Belgian Cycling Star and Frituur Icon Wesemael Dies at 76
Wilfried Wesemael, the former professional cyclist who won Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and the Tour de Suisse before becoming one of Belgium’s most beloved frituur owners, has died at his home in Lebbeke at the age of 76. The Aalst native passed away on September 2, 2026, as reported by VRT NWS.
A Surprise Victory That Launched a Career
Born in Aalst on January 31, 1950, Wesemael first made his mark as an amateur track cyclist, winning multiple Belgian championship titles in team pursuit, individual pursuit, madison, and omnium disciplines. He competed at the 1972 Munich Olympics in the team pursuit before turning professional in 1973.
His breakthrough came in 1974 when, as a neo-pro, he stunned spectators with a surprise victory in the classic Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. “Nobody among the spectators knew who I was: ‘Who is that?’, people along the side shouted,” Wesemael recalled in a 2021 Sporza feature.
Despite describing himself as “not a born sprinter,” he won a mass sprint stage in the Vuelta a Espana in 1975 and stood on the podium in third place at Milan-San Remo in 1977.
Master Domestique at TI-Raleigh
In 1978, Wesemael joined the dominant Dutch team TI-Raleigh under manager Peter Post, becoming a teammate of cycling greats including Jan Raas, Hennie Kuiper, Joop Zoetemelk, and Gerrie Knetemann. “TI-Raleigh was a bit like the Deceuninck-Quick Step of that time,” he told Sporza. “We won about 100 races per year.”
His greatest achievement came in 1979 when he won the Tour de Suisse overall classification. According to the Aalst history blog Oilsjtgoistad, the victory was secured after teammate Jan Raas personally intervened with team manager Peter Post, who had initially planned to make Knetemann the team leader.
“But I preferred the role of domestique,” Wesemael said, a role he fulfilled most notably for Jan Raas. He also finished fifth overall in Paris-Nice during his time with the team.
His professional career was cut short after a heavy crash in the descent of the Soulor during the 1979 Tour de France. “I missed a corner and went over the handlebars,” he recounted. “In that crash I suffered several hernias in my back, but that only came to light later. My left leg never really recovered.” He continued as a domestique for two more years before ending his career with Safir-Marc in 1982.
From the Peloton to the Frituur
After retiring from cycling, Wesemael and his wife Anita opened a frituur in Gijzegem, right across from his parents’ home. Three years later, they moved to Aalst, where they established what would become an institution: WilFrit, a play on his name and the Dutch word for fries.
Located on the Hopmarkt in Aalst’s city center, WilFrit became one of the most iconic frituren in Belgium. In 2003, it was recognized by Test Aankoop, the Belgian consumer organization, as one of the best frituren in the country, as documented on the Oilsjtgoistad blog.
“Eventually I opened a frituur with my wife,” Wesemael told Sporza. “First three years in Gijzegem, right across from my parents. Then we moved to Aalst. We named our frituur WilFrit.” His personal favorite? “A small portion of fries with beef stew sauce, mayonnaise (or Andalouse) and a curry sausage.”
In November 2020, at age 70, Wesemael officially retired and handed the business to his long-time employee Jenny Dierick, who reopened WilFrit at a new location on the Hopmarkt during the COVID-19 crisis. TV Oost reported that his frituur was one of the most well-known in the city.
A Community Icon Remembered
The news of Wesemael’s passing has prompted an outpouring of tributes from the Aalst community. In a Facebook post from Frituur WilFrit, Jenny Dierick wrote: “With sadness we learned of the passing of Wilfried Wesemael. As founder of Wil-frit, Wilfried will forever be part of the story of our frituur. I look back with warmth on the years I was allowed to work with him and am grateful that I was later able to continue the frituur.”
The post received hundreds of reactions and comments within hours, with one community member calling him “an absolute icon.” Nieuwsblad, via NewsLocker, described him as “the best-known friturist of Aalst but also winner of the Tour de Suisse.”
According to his Wikipedia biography, Wesemael was a professional cyclist from 1973 to 1982 and was a key domestique for Jan Raas. Cremation took place in a limited circle, followed by ash scattering at the cemetery of Lebbeke.
Wilfried Wesemael leaves behind his wife Anita and a community that will remember him both for his sporting achievements and for the warm welcome he offered at his frituur for nearly four decades. As one tribute put it, he was a man who found success on two very different paths - the race course and the fryer - and endeared himself to Aalst on both.