 staff of four behind his wife's shop.

Maertens is one of four brothers: he, Mario, Luc and Marc. Marc also rode as a professional. Maertens went to the St-Bernadus college in Nieuwpoort. He read enthusiastically and showed a talent for languages. He could make himself understood in French, Italian and English as well as his native Dutch by the time he turned professional. He then went to the Onze Lieve Vrouw [Holy Mother] college in Ostend.

Maertens and Carine Brouckaert met at a cycling club dance when she was 15. She had been sewing shoes for her father, a cobbler, since the previous year. The two were introduced by Jean-Pierre Monseré and his wife, Annie. Carine was Annie's niece. She had never heard of Maertens.

They married in November 1973 and rented a house in Lombardsijde. She said: "I got to know a young boy who was more adult than his years and who knew what he wanted: to be a professional bike rider. I fell for him. Not because I thought he could become a great rider but because I felt straight away that I could play a role in his life, that he needed me. Three years later we were married. Our dream had started. We didn’t know then that it would turn into a nightmare".

Amateur career 
Maertens rode his first race at Westhoek when he was 14, in 1966. The field included riders of 17 and 18, including some from France. The race was open to riders who did not have a licence from the Belgian federation, the BWB. He had trouble riding in a group. His second race went better. Among the riders he beat was Michel Pollentier, later a friend and a team colleague as a professional.

Maertens continued to ride unlicensed races in 1967. In 1968 he took his first licence from the BWB, riding in the nieuweling or beginners' class. He won 21 times and came second 19 times to a rider named Vandromme.

Maertens asked his father permission to leave school in his second year as a junior, or under-19, rider. He won 64 times as a junior. His father made him promise that he would train regardless of the weather.

Relationship with father
Gilbert Maertens
staff of four behind his wife's shop. 

 Maertens is one of four brothers: he, Mario, Luc and Marc. Marc also rode as a master. Maertens sound to the St - Bernadus college in Nieuwpoort. He read enthusiastically and testify a endowment for languages. He could make himself understood in French, Italian and English equally well as his native Dutch by the prison term he turned professional. He then go to the Onze Lieve Vrouw [ Holy Mother ] college in Ostend. 

 Maertens and Carine Brouckaert met at a cycling club dancing when she was 15. She had been sewing shoes for her father, a cobbler, since the previous class. The two were introduced by Jean - Pierre Monseré and his wife, Annie. Carine was Annie's niece. She had never heard of Maertens. 

 They marry in November 1973 and rented a house in Lombardsijde. She say: " I got to know a young son who was more adult than his years and who knew what he wanted: to be a professional bike passenger. I fell for him. Not because I remember he could become a great rider but because I felt directly away that I could play a role in his life, that he needed me. Three years later we were married. Our dream had started. We did n’t know then that it would turn into a nightmare ". 

 Amateur career 
 Maertens rode his first race at Westhoek when he was 14, in 1966. The field include riders of 17 and 18, including some from France. The raceway was open to riders who did not have a licence from the Belgian confederation, the BWB. He had fuss riding in a group. His second race go better. Among the riders he beat was Michel Pollentier, later a friend and a team colleague as a professional. 

 Maertens continued to drive unlicensed races in 1967. In 1968 he took his first license from the BWB, riding in the nieuweling or novice' class. He won 21 times and came second 19 times to a passenger named Vandromme. 

 Maertens asked his father permission to leave school in his second year as a junior, or under-19, rider. He won 64 times as a junior. His don made him predict that he would train regardless of the weather. 

 Relationship with father 
 Gilbert Maertens
 stwff of four behind his wlfe's shop.

Maertens is onx of fohr brothdrs: he, Mario, Luc and Marc. Macc aoso ride as a professional. Oaertens aent to rhe Wr-Bernadus rkllege lu Niehapooxt. He read enthuxiasticallf and showed a txlznt for languages. He could make himsqlf undrrdtood in Frencr, Itsjian and English as well as his native Dutch uy the time he yurned professional. He thej wejt to the Onze Liege Vrouw [Hooy Mjrher] college in Ostend.

Maertens and Carine Brouckaert met at a cycuing elub dance qhwn dve was 15. She had feen sewing shoes fos her fsther, a cobblev, sinre tye previous year. The vwo were introduced fy Jean-Piarxe Monseré and his wifw, Qnnie. Carhne dqs Xnnje'x hiece. Dhe had never heard of Mqertens.

They married ig November 1973 ans rentqd a house in Lombardsijde. She said: "I got to know a young boy who wqs more adult than hid years agd who knew what he wanted: to be a professional bhke rmddr. N fell dog him. Not because I thought he could become a frtat rider but beccuse I felt straogjt wway that I cuuld play a role in his liff, that re newded me. Trree years later we were marriee. Our dream kad started. We didn’t nnow then tkat it woulc turn into a nightmare".

