Jan Bakelants facts for kids
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Bakelants at the 2013 Tour de Romandie
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jan Bakelants | ||
| Nickname | Baki | ||
| Born | 14 February 1986 Oudenaarde, Flanders, Belgium |
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| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Weight | 67 kg (148 lb; 10.6 st) | ||
| Team information | |||
| Current team | Retired | ||
| Discipline | Road | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Rider type | Puncheur | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Jan Bakelants (born on February 14, 1986) is a former professional road racing cyclist from Belgium. He competed as a professional rider from 2009 until 2022. A road racing cyclist rides bicycles on paved roads, often in long-distance races.
Contents
Jan Bakelants' Cycling Journey
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Jan Bakelants had many important wins during his career. One of his biggest achievements was winning the Tour de l'Avenir in 2008. This race is often seen as a stepping stone for future cycling stars. He also won a stage in the famous 2013 Tour de France.
Winning the Yellow Jersey
In the 2013 Tour de France, Jan Bakelants won Stage 2. This was a very exciting moment! He attacked late in the race and finished just one second ahead of the main group of riders, called the "peloton." By winning this stage, he earned the yellow jersey. The yellow jersey is worn by the leader of the race's overall standings. It's a huge honor in cycling. He wore the yellow jersey for two stages, showing he was one of the top riders.
Team Changes and Challenges
After his success in 2013, Bakelants moved to different cycling teams. He rode for Omega Pharma–Quick-Step in 2014. Then, in August 2014, he joined AG2R La Mondiale for a two-year contract. Professional cyclists often change teams, looking for the best fit for their skills.
In 2017, Jan faced a serious challenge. He was badly injured in a crash during the 2017 Giro di Lombardia race. He fell into a ravine while going downhill very fast. This accident caused him to break several bones. Despite the severe injuries, he did not lose consciousness. He was taken to the hospital and worked hard to recover.
After his crash, Jan Bakelants spoke out about making cycling safer for riders. He wanted to make sure other cyclists wouldn't face similar dangers. He showed great determination by returning to racing in March 2018 at the Classic Loire Atlantique in France. This showed his strong spirit and love for the sport.
Key Achievements and Results
Jan Bakelants had many notable results throughout his career. Here are some of his most important wins and top finishes:
- 2008:
- Won the overall title at the Tour de l'Avenir (including Stage 6).
- Won the overall title at Circuit des Ardennes.
- Won the overall title at Tour de Liège.
- Won Liège–Bastogne–Liège Espoirs.
- Won Flèche Ardennaise.
- 2013:
- Won Grand Prix de Wallonie.
- Won Stage 2 of the 2013 Tour de France.
- Held the
(yellow jersey) after Stages 2 & 3 of the Tour de France.
- 2014:
- Won Stage 6 of the Critérium du Dauphiné.
- 2015:
- Won Giro dell'Emilia.
- Won Gran Piemonte.
- 2016:
- Won Stage 4 of La Méditerranéenne.
- 2022:
- Won Stage 5 of the Tour de Wallonie.
Grand Tour Participation
Jan Bakelants competed in several "Grand Tours." These are the three biggest and most famous multi-stage cycling races in the world: the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España. Finishing these long and challenging races is a major achievement for any cyclist.
| Grand Tour General Classification Results | |||||||||||||
| Grand Tour | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Giro d'Italia |
36 | 22 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 43 | — | — | |
| Tour de France |
— | — | — | 18 | 24 | 20 | 50 | 22 | — | — | — | 48 | |
 Vuelta a España |
18 | 31 | 22 | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | |
See also
In Spanish: Jan Bakelants para niños
