Norbert Callens is a former Belgian

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

 professional road bicycle racer. He was a professional from 1945 to 1952. His victories include one stage win 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...

 and the 1945 edition of the Tour of Belgium

Tour of Belgium

The Tour of Belgium is a four-day bicycle race which is held annually in Belgium.It was held annually between 1908 and 1981, except during both world wars. Between 1982 and 1990 several of races were not organised and none at all during the decade 1991 to 2001...

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In the 1949 Tour de France

1949 Tour de France

The 1949 Tour de France was the 36th Tour de France, taking place from 30 June to 24 July 1949. It consisted of 21 stages over 4808 km, ridden at an average speed of 32.121 km/h....

, Callens was leading the general classification after he won stage 3, finishing in Boulogne-sur-Mer

Boulogne-sur-Mer

-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....

. Unfortunately for Callens, the truck with the jerseys had broken down and there was no yellow jersey available. The next stage, Callens started with an unofficial yellow jersey, and lost the lead to Jacques Marinelli

Jacques Marinelli

Jacques Marinelli is a former French cyclist. He wore the yellow jersey of leadership for six days in the 1949 Tour de France before finishing third.-Background:...

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In 1994, the Tour de France

1994 Tour de France

The 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...

 had a stage finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer again. Callens was invited there, and finally got his yellow jersey, 45 years late.

Palmarès

1945

Machelen

Tour of Belgium

Tour of Belgium

The Tour of Belgium is a four-day bicycle race which is held annually in Belgium.It was held annually between 1908 and 1981, except during both world wars. Between 1982 and 1990 several of races were not organised and none at all during the decade 1991 to 2001...

Coupe Marcel Vergeat St-Etienne

1947

Briek Schotte

1948

Harelbeke

1949

Omloop der Vlaamse Ardennen

Tour de France

1949 Tour de France

The 1949 Tour de France was the 36th Tour de France, taking place from 30 June to 24 July 1949. It consisted of 21 stages over 4808 km, ridden at an average speed of 32.121 km/h....

:

Winner stage 3

Leading general classification for one day

External links

• Official Tour de France results for Norbert Callens