Robert de Wilde

Cyclist infobox
ridername = Robert de Wilde


image_size = 250
image_caption =
fullname = Robert de Wilde
nickname = "Afro Bob", "The Flying Dutchman"
dateofbirth = birth date and age |1977|4|30
height = 1.88m (6'2" Imperial)
weight = kg (215lbs. Imperial)
country = NED
currentteam = Redline Bicycles
discipline = Bicycle Motocross (BMX)
role = Racer
ridertype = Off Road
protourrank =
europetourrank =
amateuryears = 1994-1999
amateurteams = GT Bicycles (Europe)
proyears = 1999-2001
2001-?
2004-2006
2006
2006-Present
proteams = GT Bicycles (Europe)
Giant Bicycles
Staats Bicycles
Troy Lee Desgins
Redline Bicycles/Troy Lee Designs
majorwins =
updated = August 30, 2008

Robert de Wilde (b. April 30, 1977 in Kampen, Holland) is a Dutch professional "Mid/Current School" Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1990–2003. His nicknames are "The Flying Dutchman" [ [http://expn.go.com/athletes/bios/DEWILDE_ROBERT.html expn athletes bio.] ] in reference to his speed and his nationality and "Afro-Bob" because of his long wild, uncombed hair. [ [http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070331/NEWS/703310303/1007/BUSINESS March 31, 2007 Sarasota Herald Tribune article.] ] He was chosen for the Dutch BMX Olympic team to participate in the 2008 Summer Olympics games in Beijing, China where he reached the Quarter Finals.

Racing career

Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.

----Started Racing: 1982 at five years old. A friend got him into it. [ [http://www.bmxstars.com/profiles/robertdewilde.html bmxstars.com Profile.] ]

Sanctioning Body:

First race result:

First win (local):

First sponsor:

First national win:

Turned Professional: January 1999 at 21 years old. During 1999 and prior de Wilde was one of only three total pros Europe ever had (Dylan Clayton and Wilco Groenendaal were the other two) [ [http://www.fatbmx.com/profiler/index.html 1999 Fatbmx profile of de Wilde.] ] due to the nature of racing rules with the European sanctioning bodies at the time, which did not permit a full pro class in which an unlimited amount of money can be earned by the racer at a race.

First Professional race result (Holland/Europe):

First Professional race result (US):

First Professional win (Holland/Europe):

"'First Professional win (US):

First Junior Pro* win (Holland/Europe):

"'First Junior Pro* win (US):

First Senior Pro** race result (Holland/Eruope):

First Senior Pro** race result (US):

First Senior Pro win (Holland/Europe):

"'First Senior Pro win (US):

Retired: Still active.

Height & weight at height of his career (1999–2006): Ht:6'2" Wt:215lbs.

*In the NBL it is "B"/Superclass/"A" pro (beginning with 2000 season), in Europe Superclass; in the ABA it is "A" pro.
**In the NBL it is "A" pro/All Pro/"AA" Pro/Elite men (all depending on the era); in Europe Elite Men; in the ABA it is "AA" pro.

Career factory and major bike shop sponsors

Note: This listing only denotes the racer's primary sponsors. At any given time a racer could have numerous co-sponsors. Primary sponsorships can be verified by BMX press coverage and sponsor's advertisements at the time in question. When possible exact dates are given.

----

Amateur

*GT (Gary Turner) Bicycles (European Division)/Chevy: January 1994 [ [http://www.navada.net/univofbmx/index2.htm Gerrit Does's University of BMX/Old & New(s)/"Does" Factory Teams (pulldown menus)] ] -October 2001. De Wilde would turn pro (at least in the US) with this sponsor.

Professional

*GT Bicycles(European Division)/Chevy: January 1994-October 2001
*Giant Bicycles: Late December 2001- De Wilde's public debut on the new Giant team was the 2001 NBL Christmas Classic national on December 27, 2001. [ [http://www.totalbike.com/news/article/601/ Totalbike.com article on the new Giant Bicycles racing team/] ]
*Staats Bicycles/Troy Lee Designs/Maxxis: January 2004-June 27, 2006. De Wilde says in his blog he left Staats the Tuesday before the NBL Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania nationals. [ [http://www.sponsorhouse.com/Members/afrobob/Apps/Blog.aspx?resourceId=c558ca1e-b917-4ada-b759-59d1339ecc46 De Wilde's Sponsorhouse blog diary. Pertinent information near bottom of page.] ]
*Troy Lee Designs/Maxxis July 1, 2006-October 3, 2006. Troy Lee Designs and Maxxis were his primary sponsors between Staats and Redline.
*Redline Bicycles/Troy Lee Designs/Maxxis: October 3, 2006-Present. De Wilde is under contract with Redline Bicycles (now owned by the Accell Group, a Dutch company) through 2008 and will race the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China sponsored by Redline. [ [http://www.fatbmx.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2002 fatbmx.com article on de Wilde's signing with Redline (top of page).] ] [ [http://sgcycling.org/ar/t1904.htm Singapore Cycling Forums pic of de Wilde's signing at Interbike (near bottom of page).] ]

Career bicycle motocross titles

Note: Listed are District, State/Provincial/Department, Regional, National, and International titles in "italics". "Defunct" refers to the fact of that sanctioning body in question no longer existing at the start of the racer's career or at that stage of his/her career. Depending on point totals of individual racers, winners of Grand Nationals do not necessarily win National titles. Series and one off Championships are also listed in block.

----

Amateur/Junior Men

*1990,'92,'93,'94,'95,'98 Dutch National champion.

