He rode in support of riders such as Joop Zoetemelk, whom he could pace over mountains at impressive speed, but he was also capable of winning on his own.

Addiction to amphetamine and a lifelong habit of petty theft, which he said came from seeing his father bring home things he had stolen from work, brought him into trouble with the law.

He was caught stealing lawnmowers and breaking into post office stamp machines to raise money to cover his addiction and his gambling.

The jail sentence and the loss of all he had won forced him and his Belgian wife, Josée, to sell the villa they had owned.

He took part in a celebrity edition of the Big Brother television series in 2000 and has worked in public relations for the Quickstep team, driving its guests at races.