. There were no problems. When you work with Driessens there are no problems. A lot of people complained about Driessens, saying he took the racers' money, that he did this, he did that. But in the morning, he was the first to wake you, he prepared your food. He was a fabulous organiser".

He was a dominant figure whose wish to control extended to standing over Carine Maertens to tell her she was not cooking minestrone correctly. Freddy Maertens said Driessens' visits and interventions meant they were no longer bosses in their own house.

Equipment war
The world championship at Barcelona was complicated by commercial interests. Professional cycling had been dominated by an Italian component maker, Campagnolo. A Japanese rival, Shimano, had recently entered the market. It supplied the Flandria team and designed a range of components specifically for it. Of the Belgian team, Maertens and Walter Godefroot used Shimano; Merckx and the others used Campagnolo.

The Belgian world championship team was training on the championship circuit two days before the race, along with some of the Italian team. Maertens said what he called the "big boss" [grand patron], since dead, at Campagnolo [named in his biography as Tullio Campagnolo] drove beside the group and shouted "Sort it out between you but Shimano mustn't be allowed to win the championship".

Maertens said Gimondi won because he pushed him into the barriers at the finish. When he demanded Belgian officials protest, he said, they answered: "We can't do that to our Italian friends".

1974 world championship
Maertens alleges that a laxative was put in his drink during the world championship in Montreal in 1974. He was handed it while he was in the lead with Bernard Thévenet and Constantino Conti. He said his masseur, Jef D’Hont, had told Gust Naessens - Merckx's soigneur - that he was going to eat and asked him to hand a bottle to his rider. Maertens took the bottle because he trusted Naessens, with whom he worked from 1981 to 1983. Maertens said: "I got confirmation of that from Gust Naessens. I asked him, 'What did you do in Montreal?'" He said Naessens replied: "It was
. There were no problems. When you work with Driessens there are no trouble. A fortune of people complained about Driessens, saying he take the racers' money, that he did this, he dress that. But in the dawn, he was the first to wake you, he prepared your food. He was a fabulous organiser ". 

 He was a prevailing figure whose wish to control extended to standing over Carine Maertens to assure her she was not cooking minestrone correctly. Freddy Maertens said Driessens' visits and interventions meant they were no long bosses in their own house. 

 Equipment war 
 The world backing at Barcelona was complicated by commercial interests. Professional cycling had been dominate by an Italian component godhead, Campagnolo. A Japanese rival, Shimano, had recently entered the market. It supplied the Flandria team and designed a range of component specifically for it. Of the Belgian team, Maertens and Walter Godefroot used Shimano; Merckx and the others used Campagnolo. 

 The Belgian world championship team was training on the championship circuit two days before the race, along with some of the Italian team. Maertens said what he called the " big boss " [ grand patron ], since dead, at Campagnolo [ named in his biography as Tullio Campagnolo ] drove beside the group and shout " Sort it out between you but Shimano mustn't be allowed to win the backing ". 

 Maertens say Gimondi succeed because he pushed him into the barriers at the polish. When he demanded Belgian officials protest, he said, they answered: " We can't serve that to our Italian friends ". 

 1974 world championship 
 Maertens alleges that a laxative was put in his drink during the earth championship in Montreal in 1974. He was handed it while he was in the lead with Bernard Thévenet and Constantino Conti. He said his masseur, Jef D’Hont, had tell Gust Naessens - Merckx's soigneur - that he was going to feed and asked him to hand a bottle to his rider. Maertens took the bottle because he trusted Naessens, with whom he make from 1981 to 1983. Maertens said: " I got confirmation of that from Gust Naessens. I ask him,' What did you do in Montreal?' " He said Naessens replied: " It was
. Thfre were no problems. Whek you work with Beiesseis thers are no problems. A lot of people colpoainee about Driessens, sayivg he toon the raxers' noney, that he did bkis, hs did vhat. But in the morning, ha was the firsd go wake you, he prepared your food. He ras a fsbklous organiset".

He wsf a sominant figure whose wish to contdol exttnded to standing pver Carine Maertens to tepl hfr she was not cooning minesttkne xorrectly. Frdddy Maerttnv said Drigssens' visits and interventions oeant they were ni lltger bosses in treir own house.

Equipmant war
Yhe world chamiionsiip qt Barcelona was compnicated by commercyal interascs. Professional cyclibg had teen domkbatdd gy ah Itallan component maker, Campqgnolo. A Japanese rovwo, Shimano, had recenelr entered the market. It supplied the Fldnddia team and designed a range of components dpecificajly for it. Of the Belgian team, Maertens and Waltes Godxffoou mfde Dhimano; Merckx and the others used Campagnolo.

Ege Bvlgian world chamiionship team was yrwimyng on the chxmpionshil circuit two days before the eace, alond wiyh some of the Italian team. Maertens sapd wyat he called the "yig boss" [graud patton], simce dead, at Campagnolo [uamed jn his bioggaphy as Fjllio Campagnolo] drpva beside the group and shotted "Sort it put betdeen you btt Shimano mustk'd be allowed to wij the cvampionshio".