Koninklijke Nederlandsche Wielren Unie (KNWU)

Nederlandse Fietscross Federatie (NFF)

National Bicycle Association (NBA)
*None National Bicycle League (NBL)
*NoneAmerican Bicycle Association (ABA)
*"1995, 1999 World Cup Champion"

United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
*NoneInternational Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)*
*"1993 16 boys World Champion" Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)*

Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)*
*"1999 Elite Men World Champion"
*"1999 Elite Men World Cup Champion"
*"1999 Elite Men European Champion"

*See note in Professional section.

Professional/Elite Men

Koninklijke Nederlandsche Wielren Unie (KNWU)

Nederlandse Fietscross Federatie (NFF)

National Bicycle Association (NBA)
*NoneNational Bicycle League (NBL)

American Bicycle Association (ABA)
*"2001 "AA" Pro World Champion" United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
*NoneInternational Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)*
*NoneFédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)*
*NoneUnion Cycliste Internationale (UCI)*
*"2000 Elite Men European Champion"
*"2005 Supercross Champion"
*"2005 Elite Men Pan Pacific Champion"
*"2007 20" UCi Series Champion"

*Note: Beginning in 1991 the IBMXF and FIAC, the amateur cycling arm of the UCI, had been holding joint World Championship events as a transitional phase in merging which began in earnest in 1993. Beginning with the 1996 season the IBMXF and FIAC completed the merger and both ceased to exist as independent entities being integrated into the UCI. Beginning with the 1996 World Championships held in Brighton, England the UCI would officially hold and sanction BMX World Championships and with it inherited all precedents, records, streaks, etc. from both the IBMXF and FIAC.

International Olympic Committee (IOC)
:"Games of the XXIX Olympiad (2008 Summer Olympics)"
:Dutch National BMX Teamates: Rob van den Wildenberg, Raymon van der Biezen, Lieke Klaus. :Location: Beijing, China
:Number of competitors: 32:Positions::"Event Results Wednesday August 20"
:"Men's First Seeding Run‡:" 36.803sec.
:"Men's Second Seeding Run:" 50.268sec.
:"Seconds behind leader:" +1.111 (23rd place).:"Seeding Run leader:" Mike Day USA
:De Wilde advances to Quarterfinals†
:"Men's Quarter Finals (Overall after three motos of Run 3):" 7th place; did not qualify for Semi Final*.
:"Event Results Thursday August 21"
:"Postponed due to rain. Rescheduled.:"Event Results Friday August 22"
:"Men's Semi Finals*:" DNQ
:"Men's Final (Medal Round):" DNQ
:"Bronze medal winner:" Donny Robinson USA:"Silver medal winner:" Mike Day USA:"Gold medal winner:"** Māris Štrombergs LAT

:DNQ= Did Not Qualify.:‡ [http://www.nbcolympics.com/cycling/resultsandschedules/rsc=CBM001900/index.html Time Trial data from nbcolympics.com]
:† [http://www.nbcolympics.com/cycling/resultsandschedules/rsc=CBM001300/index.html Quarter Finals data from nbcolympics.com]
:* [http://www.nbcolympics.com/cycling/resultsandschedules/rsc=CBM001200/index.html Semi Finals data from nbcolympics.com]
:** [http://www.nbcolympics.com/cycling/resultsandschedules/rsc=CBM001100/index.html Final (Medal round) data from nbcolympics.com]

Independent Invitationals and Pro Series Championships

Notable accolades

ignificant injuries

*Broke collar bone at the UCI World Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil on the weekend of July 30, 2006 [ [http://www.hereuare.com/getArchived.php?q=&rtq=0&d=182825812536 Nebbmx.com news site.] ]

Racing traits and habits

*Doesn't comb or at least mat down his hair after he removes his helmet, resulting in a phenomenon called "helmet/hat hair" in which the hair on a person's head becomes either severely tussled or conversely molded into the shape of the headwear after wearing that headwear for an extended period of time. De Wilde's habit of not attending to hair care after removing his helmet and it being severely tussled as a result led to his moniker of "Afro Bob", a reference to the "Afro" style of "hairdo" that was popular with people of African descent, particularly during the 1970s (it has made something of a in recent years). [http://www.bmxstars.com/photos/headshots/2004/New-Zealand-126.jpgImage of his hair]

Post BMX career

BMX magazine covers

"Bicycle Motocross News:"
*None"Minicycle/BMX Action" & "Super BMX:"
*None"Bicycle Motocross Action:"
*None"BMX Plus!:"

"Total BMX:"
*None"Bicycles and Dirt:"
*None"Snap BMX Magazine" & "Transworld BMX:"

"Moto Mag:"
*None"BMX World:"

NBA World" & "NBmxA World""' (The official NBA/NBmxA membership publication):

"Bicycles Today" & "BMX Today" (The official NBL publication under two names):

"ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer" (The official ABA publication under three names):

BMX press magazine interviews and articles

*"Robert de Wilde" "Transworld BMX" April 2003 Vol.10 Iss.4 No.78 pg.70

End Notes

External links

* [http://www.ababmx.com/ The American Bicycle Association (ABA) Website.]
* [http://www.nbl.org/ The National Bicycle League (NBL) Website.]
* [http://www.nff-fietscross.nl/ The Dutch sanctioning body Nederlandse Fietscross Federatie (NFF) Website.]
* [http://www.knwu.nl/ The Dutch sanctioning body Koninklijke Nederlandsche Wielren Unie (KNWU) Website.]
* [http://www.bmxandmore.com/index2.php?page=Home&lang=nl "BMX and More!!", a Dutch English/Dutch language BMX News site.]
* [http://www.maxxis.com/sponsorship/riders_profile_details.asp?id=141 Maxxis racer profile.]
* [http://www.robertdewilde.com/ Robert de Wilde's personal Website.]
* [http://expn.go.com/athletes/bios/DEWILDE_ROBERT.html EXPN.com mini bio.]