October 17, 2006 – The following article was written by Steven Noble in early 2006.

Joe DeMaeyer is more than just a part of Delhi history. He is a part of Canadian history.

In 1937 the Delhi native was the Canadian junior cycling champion, and a favourite to represent Canada at the 1940 summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.

It was the morning of the Olympic qualifiers in Oshawa and “Smokey Joe” decided to go out for a morning ride. Afterall, he didn1t want to show up in motor city with cold legs.

DeMaeyer was flying down a dirt road, concentrating so intensely he didn1t hear the motor-car coming up behind him.

The motor-car driver spotted DeMaeyer two minutes too late and clipped him, sending the powerful cyclist sprawling to the ground. DeMaeyer arrived in Oshawa later that afternoon with a cast on his right arm.

DeMaeyer was known for his toughness though and broken arm or not he wasn1t missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime.

The race was tight and even though DeMaeyer battled through extreme pain and discomfort he was unable to pull himself into a tuck in the final stretch. It was a sprint for the finish and DeMaeyer missed out on being named to the Olympic roster by one spot.

Of course the 1940 Olympics were cancelled shortly thereafter due to the breakout of World War II. By the time they resumed in 1948, DeMaeyer wasn1t young enough to be considered a serious contender anymore.

The 83-year-old was known among the racing community as “Smokey Joe” because he grew up on a tobacco farm, in the tobacco belt. DeMaeyer points out the irony of the nickname with a smile. “I never smoked a day in my life.”

DeMaeyer got the cycling bug from his father who had been a competitive cyclist in Belgium and around Europe before moving the family to Delhi where they became tobacco farmers.

He grew up spending his summers riding all over Norfolk while his three sisters worked in the fields “¹ that is until one day, when his father Leon found him taking a nap in a ditch with his bike.

“He didn1t give me a whooping,” says DeMaeyer. “But he could have. He was the strongest man I ever seen.”

DeMaeyer1s specialty was long distance racing. He often would go on six-day races all over Canada and the United States. One of DeMaeyer1s sons, Leon, says he recalls packing up and heading for a different destination like Buffalo or Detroit “practically every weekend” while he was growing up.

After a broken collar bone, ribs, the arm and a series of concussions over 20 years of racing, DeMaeyer called it quits. But he wasn1t done with the sport.

It was a natural movement for the passionate cyclist to get into coaching and then officiating. DeMaeyer took over the Ontario team and coached them to numerous medals at the Canadian championships during his tenure.

He says some of his favourite coaching memories are of working with the legendary cyclist, Jocelyn Lovell. Lovell won dozens of national titles as well as gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and at the Pan American Games throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s .

Unfortunately one of DeMaeyer1s saddest moments ever was also connected to Lovell. In the summer of 1983, DeMaeyer1s protege was training outside of Toronto when he was hit by a truck. Lovell was paralyzed and DeMaeyer struggles with that memory even today.

Long time Cycling Ontario official Al Norley says De Maeyer was “the only one Jocelyn Lovell would listen to. Over the years (Lovell) didn’t have a good reputation with officials or other cyclers but with Joe “¹ he was the only one he would listen to.”

“He had an authority and a charm I don1t think anyone in cycling ever had,” says Norley. “He is the most espected and loved official that ever was.”

Always known for his style “¹ the silk scarves he wore during races “¹ as much as his legendary power, DeMaeyer has few regrets. And he has no shortage of great memories.