Jan Krekels
Encyclopedia
Jan Jozef Alfons Franciscus Krekels (born August 26, 1947 in Sittard
, Limburg
) is a retired cyclist from the Netherlands. He became Olympic
champion in the 100 km team time trial
in 1968 with Joop Zoetemelk
, René Pijnen
and Fedor den Hertog
. He also won the 19th stage of the Tour de France
in 1971 and the prologue of Paris–Nice in 1970. He retired from professional cycling in 1978.
Jan Krekels won three big races in the spring of 1968 hoping for selection for that year's Olympic Games
in Mexico
. The Dutch cycling association, the KNWU
asked for more and Krekels won the Tour of Austria, a hilly race, despite his hefty build. The KNWU picked him for Mexico to ride the 100 km team time trial. Of the four in the team, Pijnen and Zoetemelk went on to become good professionals, Pijnen on the track and Zoetemelk on the road. Krekels turned down a contract with the French
team, Bic
, alongside Lucien Aimar
and Jacques Anquetil
because he didn't speak French. He rode instead for a small Dutch team and his career fizzled out.
1969
1970
1971
1972
1972
1973
1974
1976
1978
Sittard
Sittard is a city in the Dutch province of Limburg, which is the southernmost province of the Netherlands.On the east Sittard borders on Germany . It has some 48,400 inhabitants . Sittard is part of the municipality of Sittard-Geleen...
, Limburg
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
) is a retired cyclist from the Netherlands. He became Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
champion in the 100 km team time trial
Team time trial
A team time trial is a road-based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock .Teams start at equal intervals, usually two, three or four minutes apart...
in 1968 with Joop Zoetemelk
Joop Zoetemelk
Hendrik Gerardus Jozef "Joop" Zoetemelk is a retired professional racing cyclist from the Netherlands who has emigrated to France. He started the Tour de France 16 times and finished every time, a record. He won the race in 1980 and also came eighth, fifth, fourth and second...
, René Pijnen
René Pijnen
Marinus "René" Augustinus Josephus Pijnen is a Dutch former racing cyclist. He became Olympic champion in the 100k team time-trial in the 1968 Summer Olympics with Joop Zoetemelk, Fedor den Hertog and Jan Krekels.A professional from 1969 to 1987, Pijnen was a capable track cyclist winning the...
and Fedor den Hertog
Fedor den Hertog
Fedor Iwan den Hertog was a Dutch racing cyclist. He won the Olympic 100 km team time trial in 1968 with Joop Zoetemelk, René Pijnen and Jan Krekels. He also won the national road championship in 1977....
. He also won the 19th stage of the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
in 1971 and the prologue of Paris–Nice in 1970. He retired from professional cycling in 1978.
Jan Krekels won three big races in the spring of 1968 hoping for selection for that year's Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The Dutch cycling association, the KNWU
KNWU
KNWU is a radio station licensed to Forks, Washington. The station is owned by Washington State University, and airs Northwest Public Radio's news and talk and classical music programming.-External links:*...
asked for more and Krekels won the Tour of Austria, a hilly race, despite his hefty build. The KNWU picked him for Mexico to ride the 100 km team time trial. Of the four in the team, Pijnen and Zoetemelk went on to become good professionals, Pijnen on the track and Zoetemelk on the road. Krekels turned down a contract with the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
team, Bic
BIC
-Places:* Le bic, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada** Bic National Park, Quebec nationa located near the village of Le bic. See List of Quebec national parks* Bîc River, Moldova* Bic, a village administered by Şimleu Silvaniei town, Sălaj County, Romania...
, alongside Lucien Aimar
Lucien Aimar
Lucien Aimar is a French cyclist, who won the Tour de France in 1966 and the national road championship in 1968. He is now a race organizer. He was born in Hyères, France.-Amateur career:...
and Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil was a French road racing cyclist and the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times, in 1957 and from 1961 to 1964...
because he didn't speak French. He rode instead for a small Dutch team and his career fizzled out.
Palmarès
1968- Archer International Grand Prix
- Omloop der Kempen
- Ronde van Overijssel
- Österreich-Rundfahrt
- Ronde van Limburg
- Olympic Games1968 Summer OlympicsThe 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
team time trialCycling at the 1968 Summer OlympicsThe cycling competition at the 1968 Summer Olympics consisted of two road cycling events and five track cycling events, all for men only.-Medal table:-Medal summary:...
1969
- Orchies
1970
- Acht van Chaam
1971
- Ulestraten
- Strombeek-Bever
- Tour de France1971 Tour de FranceThe 1971 Tour de France was the 58th Tour de France, taking place June 26 to July 18, 1971. It consisted of 22 stages over , ridden at an average speed of ....
:- Winner stage 19
1972
- Simpelveld
- Vuelta a AndalucíaVuelta a AndalucíaThe Vuelta a Andalucía or Ruta del Sol is a regional Spanish road bicycle race. Since 2005, it has been a 2.1 category race on the UCI Europe Tour....
1972
- Born
1973
- Valkenswaard
- Born
1974
- Beringen
- Geetbets
1976
- Arendonk
- Kloosterzande
- Kruiningen
1978
- Obbicht
- Boxmeer