January 19, 2010
Father of the Alp – Rest in peace
Yesterday, a Flemish priest by the name of Joost de Waele died. Father de Waele was in charge of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges on Alpe d’Huez. Normally, I would afford a priest, or any other member of the clergy, only about as much attention as I would anyone else, meaning that unless I knew the person, I probably wouldn't take time to stop and think about his life or death. I’ll go ahead and proceed in this case, though, since Father de Waele was a Flemish person presiding over one of the most famous bike race climbs in the entire world. I also would like to bring this up simply to point out the meaning of bicycle racing in Europe.Father de Waele’s fondest early memories were of post WWII Tours de France. Before coming to the Alpe in 1992, he served as a missionary in the Congo for 31 years. Once at the great climb’s church, Father de Waele opened its doors to cycling tourists and journalists. He regularly prayed for cyclists who died during the Tour, namely Tom Simpson, and the bells of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges always sounded for the winners of the Alpe d’Huez stage of the Tour de France.
I don’t bring this up as any attempt to ring the church bells and get anyone to light candles or anything, but rather as a reminder of how much cycling is ingrained into the fabric of daily life in the European cycling countries. As Americans – even as an American who lived there and was part of the professional cycling community – we often forget how important the sport is within those cultures. Many Americans have actually lost site of what it is to actually win the Tour de France, and the other great races too.
Think about it for a minute: Father Joost de Waele was passionately following cycling and the Tour de France three and a half decades before Jonathan Boyer became the first American to enter and complete the thing.
You will never find me inside the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges – I guarantee you that. That does not, however, stop me from hoping the guys at the Vatican will find a suitable – perhaps Flemish – replacement.
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4 Responses to “Father of the Alp – Rest in peace”
Have you ever visited Maddona del Ghisallo (probably spelled wrong)? It’s an amazing little chapel on the Giro di Lombardia route. I rode past it several times before I realized what it was and decided to take a look.
“sight”, [we've] lost sight . . .
I wear a Madonna del Ghisallo medallion, though as a thoroughly lapsed Catholic rather than as a believer.
Oddly enough, a few months back I skidded out in the parking garage at work and hit the pavement. Later I realized I was not wearing the medallion.
Then a few weeks ago my back got badly thrown out after a 3 hour ride, crippling me until a skilled chiropractor did some work. Again, the medallion was sitting at home.
Maybe the lady does intercede on our behalf.
On this subject, most Catholic stores sell St. Christopher medals for yes, bicycles or they can be found on the web. One can also find the medals on French ebay, some looking rather antiquated. I try to wear my Miraculous Medal always and who can ever forget the many times, the tour de France goes through Lourdes in the Pyrenees? And when it does you see the Sisters cheering on the riders. I’ve had my ups and downs with the Church but I ride by this one on a regular basis and sometimes I think, what if I got in a wreck here for some reason?? And the Priests had to give me last rites here?? Bad bad thought, I only thought of that when I’ve ridden by it during holidays, 4th of July or maybe even Christmas and it seemed the drunks are out though over all, things are probably more safe in Minnesota/Wisconsin than most other states. Actually, there are times to avoid being on busy roads at least such as those holidays or later at night, at least use caution and yes, I’ve been crazy or brave enough to ride in Minnesota even in the heart of the winter.
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