High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Hendrik Gerardus Jozef "Joop" Zoetemelk (born 3 December 1946, Rijpwetering) is a retired professional racing cyclist from the Netherlands who has emigrated to France. He started the Tour de France 16 times and finished every time, a record. He won the race in 1980 and also came eighth, fifth, fourth (three times) and second (six times). He won the world professional road championship in 1985 at 38. He retired from the sport to run a hotel at Meaux, near Paris, France.