Jean-Pierre Monseré was not well known prior to placing sixth at the 1968 Olympics. As an amateur, he placed second in the 1969 World Championships. He immediately turned professional with the Flandria team, and won the Giro di Lombardia after Gerben Karstens was disqualified for doping use. In 1970, he placed third in the Belgian Championships to be selected for the World Championships. Finding himself in the lead group, he jumped away from favourite Felice Gimondi to win a surprise world title. But the rainbow jersey turned out to be a curse for the young Monseré. His father, not allowed to drink alcohol because of a heart condition, died following the celebrations over his son’s win. Before the start of the 1970 international season, Monseré himself was killed in an accident during competition. A car drove onto the course of the Grand Prix de Retie and had a head-on collision with the World Champion, who died on the spot. In 1976, Monseré’s 7-year-old son was also killed in a car accident, riding on a racing bike he had been given by his godfather, cyclist Freddy Maertens.
Belgium