Thijs Roks ( sippy , November 30 1930 - Wernhout , February 7 2007 ) was a Dutch cyclist . His nickname during his cycling career was Boar sippy .
Roks was 1951 professional cyclist. A year later he was the first Dutch participant in the Tour of Italy . He made it so impressive that the team around Fausto Coppi offered him a lucrative contract. His father forbade the 21-year-old to Italy to move.
In 1953 he was a foreman in the Dutch team in the Tour de France . This team, which also include Wim van Est and Wout Wagtmans participated, won that year the Team Classification .Itself seemed Roks in the first stage on the way to the stage victory and thus the yellow jersey , but his escape was arrested because he had to wait for a passing freight train. before the railway In the final standings of the Tour, he finished in 29th place. In 1955 he was in Wijk bij Duurstede Dutch champion . After seven years have been a professional cyclist he got in 1958on the (lower) class of the independents.
After his cycling career Roks ran a cafe in Wernhout. In later years he became a private severely affected. He himself suffered from rheumatism leaving him in a wheelchair ended, but he overcame the disease. His wife died after an illness, and two of his sons crashed.
Thijs Roks was the end of December 2006, was hospitalized after a heavy fall. He died a few weeks later at the age of 76.