The cyclist Frans Verbeeck
Frans Verbeeck was a Belgium cyclist from 1963 to 1977 and has achieved great results in his career, the most important are 2 times 2nd in the Tour of Flanders and Liège Bastogne Liège, 6th in Paris Roubaix, 1st in the Amstel Gold Race and Belgian champion in 1973 when he beated Eddy Merckx.
Most remember Frans Verbeeck for his legendary interview by Fred De Bruyne after his arrival in the 1975 Tour of Flanders in which he had attacked more than 100km with Eddy Merckx and died a 1000 times “It is unbelievable Fred how Eddy drives. You cannot say that. Gosh, I suffered so much. You must say it as it is… He drives five miles per hour too fast for us. I do not know what that is. He drives once as fast as last year. "
Vermarc Sport founded
At the end of 1977 Frans Verbeeck decided to permanently hang his racing bike on the hook. He had already done this for the first time in 1966 and returned to the cycling environment a year and a half later. In the meantime, he made a living as a milkman, which later earned him the nickname the Flying Milkman.
But now it was permanently. Frans wanted to stay in the cycling environment and therefore became an importer of Italian cycling clothing Santini from whom he received the monopoly for the Benelux. Before that, he had to generate a turnover of 12 million Belgian francs or 300,000 euros annually, but that was no problem.
Logo Vermarc Sport
Frans Verbeeck had Gazelle as a customer and quickly made over a turnover of 18 million francs, which is 50% more. Santini however wanted an increase in turnover every year, so Frans decided to terminate the collaboration and sell his own cycling clothing under the name Vermarc.
Vermarc is the abbreviation of Verbeeck Marc, the son of Frans who is currently still in charge. Frans was determined to make it and his slogan was "We are going to make the world's best cycling clothes"
In the early years Frans had a lot of support of Eddy Merckx who brought him into contact with CEO Federico Jacqetti of the Italian cycling clothing manufacturer APG, who still produce cycling clothing.
Vermarc Sport nowadays
Vermarc Sport has grown into one of the largest producers of cycling clothing and they've seen and followed the evolution of cycling jerseys and trousers in wool in the 1970s, over polyester to Lycra. You can also contact them to design your own cycling clothing, even online.
In addition to cycling clothing, Vermarc also produces athletic clothing and sports underwear.
In the past, they supplied cycling clothing to Topsport Vlaanderen, Lotto, Domo Farmfrites, Omega Pharma - Quickstep and they sponsored Tean Milram and Cycle Collstrop.
They are currently the main supplier of cycling clothing for cycling teams Deceuninck Quick Step, Lotto Soudal, Telenet Baloise and Sport Vlaanderen Baloise.
