Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Paul Wellens |
Born | Hasselt, Belgium | 27 June 1952
Team information | |
Current team | Retired |
Discipline | Road |
Role | Rider |
Professional teams | |
1976 | Miko–de Gribaldy [1] |
1977 | Frisol–Thirion–Gazelle [1] |
1978–1980 | TI–Raleigh [1] |
1981 | Boule d'Or–Colnago–Campagnolo [1] |
1982 | Wickes–Bouwmarkt–Splendor [1] |
1983 | Eorotex–Magniflex [1] |
1984 | Ariostea [1] |
1985 | Tönissteiner–TW Rock–BASF [1] |
1986 | Miko–Carlos [1] |
Major wins | |
Tour de France, 2 individual stages and 5 TTT stages Tour de Suisse (1978) |
Paul Wellens (born 27 June 1952 in Hasselt) is a Belgian former professional road bicycle racer.
In 1978, he won the combativity award in the Tour de France. He won two individual tour stages during his career: in 1977 he won stage 15a to Morzine in a solo breakaway, leading alone over the summit of the Col du Corbier and crossing the finish line with a three-minute lead over the peloton, and the following year he won the stage to Super Besse. He was also part of the TI–Raleigh squads which took a team time trial win in the 1978 Tour, two further TTT victories the next year and another two in the 1980 edition of the race. [2] [1] In addition he took two top ten finishes on the Tour's general classification, placing sixth in 1978 and eighth as TI–Raleigh's leader in 1979. He also won the 1978 Tour de Suisse. He is the brother of fellow racing cyclists Leo and Johan Wellens and the uncle of cyclist Tim Wellens. At the 1981 Tour de France, he and his brothers all rode for the Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago team as domestiques for Freddy Maertens. [2]
Hendrik Gerardus Joseph "Joop" Zoetemelk is a Dutch former professional racing cyclist. He started and finished the Tour de France 16 times, which were both records when he retired. He also holds the distance record in Tour de France history with 62,885 km ridden. He won the 1979 Vuelta a España and the 1980 Tour de France.
Gerard Friedrich "Gerrie" Knetemann was a Dutch road bicycle racer who won the 1978 World Championship. He wore the Yellow Jersey early in each Tour de France for four consecutive years between 1977 and 1980.
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