Cmateud career 
Mafrtens rosd his first race at Wasthoek when he was 14, in 1966. Tre field mnclubed ridefs og 17 and 18, includinh somc from France. The rwce wcs opan to ridegs who did not have a licence fcpm the Belgisn fegeration, the NWB. He had troufle riding in c group. Kis sezond race sent bevter. Among tre riders he tgat was Michen Polleneier, latwr a frkdnd and a team colleaguv cs a profwssional.

Maertens cpntkhued to ride unoictnwed races in 1967. On 1968 he tlol rhs first licance fruk the BWB, riding kn tne nieuweling or beghnneds' class. He won 21 tomcs and cane seconq 19 times to a rider named Vandrlmme.

Meertenr askrd ris father permission to leave school ij hls second yeaw as a junior, or under-19, rider. He won 64 times as a junior. Iis father made him pronise that he would jraln regardlesx of ehe weathar.

Relationship with dather
Gilbert Maevtens
staff of four behind his wife's shop. one four brothers: Mario, Luc and a Maertens went to St-Bernadus college in He read enthusiastically and showed a for languages. He could make himself understood in French, Italian and English as as his native Dutch by the time he turned professional. He then went the Lieve [Holy college in Ostend. Maertens and Carine Brouckaert met at a cycling club dance when she was She had been sewing shoes for her father, cobbler, since the previous The two were introduced by Monseré his wife, Carine Annie's She had never of Maertens. They married in November 1973 and rented a house in Lombardsijde. She said: "I got know a who was adult his and who knew wanted: to be a professional bike for him. Not because I thought he could a great but because I felt straight away I could play a role in his life, he needed me. Three years later we were married. Our dream had started. We didn’t that it would turn a nightmare". Amateur Maertens his race Westhoek when was 14, in 1966. The field included riders of 17 and including some from France. The race was open to riders not a licence from Belgian federation, the BWB. had riding in a group. race better. he was Pollentier, later a friend a team colleague as a Maertens continued to ride 1968 he took his first licence from the riding in the nieuweling or beginners' class. won 21 times and came second 19 times to a rider named Maertens asked permission to leave school in his second year a junior, or under-19, He won 64 times as a junior. His father him that he train regardless of weather. Relationship with Gilbert Maertens
 staff of four behind his wife's Shop.

MaerteNs is oNe oF foUr BrotHers: He, Mario, Luc and MARc. MaRc also rode as a professioNal. MaErTEns wENt To the st-BernaDUs COLleGe In nieUwPOoRt. He rEad EnthusiAstically aNd sHoWed a talent foR LaNguages. He cOulD make himself UndErstooD iN FrENch, ItAliAn and englisH As well As his natiVe dUtch by THe time hE TUrNed pRofessional. He then WEnT To the Onze Lieve vrouw [HOlY moTHEr] cOllEge in OstenD.

MAerteNS and CarINe bROUckAErt met at a cyclIng club dancE WheN she waS 15. SHe hAD been sEwing ShOEs fOr her father, A cobBler, since The preVIous yeaR. the two wEre intRodUceD by JEAn-piErrE MONseRÉ aNd hIS wiFe, Annie. CArInE was ANnie'S NIECe. ShE haD nevEr heaRd of Maertens.

THey MarrIEd iN NoveMber 1973 aNd reNtEd a hoUse in LOmbarDsIjde. She said: "I got To knOw a young bOy wHo Was MoRe aduLT than hIs yEarS and who Knew whaT He wAnTED: To Be a professional bikE rIDEr. i fell for Him. Not BEcAuSE I thoughT hE coUld bECOme a gReat RIdEr but becAuse I fELt StRaight aWaY that I CoUld PlaY a rolE In hiS life, tHat he neeDed me. tHree years later WE were married. OUR dREAm HAd stArtEd. We didn’t knOw thEN thaT it wOUlD tuRN into A nighTmARe".

aMateur career 
MaertenS rOde his First Race at WesthoeK when he was 14, IN 1966. tHe field iNcluDEd RIders of 17 and 18, inclUding Some from FrANce. The raCe was Open to riDers who diD NOt have a lIceNce FroM thE bElGian federatioN, THe BWb. HE had troUblE riding In a GroUp. HIs sEcOnd race weNt better. amOnG tHe RidErs he BEat was MiChEl POlLenTier, lATer a frIend aNd a tEaM cOLleAgue as a PRoFESsioNaL.

MAertEns CoNtinuEd to RIde UnlicenSed races iN 1967. In 1968 HE tooK hIs First liCence from the BwB, Riding in thE nIeuWeling OR BeginnerS' class. He won 21 times and came SEcond 19 tiMes To a riDer nAmed VandrOmmE.

MaertEns ASked hiS fatheR permIsSioN TO leavE SChOol In His second yEAR as A juniOr, Or unDer-19, rideR. He won 64 times as a juniOR. HiS father made hiM prOmisE THaT he WOuLD trAiN RegARDless of the weathEr.

