Eddy Planckaert

Eddy Planckaert was one of a family of bicycle racers who, after the death of their father, were racing to put food on the family table.

Since retiring from cycling Eddy Plankaert has lead a tulmuluous existance. He's been broke, homeless, and suicidal. I read an interview where he talked seriously about lashing himself to a pier at low tide then throwing the key into the ocean. The quote was , " After you threw the key away and the tide started coming in...then you'd really know something." For some reason that quote always stuck with me.

In recent years, Plankaert and his family have become "The Obornes" ( remember them) of Belgium. For 4-5 seasons a television crew has followed them as they've lived in a teepee and set out on a variety of adventures. Eddy's son is an aspiring race car driver, his other son is an actor and race three years as a profession cyclist, and his daughter Stephanie is a pop star. Eddy gets himself drunk and causes trouble across Flandia.

The Plankaerts continue to stay involved in the world of cycling. Eddy's brothers were great racers and now Walter won Flanders, Willy won the Tour's green jersey. Their sons have seen some success with the aforementioned Francesco having a brief carreer and Jo Plankaert winning Kerne-Brussle-Kerne and getting second in Paris-Roubix. The newest to try his hand is Baptiste Plankaert who has been realizing some success in the amateur ranks.