76-year-old Belgium man defies heart surgery, back pain, joins partner for cycling adventures across countries

In Pune for a short break before they head back to Belgium, the couple say annually they pedal at least a minimum of 10-11,000 km.

In Pune for a short break before they head back to Belgium, the couple say annually they pedal at least a minimum of 10-11,000 km. (Express photo)

A quadruple bypass heart surgery and a back ailment does not deter 76-year-old Theo Van der Burght from Lier, Belgium from joining his partner of three decades, Christine Rigouts for their cycling adventures across multiple countries.

In Pune for a short break before they head back to Belgium, the couple said, annually they pedal at least a minimum of 10-11,000 kms. “It is both fun and staying fit that takes us cycling across countries in Europe and Asia,” they add.

This year they embarked on their expedition cycling 53 kms from Kochi to Alleppey in Kerala. “We did this for a short distance before heading to Goa – 750 kms away. It took us ten days to reach Goa but we did it at our pace,” says Theo. In Goa the duo notched up another 400 kms cycling within the state.

Theo, who retired as a nurse, met Christine who was working in the administration department at the University of Antwerp and their passion for cycling soon saw them clocking miles across cities in France, Austria, Germany and later to countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, China and Vietnam.

“Cycling is not only a form of recreation but also a means to explore many countries and gain insights into their different cultures. People are very friendly and so many times there are people who want to take photographs with us,” says Christine who retired from her job in 2020.

It was sometime in 2021 when Theo underwent a quadruple bypass heart surgery. “Four blood vessels that feed the heart were blocked, “ Theo said. The recovery process took at least six weeks or so before he was back on his cycle adjusting the saddle bag, pouch mobile holder, pannier, and other accessories, ready for another long adventure.

Christine has no qualms having to trail behind Theo unlike earlier when he would follow her on the bicycle. “I choose to follow him now as when he stops, I have to assist him in dismounting the bicycle due to his back ailment,” she says and watches as Theo walks up sporting a fittingly designed T Shirt ‘Oldies on Tour’ with the message “Never Underestimate an Old Man with a Bicycle.”

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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