Who is it?

As an amateur, he collected podium placings at the 1985 Tour of Ireland and the 1985 Olympia's Tour, then followed those with four podium finishes at the 1986 Olympia's Tour (and 3rd on GC). Also in 1986, and still as an amateur, he won the Fleche du Sud, and the Ronde van Overijssel, capping the year by winning a rainbow World's Champion jersey by winning the amateur 100km Team Time Trial. His one foray into racing in the United States came in 1987 when he finished twenty-fourth in the Coors Classic. In 1988, this racer won three stages of the Tour of Hellas, and one stage of the Course de la Paix. In 1989, his first year as a professional, he finished on the podiums' 3rd step at the Grand Prix de la Liberation, and the 2nd step after stage 3 of the Vuelta Ciclista a la Comunidad Valencia. The year 1990 saw him finish 2nd in stage 3 of Paris-Nice. 

Known mostly as a sprint specialist, his most prestigious win may have been stage 3 of the 1992 Tour de France, though that year he also won two stages of the Ronde van Nederland, finished 3rd in the Veenendaal - Veenendaal, and 3rd again on stage six of the Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol. He continued to step up to the podium in 1993 with a 3rd place finish at the GP Impanis, and in 1994 when he won stage 3a at the Tour de Luxembourg. That final placing was the last significant one of his career, and 1995 was the end of his turning the pedals in competition. That said he remained tied to the sport, serving as an Assistant Sport Director of the French Unibet Tietema Rockets team (UCI rank #26) just last year (2025).

His greatest claim to fame, perhaps, amongst the general public is his role portraying the character of Gerrit Tankink in the 2015 film "Ventoux," the story of "four old friends [who] relive happy days gone by as they climb France's Mont Ventoux by bike like they did thirty years before, only to find themselves forced to face a ghost from their shared past."

A quote: "One second you're clipping in, next you're cruising in limited edition Karhu comfort... like a Rocket [hmmm, is that a bit of hint], just with better arch support."

And, you'll still find him, just like many of us, even after so many years, out on a bike with a group of local friends.

Who is this Dutchman? The answer is below.

Who is it? He is Rocket Rob, Rob Harmeling.