Wout Wagtmans
Encyclopedia
Wouter Wagtmans (Rucphen
, November 10, 1929 – Sint Willebrord
, August 15, 1994) was a Dutch
road bicycle racer.
Together with Wim van Est
he belonged to the generation that brought great popularity to cycling in the Netherlands in the 1950s. In 1947, Wagtmans started as amateur, and two years later he became Dutch champion. In 1950 he was forced to be a professional cyclist, because he was said to take money after a victory. In his first day as a professional cyclist, he entered the Dutch professional championship, and only Gerrit Schulte
could keep ahead of him.
After that, he had a glorious career. He entered the Tour de France
eight times, and wore the yellow jersey
in 1954
, 1955
and 1956
. He won four stages: in 1953
in Gap
he beat Gino Bartali
in the final sprint, and ended fifth in the overall standings. Two years later he was the third Dutch winner in Bordeaux
. He also won three stages in the Giro d'Italia
and several one-day courses. He was also successful as a track rider and, together with Wim van Est
, in couple courses.
Wout Wagtmans was a very popular cyclist, both because of his combativity and his enthousiasm. He received many nicknames, Olijke Woutje, Dik Trom, Zoeloe, de Clown and het Kemphaantje. He ended his cycling career in 1961, and in 1967 he was the leader of the Dutch Tour de France team, centered around winner Jan Janssen. After that he took over his father's transport company. In the end of the 1980s, he had a serious accident after which he was declared physically disabled. Wagtmans died in 1994, at the age of 64.
Wout Wagtmans was the uncle of another successful cyclist, Rini Wagtmans
.
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1960
Rucphen
Rucphen is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands between Roosendaal and Etten-Leur, south of the railway, but without a train-station.- Population centres :*Sint Willebrord *Sprundel...
, November 10, 1929 – Sint Willebrord
Sint Willebrord
Sint Willebrord is a town in the municipality of Rucphen in the Netherlands. It is also known by the name t Heike which was the semi-official name up until 1950/1970 , which is the diminutive form of hei in local dialect...
, August 15, 1994) was a Dutch
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...
road bicycle racer.
Together with Wim van Est
Wim van Est
Willem van Est was a Dutch racing cyclist.He is best known for being the first Dutch cyclist to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France of 1951, and for falling into a ravine while wearing it.-Biography:...
he belonged to the generation that brought great popularity to cycling in the Netherlands in the 1950s. In 1947, Wagtmans started as amateur, and two years later he became Dutch champion. In 1950 he was forced to be a professional cyclist, because he was said to take money after a victory. In his first day as a professional cyclist, he entered the Dutch professional championship, and only Gerrit Schulte
Gerrit Schulte
Gerrit Schulte was a Dutch professional road bicycle racer. Schulte was successful in track pursuit, becoming national champion ten times, European champion twice and World champion once, in 1948, when he beat Fausto Coppi in the final...
could keep ahead of him.
After that, he had a glorious career. He entered 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...
eight times, and wore the yellow jersey
Yellow jersey
The general classification in the Tour de France is the most important classification, the one by which the winner of the Tour de France is determined. Since 1919, the leader of the general classification wears the yellow jersey .-History:...
in 1954
1954 Tour de France
The 1954 Tour de France was the 41st Tour de France, taking place from July 8 to August 1, 1954. It consisted of 23 stages over 4656 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.229 km/h....
, 1955
1955 Tour de France
The 1955 Tour de France was the 42nd Tour de France, taking place from July 7 to July 30, 1955. It consisted of 22 stages over 4495 km, ridden at an average speed of 34.446 km/h....
and 1956
1956 Tour de France
The 1956 Tour de France was the 43rd Tour de France, taking place from July 5 to 28, 1956. It consisted of 22 stages over 4498 km, ridden at an average speed of 36.268 km/h....
. He won four stages: in 1953
1953 Tour de France
The 1953 Tour de France was the 40th Tour de France, taking place from July 3 to July 26, 1953. It consisted of 22 stages over 4479 km, ridden at an average speed of 34.593 km/h....
in Gap
Gap, Hautes-Alpes
Gap is a commune in southeastern France, the capital of the Hautes-Alpes department.-Geography:An Alpine crossroads at the intersection of D994 and Route nationale 85 the Route Napoléon, Gap lies above sea level along the right bank of the Luye River...
he beat Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938...
in the final sprint, and ended fifth in the overall standings. Two years later he was the third Dutch winner in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
. He also won three stages in the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The 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...
and several one-day courses. He was also successful as a track rider and, together with Wim van Est
Wim van Est
Willem van Est was a Dutch racing cyclist.He is best known for being the first Dutch cyclist to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France of 1951, and for falling into a ravine while wearing it.-Biography:...