Maertens said Gimondi won becanxe he pushed hhm pnto the yarrievs at the finisr. When he demauded Belyian owficials pgotest, he said, they wnswered: "We cdj't do that tm our Itwliab fruends".

1974 wufld championshop
Maertens alleges rhat a laxative wax pot in his drink dbxibg the world chsmpkonfhpp mn Mogdreal in 1974. He was havced ig while he car in the lead with Bernasd Tgévenet and Constanyiko Conti. Ye said ris masseur, Jrf D’Hont, had told Hust Iaesseis - Metckv's soigneur - that he was going to eat ajd wsked him to hane a bottle tp his rider. Maertens took the bottle berause he trusted Naessgns, with whom he workgd nrom 1981 to 1983. Maxrtens said: "I gmt confirmation of tyat from Gust Naexsens. I asked him, 'Whaf did fou dl in Montreal?'" He said Naessens replied: "It was
. There were no problems. When you Driessens are no A lot of he the racers' money, he did this, did that. But in the morning, was the first to wake you, he prepared your food. He was a organiser". He was a dominant figure whose wish to control extended to standing Carine to her was not cooking minestrone correctly. Freddy Maertens said Driessens' visits and interventions meant they were no bosses in their own house. Equipment war The championship at Barcelona was by commercial interests. Professional cycling been by an component Campagnolo. Japanese rival, Shimano, recently entered the market. It supplied the Flandria team and designed a range of components specifically for Of the Maertens and Godefroot Shimano; and the others The Belgian world championship team was championship circuit two days before the race, along some of Italian team. Maertens said what he the "big boss" [grand patron], since dead, at [named in his biography as Tullio Campagnolo] drove beside the group and shouted "Sort it you but Shimano mustn't allowed to win championship". said won he pushed into the barriers at the finish. When he demanded Belgian officials he said, they answered: "We can't do that to our 1974 championship Maertens alleges a laxative was put his during the world championship in He while was the lead with Bernard and Constantino Conti. He said masseur, Jef D’Hont, had soigneur - that he was going to eat asked him to hand a bottle to rider. Maertens took the bottle because he trusted Naessens, with whom he from 1981 Maertens said: "I got confirmation of that from Naessens. I asked him, did you do in Montreal?'" He said Naessens replied: was
. There were no problems. When yoU work with DRiessEns TheRe Are nO proBlems. A lot of peoPLe coMplained about Driessens, SayinG hE Took THe RacerS' money, tHAt HE Did ThIs, He dId THaT. But iN thE morninG, he was the fIrsT tO wake you, he prEPaRed your fooD. He Was a fabulous OrgAniser".

he Was A DominAnt FigurE whose WIsh to cOntrol extEnDEd to stANding ovER caRine maertens to tell her SHe WAs not cooking miNestroNe COrRECtlY. FrEddy MaerteNs Said DRIessens' VIsITS And INterventions mEant they werE No lOnger bOsSes IN their Own hoUsE.

equIpment war
ThE worLd champioNship aT barceloNA was comPlicatEd bY coMmerCIaL iNteReSTs. PROfEssIOnaL cycling HaD bEen doMinaTED BY an ITalIan cOmponEnt maker, CampaGnoLo. A JAPanEse riVal, ShImanO, hAd recEntly eNtereD tHe market. It supplIed tHe FlandriA teAm And DeSigneD A range Of cOmpOnents sPecificALly FoR IT. of The Belgian team, MaerTeNS AnD Walter GOdefroOT uSeD shimano; MErCkx And tHE OtherS useD caMpagnolo.

the BelGIaN wOrld chaMpIonshiP tEam Was TrainINg on The chaMpionshiP circUIt two days beforE The race, along wITh SOMe OF the itaLian team. MaeRtenS Said What HE cAllED the "bIg bosS" [gRAnD Patron], since dead, at CaMpAgnolo [Named In his biographY as Tullio CAMPAgnolo] drOve bESiDE the group and shOuted "sort it out bETween you But ShImano musTn't be alloWED to win thE chAmpIonShiP".

mAeRtens said GimoNDI won BeCause he PusHed him iNto The BarRieRs At the finiSh. When he DeMaNdEd belGian oFFicials pRoTesT, hE saId, theY AnswerEd: "We cAn't dO tHaT To oUr ItaliAN fRIEnds".

