Jan Janssen

Johannes Adrianus Janssen, popularly known as Jan Janssen (born May 19 1940) is a Dutch former professional cyclist (1962 - 1973). He was world champion and winner of the Tour de France.

[edit] Biography

Janssen was born at Nootdorp.

Initially he was a good sprinter. Later on he developed into a cyclist who could compete in all fields, especially by his winning determination and by his ability to oversee the situation.

Jan Janssen won most of the important contests. In 1964, in Sallanches, he became world champion. In 1968 he was the first Dutchman to win the Tour de France, having only 38 seconds over the runner-up, Herman Van Springel of Belgium. It remained the smallest winning margin until 1989, when Greg LeMond won with only 8 seconds ahead of Laurent Fignon. Both narrow wins came from the final stage into Paris, a time-trial.

In 1968 the Tour de France was for national teams rather than the trade teams that had been the centre of the race until 1967. The Tour organisers' decision to go back to national teams was popular with supporters but brought difficult pressures to riders, who had divided loyalty between their countries and to the leaders of their everyday commercial team, who could be from another country. The Dutch team was said to suffer from more invisible rivalry than most. Janssen, who rode normally for a team sponsored by the French brewer Pelforth, had to overcome these internal problems to win.

Janssen was easily spotted in the peloton because of his fair hair but especially because of his glasses, which are unusual for racing cyclists. He retired from racing, he says, after being left behind in the Tour of Luxembourg and being ashamed to hear his name listed on the race radio service among other also-rans.

"I knew then that I was Jan Janssen, winner of the Tour de France and the championship of the world and that it was time for me to stop", he says.

He left the peloton to run a bicycle frame-building business in the south-western village of Putte, which is divided by the border with Belgium. His neighbours there included another world champion, Hennie Kuiper. Janssen continued to ride his bike in retirement as a member of the Zuid-West Hoek club. He continues to make personal appearances along with other Dutch riders of his era.

[edit] Palmares

1962

• 1st – Championship of Zürich

1963

• Stage 7 win – Tour de France

1964

• 1st – World Cycling Championship - Road Race Champion
• 1st – Paris-Nice
• Tour de France
  • Points classification (Green jersey)
  • Stage 7 win (Champagnole > Thonon)
  • Stage 10.01 win (Monaco > Hyères)

1965

• Tour de France
  • 9th overall
  • Points classification (Green jersey)
  • Stage 12 win (Barcelone > Perpignan)
• 1st – Ronde van Nederland

1966

• 1st – Bordeaux-Paris
• 1st – Brabantse Pijl
• 2nd overall – Tour de France
  • 1 day in overall leader's yellow jersey

1967

• Super Prestige Pernod International Trophy
• 1st – Paris-Roubaix
• Vuelta a España
  • 1st overall, General classification (golden jersey)
  • 1st, Points classification
  • 1 stage win
• Tour de France
  • 5th overall
  • 1st, Points classification (Green jersey)
  • Stage 13 win (Marseille > Carpentras)

1968

• Tour de France
  • 1st overall, General classification (yellow jersey)
  • Stage 14 win (Seo de Urgel > Canet-Plage)
  • Stage 22.02 win (Melun > Paris)
• Vuelta a España
  • 1st, Points classification
  • 2 stage wins

1969

• 1st – GP d'Isbergues
• 1st, Points classification – Tour of Switzerland