Jean-Paul van Poppel
Encyclopedia
Jean-Paul van Poppel is a former Dutch
racing cyclist, who was nicknamed Popeye.
Van Poppel was one of the most successful Dutch road sprinters. He won stages in mass sprints in all three Grand Tour
s, sometimes from positions that appeared lost. In the Tour de France
he won 9 stages altogether. In 1988
he won 4 stages, the highest won number by a Dutch cyclist in one tour.
Van Poppel won the points classification
in the 1987 Tour de France
. After he ended his career in 1995, he became a directeur sportif
in women's cycling. He married one of his team members, cyclist Mirjam Melchers
. Jean-Paul van Poppel has a son, Boy van Poppel, who is a member of the UnitedHealthcare cycling team.
From 2009-2010 he was one of the Sports Directors at the Cervélo Test Team based in Switzerland. From 2011, he has served as a Sports Director for the Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
.
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1991
1992
1993
1994
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
racing cyclist, who was nicknamed Popeye.
Van Poppel was one of the most successful Dutch road sprinters. He won stages in mass sprints in all three Grand Tour
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
s, sometimes from positions that appeared lost. In 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...
he won 9 stages altogether. In 1988
1988 Tour de France
The 1988 Tour de France was the 75th Tour de France, taking place from July 4 to July 24, 1988. It consisted of 22 stages over 3281 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.909 km/h...
he won 4 stages, the highest won number by a Dutch cyclist in one tour.
Van Poppel won the points classification
Points classification
The points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
in the 1987 Tour de France
1987 Tour de France
The 1987 Tour de France was the 74th Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 26, 1987. It consisted of 25 stages over 4231 km, ridden at an average speed of 36.645 km/h...
. After he ended his career in 1995, he became a directeur sportif
Directeur sportif
A directeur sportif is a person directing a cycling team during a road bicycle racing event...
in women's cycling. He married one of his team members, cyclist Mirjam Melchers
Mirjam Melchers
Maria Wilhelmina Johanna 'Mirjam' Melchers-Van Poppel is a female racing cyclist from the Netherlands, married to former sprinter Jean-Paul van Poppel. She is one of the leading cyclists in the world, having held the UCI number one ranking as well as winning highly-rated races...
. Jean-Paul van Poppel has a son, Boy van Poppel, who is a member of the UnitedHealthcare cycling team.
From 2009-2010 he was one of the Sports Directors at the Cervélo Test Team based in Switzerland. From 2011, he has served as a Sports Director for the Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team is a Dutch professional road race cycling team. They are a UCI ProTeam and compete in the UCI World Tour. The team was established in 2008, as the successor of P3 Transfer-Batavus, while also taking over many of the riders and staff of Cycle Collstrop, the former...
.
Major victories
Source:1985
- 7th stage Danmark RundtDanmark RundtDanmark Rundt is a Danish stage race for professional road bicycle racers organized as a part of the UCI Continental Circuits. It is currently sponsored by the Danish national postal agency, Post Danmark, and the race is therefore also known as Post Danmark Rundt. Currently 15 teams, with 8 riders...
- 5th stage Tour de l'AvenirTour de l'AvenirTour de l'Avenir is a French road bicycle racing stage race, which started in 1961 as a race similar to the Tour de France and over much of the same course but for amateurs and for semi-professionals known as independents. Riders competed in national teams...
- 3rd stage part A Ronde van België
1986
- Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'ItaliaThe Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
: stages 2 and 13 - 4th stage Tirreno–Adriatico
1987
- Tour de France1987 Tour de FranceThe 1987 Tour de France was the 74th Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 26, 1987. It consisted of 25 stages over 4231 km, ridden at an average speed of 36.645 km/h...
: stages 8 and 17
winner points classificationPoints classification in the Tour de FranceThe points classification in the Tour de France is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 1953. Points are given for high finishes in a stage and for winning intermediate sprints, and these are recorded in a points classification. It is considered a sprinters' competition...
- Tour of Sweden: stages 5, 6a and 7
1988
- Tour de France1988 Tour de FranceThe 1988 Tour de France was the 75th Tour de France, taking place from July 4 to July 24, 1988. It consisted of 22 stages over 3281 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.909 km/h...
: stages 3, 10, 17 and 22.
1989
- Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'ItaliaThe Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
: stages 1 and 15 - Veenendaal–Veenendaal
1991
- Tour de France1991 Tour de FranceThe 1991 Tour de France was the 78th Tour de France, taking place July 6 to July 28, 1991. The total race distance was 22 stages over 3914 km, with riders averaging 38.747 km/h.-Stages:-General classification:-External links:* *...
: stage 7 - Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
: stages 6, 9, 13 and 21 - 5th stage Paris–Nice
1992
- Tour de France1992 Tour de FranceThe 1992 Tour de France was the 79th Tour de France, taking place July 4 to July 26, 1992. The total race distance was 21 stages over 3983 km, with riders averaging 39.504 km/h...
: stage 10 - Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
: stages 3 and 5
1993
- Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
: stages 4 and 8
1994
- Tour de France1994 Tour de FranceThe 1994 Tour de France was the 81st Tour de France and included two stages in England , Stage 4, Dover to Brighton and Stage 5, around Portsmouth. It took place July 2 to July 24, 1994...
: stage 2 - Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
: stage 9 - Étoile de BessègesÉtoile de BessègesThe Étoile de Bessèges is an early-season five-day road bicycle racing stage race held annually in Southern France, around Bessèges. Since 2005, it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour and features as one of the first stage races of the European season.-Palmarès:...