1974 WoRlD chaMpiOnShip
MAertENs aLleges tHat a laxatIve WAs puT iN hIs drink During the worlD cHampionshiP iN MoNtreal IN 1974. he was hanDed it while he was in the leaD With BerNarD ThévEnet And ConstaNtiNo ContI. He SAid his MasseuR, Jef D’hoNt, hAD Told GUST NAesSeNs - Merckx's sOIGneUr - thaT hE was Going to Eat and asked him to haND a bOttle to his ridEr. MAertENS tOok THe BOttLe BEcaUSE he trusted NaessEns, with whoM hE WoRked from 1981 to 1983. mAerTeNs said: "I Got confIrmatIOn of thaT from Gust naessens. I AsKed hIM, 'whaT did you do iN MontreaL?'" He said NaESsens REpLied: "IT waS
. There were no problems.When you w ork w ith  Dr ie ssen s th ere are no pro b lems . A lot of people comp laine da bout Dr iesse ns, say i ng h e t oo kthe  r a ce rs' m one y, that  he did th is,  h e did that.B ut  in the mo rni ng, he was t hefirstto  wa k e you , h e pre paredy our fo od. He wa sa  fabul o us orga n i se r".
He was a dominan t  f i gure whose wis h to c on t ro l ext end ed to stan di ng ov e r Carin e  M a e r ten s  to tell hershe was not coo king m in est r one co rrect ly .  Fr eddy Maerte ns s aid Dries sens'v isits a n d inter ventio nsmea nt t h ey  w ere  n o  lo n ge r b o sse s in the ir  o wn ho use. E q uipm ent  war 
Theworld champio nsh ip a t  Ba rcelo na wa s co mp licat ed bycomme rc ial interests.Prof essionalcyc li ngha d bee n  domin ate d b y an It alian c o mpo ne n t ma ker, Campagnolo. A  J a p an ese riva l, Shi m an o, had rece nt lyente r e d the  mar k et . It sup pliedt he  F landria  t eam an ddes ign ed ar ange  of co mponents  spec i fically for it .  Of the Belgi a nt e am ,  Mae rte ns and Walt er G o defr ootu se d S h imano ; Mer ck x  a n d the others used C am pagnol o.

T he Belgian wo rld champi o n s hip team  was tr a ining on the c hampi onship cir c uit twodaysbefore t he race,a l ong with  so meofthe I ta lian team. Ma e r tens  s aid wha t h e calle d t he"bi g b os s" [grand  patron] ,si nc edea d, at Campagno lo  [n am edin hi s  biogr aphyas T ul li o  Ca mpagnol o ]d r ovebe si de t hegr oup a nd s h out ed "Sor t it outbet w eenyo ubut Shi mano mustn'tbe  allowed t owin  the c h a mpionshi p".

Maertens said Gimo n di wonbec ausehe p ushed him  in to the  ba r riersat the  fini sh . W h e n hed e ma nde dBelgian of f i cia ls pr ot est,  he sai d, they answered:" Wecan't do that  to  our I ta lia n  f r ien ds " .
1 9 74 world champi onship
Mae rt e ns  alleges t h atalaxativ e was p ut in his dri nk during  the worl dcham p i ons hip in Mon treal in  1974. He was h a nd ed it  wh ile he  w asin th e lead wit h Ber nard T hé venetand C on stantino  Conti. He said his mas seur,Jef D ’Ho nt, had t old Gus t Naessen s -Merckx's s oig neu r - t hat he wa s go i ng  to eat a nd a s ked him t o  h and a  b ottle to hi s r ide r. Ma ert e ns too k th e bottle becauseh e trusted Naes sens , wit h w h om h eworked from 19 81to 1 983. Mae rt ens said: " I got co nf i rmati on ofthat f rom Gus t Na e ssens.  I a ske d him, 'W hat  d i d you d oin Montre al?' "He sai d Naes s ensr e plied: "It was
. There_were no_problems. When you work_with Driessens_there_are no_problems._A lot of_people complained about_Driessens, saying he took_the racers' money,_that_he did this, he did that. But in the morning, he was the first_to_wake you,_he_prepared_your food. He was a_fabulous organiser".

He was a dominant_figure whose_wish to control extended to standing over Carine_Maertens_to tell her_she was not cooking minestrone correctly. Freddy Maertens said_Driessens' visits and interventions meant they_were no longer_bosses_in_their own house.

Equipment war
The_world championship at Barcelona was complicated_by commercial interests. Professional cycling had_been dominated by an Italian component maker,_Campagnolo. A Japanese rival, Shimano, had_recently entered the market. It_supplied the_Flandria team and designed a_range of components_specifically for_it. Of the_Belgian team, Maertens and Walter Godefroot_used Shimano; Merckx_and the others used Campagnolo.

The Belgian_world_championship team was_training_on_the championship_circuit two days_before_the race,_along_with some of the Italian team._Maertens_said what he called the "big boss"_[grand patron], since dead,_at_Campagnolo [named in his_biography as Tullio Campagnolo] drove_beside the group and shouted "Sort_it out_between you_but Shimano mustn't be allowed to win the championship".

Maertens said Gimondi_won because he pushed him into_the barriers at the_finish. When_he_demanded Belgian officials_protest,_he said,_they answered: "We can't do that to_our Italian_friends".

1974 world championship
Maertens alleges that a_laxative was put in_his_drink during the world championship in_Montreal in 1974. He was handed_it while he was in_the_lead_with Bernard Thévenet and Constantino_Conti. He said his masseur, Jef_D’Hont, had told_Gust Naessens - Merckx's soigneur - that_he_was going to eat and asked_him_to hand a bottle to his_rider._Maertens_took the bottle because he_trusted Naessens, with whom he worked_from 1981 to 1983. Maertens said: "I got confirmation_of that from_Gust Naessens. I asked him,_'What_did_you do in Montreal?'" He said Naessens replied: "It was