Roger Baens facts for kids
Roger Baens in 1960
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| Personal information | |
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| Born | 18 August 1933 Molenstede, Belgium |
| Died | 26 March 2020 (aged 86) Rillaar |
| Team information | |
Roger Baens (born August 18, 1933 – died March 26, 2020) was a professional cyclist from Belgium. He was known for his strong performances in various road races during the 1950s and 1960s. Roger Baens competed in some of the biggest cycling events, including the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.
Contents
Roger Baens's Cycling Journey
Roger Baens started his professional cycling career in 1956. He quickly became a notable rider. He was part of several different cycling teams throughout his career. These teams included famous names like Mercier, Carpano, and Peugeot.
Early Victories and National Titles
In 1954, Roger Baens won Stage 2 of the Tour de Belgique for amateurs. He also won Stage 4 of the Tour du Nord. A big achievement came in 1955. He won the Belgian National Road Race Championships for amateurs. This meant he was the best amateur road cyclist in Belgium that year.
Winning Big Races
Roger Baens had many important wins during his career. In 1957, he won a stage in the Vuelta a España. This is one of the three biggest cycling races in the world. He also won the Ronde van Limburg and the Grote Prijs Stad Zottegem in 1958. These were important races in Belgium.
In 1959, he won the overall title at Dwars door Vlaanderen. This race is known for its challenging routes. He also won Stage 1 of that race. In 1960, he won two stages in the Tour of the Netherlands. He finished second overall in that race.
Racing in Grand Tours
Roger Baens competed in two of cycling's "Grand Tours." These are the longest and most famous multi-stage races. They include the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.
- Vuelta a España: He rode in the Vuelta a España several times. In 1957, he finished 22nd overall. In 1963, he had a great performance, winning two stages (Stage 9 and Stage 14). He again finished 22nd overall that year.
- Tour de France: In 1962, Roger Baens was part of the team that won Stage 2 of the Tour de France. This was a team time trial, where the whole team races together against the clock. He finished 43rd overall in that Tour. He also started the 1963 Tour de France but had to leave the race after Stage 10.
Roger Baens retired from professional cycling after a successful career. He passed away in 2020 at the age of 86.
Images for kids
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The jersey for the Belgian National Road Race Champion.
See also
In Spanish: Roger Baens para niños
