The cyclist Frans Verbeeck
Frans Verbeeck was wielrenner van 1963 tot 1977 en heeft in zijn loopbaan mooie uitslagen gehaald waarvan de belangrijkste zijn 2 keer 2de in de Ronde van Vlaanderen en Luik Bastenaken Luik, 6de in Parijs Roubaix, 1ste in de Amstel Gold Race en Belgisch kampioen in 1973 vóór 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 “Het is ongelooflijk Fred hoe dat ‘ie rijdt. Ge kunt dat niet zeggen. Goh, ik heb formidabel afgezien. Ge moe ’t zeggen gelijk het is hè… Hij rijdt vijf per uur te snel voor ons. Ik weet niet wat dat is. Hij rijdt eens zo rap als verleden jaar nog. “
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 is sinds zijn ontstaan uitgegroeid tot één van de grootste producenten van wielerkledij en heeft de evolutie meegemaakt van wielertruitjes en – broeken in wol in de jaren 70, over polyester tot Lycra. Ook kun je bij hen terecht om je eigen fietskledij te ontwerpen, dit kan zelfs 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.