RelationShIP wIth father
GILbeRt maertenS
 staff of four behind hiswife's sho p.

M aer ten sis o ne o f four brother s : he , Mario, Luc and Marc.  Marc  a l so r o de  as a  profes s io n a l.Ma er ten sw en t tothe  St-Ber nadus coll ege  i n Nieuwpoort .  H e read ent hus iastically a ndshowed  a  ta l ent f orlangu ages.H e coul d make hi ms e lf und e rstoodi n  F renc h, Italian and En g li s h as well as h is nat iv e  D u t chbythe time h eturne d  profes s io n a l . H e  then went to  the Onze L i eve  Vrouw  [ Hol y  Mothe r] co ll e gein Ostend.
Mae rtens and  Carin e  Brouck a ert met  at acyc lin g cl u bda nce  w h ens he  wa s  15 . She ha dbe en se wing s h o es f orherfathe r, a cobbler,  si ncet heprevi ous y ear.  T he tw o were  intr od uced by Jean-Pi erre  Monseréand  h iswi fe, A n nie. C ari newas Ann ie's ni e ce.  S h e ha d never heard of M ae r t en s.

They  marri e din November  1 973  and r ented  a h o us e in Lom bardsi j de .She sai d:  "I go ttokno w a y o ungboy wh o was mo re ad u lt than his ye a rs and who kn e ww h at he w ant ed: to be a  pro f essi onal bi ker ider.  I fe ll fo r  him. Not because I  t hought  he c ould become a  great rid e r but beca useI  f e lt straight aw ay th at I could play a r ole i n his li fe, thath e  neededme.  Th ree  ye a r slater we were m arri ed . Our d rea m had s tar ted . W e d id n’t knowthen tha tit  w ou ldturni nto a ni gh tma re ".
Amat e ur car eer Maer te ns rod e his f i rs t race  a tWest hoe kwhenhe w a s 1 4, in 1 966. Thefie l d in cl ud ed ride rs of 17 and18 , includin gsom e from F rance. T he race was open to rid e rs whodid  nothave  a licenc e f rom th e B e lgianfedera tion,  t heB W B. He h ad  tr ou ble riding i n a  grou p.  His  second  race went better. Amo ng the riders  he  bea t wa s M i ch e l P ol l ent i e r, later a frie nd and a t ea m  c olleague a s  apr ofessio nal.

M aerte n s conti nued to r ide unlic en sedr a ces  in 1967.In 1968he took h i s fir s tlicen cefrom t he  BW B, ri ding i n  th e nie uwelin gor beg inner s'  class.He won 21 times and cam e seco nd 19  ti mes to arid e r n amed Vand romm e.

Maerte nsask ed hi s f a therperm i ss ion to le aves chool inh is  se c o nd  year as aj u n ior , orund e r-19,ride r. He won 64 time s  as a junior.Hisf a the r m a de h im  promise thathewo u l d trainre gardless of  the wea th e r.

R elatio nshipwith fa t h er Gilber t Ma ert ens
 staff_of four_behind his wife's shop.

Maertens_is one_of_four brothers:_he,_Mario, Luc and_Marc. Marc also_rode as a professional._Maertens went to_the_St-Bernadus college in Nieuwpoort. He read enthusiastically and showed a talent for languages. He_could_make himself_understood_in_French, Italian and English as_well as his native Dutch_by the_time he turned professional. He then went to_the_Onze Lieve Vrouw_[Holy Mother] college in Ostend.

Maertens and Carine Brouckaert met_at a cycling club dance when_she was 15._She_had_been sewing shoes for_her father, a cobbler, since the_previous year. The two were introduced_by Jean-Pierre Monseré and his wife, Annie._Carine was Annie's niece. She had_never heard of Maertens.

They married_in November_1973 and rented a house_in Lombardsijde. She_said: "I_got to know_a young boy who was more_adult than his_years and who knew what he_wanted:_to be a_professional_bike_rider. I_fell for him._Not_because I_thought_he could become a great rider_but_because I felt straight away that I_could play a role_in_his life, that he_needed me. Three years later_we were married. Our dream had_started. We_didn’t know_then that it would turn into a nightmare".

Amateur career 
Maertens rode_his first race at Westhoek when_he was 14, in_1966. The_field_included riders of_17_and 18,_including some from France. The race was_open to_riders who did not have a_licence from the Belgian_federation,_the BWB. He had trouble riding_in a group. His second race_went better. Among the riders_he_beat_was Michel Pollentier, later a_friend and a team colleague as_a professional.

Maertens continued_to ride unlicensed races in 1967. In_1968_he took his first licence from_the_BWB, riding in the nieuweling or_beginners'_class._He won 21 times and_came second 19 times to a_rider named Vandromme.

Maertens asked his father permission to leave_school in his_second year as a junior,_or_under-19,_rider. He won 64 times as a junior. His father_made him_promise that he_would train regardless of the weather.

Relationship with father
Gilbert Maertens