, in couple courses.
Wout Wagtmans was a very popular cyclist, both because of his combativity and his enthousiasm. He received many nicknames, Olijke Woutje, Dik Trom, Zoeloe, de Clown and het Kemphaantje. He ended his cycling career in 1961, and in 1967 he was the leader of the Dutch Tour de France team, centered around winner Jan Janssen. After that he took over his father's transport company. In the end of the 1980s, he had a serious accident after which he was declared physically disabled. Wagtmans died in 1994, at the age of 64.
Wout Wagtmans was the uncle of another successful cyclist, Rini Wagtmans
Rini Wagtmans
Marinus Wagtmans is a former Dutch professional road bicycle racer. He was the nephew of Wout Wagtmans, a former professional who had won the Tour de Romandie stage race in 1952. His father was a masseur while Tour de France stage winner Wim van Est was his neighbour. In 1968 Rini turned...
.
Palmarès
1949- amateur road race champion
1950
- Acht van Chaam
- Oosterhout
- Rotterdam
- Ronde van Noord-Holland
- Halsteren
1951
- Leopoldsbrug
- Terneuzen
- Wouw
- Oostbrug
1952
- Acht van Chaam
- Tour de RomandieTour de RomandieThe Tour de Romandie is a stage race which is part of the UCI World Tour. It runs in the Romandie region, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. It began in 1947, to coincide with the 50-year anniversary of Swiss Cycling....
1953
- Ronde van Haspengouw
- Tour de France1953 Tour de FranceThe 1953 Tour de France was the 40th Tour de France, taking place from July 3 to July 26, 1953. It consisted of 22 stages over 4479 km, ridden at an average speed of 34.593 km/h....
:- Winner stages 17 and 21
- 5th place overall classification
- Hoensbroek
1954
- Helmond
- Sint-Willebrord
- Giro d'Italia1954 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1954 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 21 May to 13 June 1954, consisting of 22 stages for a total of 4,396 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.563 km/h. It was won by the Swiss Carlo Clerici.- Final classment :- Maglia rosa holders:...
:- Winner stage 13
- Tour de France1954 Tour de FranceThe 1954 Tour de France was the 41st Tour de France, taking place from July 8 to August 1, 1954. It consisted of 23 stages over 4656 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.229 km/h....
:- Winner stage 1
- Wearing yellow jerseyYellow jerseyThe general classification in the Tour de France is the most important classification, the one by which the winner of the Tour de France is determined. Since 1919, the leader of the general classification wears the yellow jersey .-History:...
for seven days
1955
- Drachten
- Apeldoorn
- Giro d'Italia1955 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1955 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 14 May to 5 June 1955, consisting of 21 stages. It was won by Fiorenzo Magni, the oldest winner of the Giro, at age 35....
:- 9th place overall classification
- Tour de France1955 Tour de FranceThe 1955 Tour de France was the 42nd Tour de France, taking place from July 7 to July 30, 1955. It consisted of 22 stages over 4495 km, ridden at an average speed of 34.446 km/h....
:- Winner stage 19
- Wearing yellow jerseyYellow jerseyThe general classification in the Tour de France is the most important classification, the one by which the winner of the Tour de France is determined. Since 1919, the leader of the general classification wears the yellow jersey .-History:...
for two days
1956
- Tour de France1955 Tour de FranceThe 1955 Tour de France was the 42nd Tour de France, taking place from July 7 to July 30, 1955. It consisted of 22 stages over 4495 km, ridden at an average speed of 34.446 km/h....
:- Wearing yellow jerseyYellow jerseyThe general classification in the Tour de France is the most important classification, the one by which the winner of the Tour de France is determined. Since 1919, the leader of the general classification wears the yellow jersey .-History:...
for three days
- Wearing yellow jersey
1957
- Roma - Napoli - Roma
- Giro d'Italia1957 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1957 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 18 May to 9 June 1957, consisting of 21 stages.This 40th edition was won by the Italian Gastone Nencini.- Final classment :- Maglia rosa holders:- Other jerseys:*Maglia verde:...
:- Winner stage 6
- 9th place overall classification
1960
- Tour des Quatre-Cantons