the British Kilo Championship with fellow HUUB man and Scot, Jonny Wale taking gold.

John McMillan – Scottish Star of the 60’s and 70’s

When I started cycling back in 1971 I quickly learned that there were five men I should stand in awe of; Belgians, Eddy Merckx - no explanation necessary - and Patrick Sercu, world sprint champion, Olympic kilometre champion and Grand Tour stage winner; Danish super stylist, world hour record holder Ole Ritter; British 25 mile record holder, Alf Engers and long term Scottish 25 mile record holder, John McMillan. Over the years I’ve managed to get my picture taken with Eddy and Ole, interviewed Alf and have even had the odd chat with Patrick.

Niels Fredborg – Danish Track Legend

With the Copenhagen six day about to start we thought we’d best have a word with one of Denmark’s track legends; former World and Olympic kilometre champion, Niels Fredborg. A man who was knocking out 1:4 kilometres some 40 years ago...

At Random

Le Tour de France 2017 – Stage 15: Laissac-Sévérac l’Église – Le Puy-en-Velay, 189.5km. Mollema in the mountains

Sunday, Stage 15 and VeloVeritas’s last shift on Tour - so we headed for the biggest hill we could find to remind ourselves how special and beautiful France and this race really are. Today we’re in the heartland, perhaps not deepest agricultural ‘France Profonde;’ the rural, simple, beautiful heart of the nation, not with the gorges and cols - but it’s quiet, lovely and some of the simple, striking images surprise as you drive the parcours.

Felice Gimondi

Felice Gimondi, Grand Tour conqueror, Classics winner, ‘chronoman’ of quality, stylist, gentleman and all-time great, rest in peace sir.

Adam Blythe – “BMC is a great team for me to develop on”

Yorkshire rider Adam Blythe first grabbed the big headlines when he won two stages and the GC in the 2010 Circuit Franco-Belge; a UCI 2.1 stage race with a history stretching back to 1924. Blythe became one of the youngest-ever winners in the event, beating Sep Vanmarcke (Topsport Vlaanderen) by six seconds and Jakob Fuglsang (Saxo Bank) by seven.

La Vuelta 2019 – Stage 4; Angel Madrazo flies to El Puig

As a wise man once said; “all good things must come to an end,” and the salida of Stage Four was our last couple of hours on the 2019 Vuelta. We’d planned a certain ‘shape’ of piece, which finished with a fantastic win for Angel Madrazo, but events of that stage and Thursday’s Stage Six rather over took our plans as abandons dominated the news.