Bart Wellens
Encyclopedia
Bart Wellens is a professional cyclo-cross
cyclist
from Belgium
. He starred in the reality television
series 'Wellens en Wee' on Flemish
TV-channel VT4
.
In this series, Wellens together with his parents, Lucien and Wiske, and his other teammates are shown in their daily lives and preparations for the weekend races.
. Wellens won the Under 23 Belgian championships in 1997 beating Nys while Nys got revenge at the UCI Under 23 World Cyclo-Cross championships a month later. Wellens had to settle for second place. The following year Wellens again finished second to Nys at the World Championships. Nys then left the category and Wellens became the Under 23 World Champion for two years in a row. Wellens turned professional in 2000 with the Spaar Select team. In 2002/03 season, Wellens won the World Cup and then won the Elite World Championships.
In the following season 2003/04 he dominated the sport and beat rival Sven Nys
in both the Gazet van Antwerpen and the Superprestige series. Wellens also beat Nys to become Belgian champion and as defending champion Wellens retained his World title after narrowly winning a sprint against Mario De Clercq
. With these wins together with a third place overall in the World Cup, Wellens was very close to being the first cyclist to win the Grand Slam of cyclo-cross. Entering the final World Cup event where there were double points on offer, Wellens needed to win or that place in the top five ahead of Nys. However in the end it was Richard Groenendaal
who won the race and took the World Cup lead. Wellens could not compete in the final events of the Superprestige and the Gazet van Antwerpen due to injury, despite having already won both classifications.
Wellens started the 2004/05 season as World Champion but the season started poorly with a lack of form followed by injury. However his form returned toward the end of the season where he won the Grand Prix Rouwmoer
in Essen
, a Gazet van Antwerpen race.
In the 2005 edition of the Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse
, Wellens kicked a spectator who was allegedly throwing beer at him. Wellens went on to win the event after Boom
slipped in the final lap and initially was awarded the win despite the threat of disqualification. Several days later after a meeting of the three race commissionaires and the UCI, Wellens was disqualified and Boom was awarded the win. Later Wellens was served with a ban from racing during the first month (September) of the following season (2006/07).
His younger brother Geert is also a skilful non-professional cyclo-cross cyclist. Geert was professional with the Bart's Fidea cycling team for one year.
2008 - Fidea Cycling Team
Cyclo-cross
Cyclo-cross is a form of bicycle racing. Races typically take place in the autumn and winter , and consists of many laps of a short course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and...
cyclist
Bicycle racing
Bicycle racing is a competition sport in which various types of bicycles are used. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, bike trials, and cycle speedway. Bicycle racing is recognised as an Olympic sport...
from Belgium
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...
. He starred in the reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series 'Wellens en Wee' on Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
TV-channel VT4
VT4
VT4 is a Flemish commercial television channel. It is part of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG.The channel began broadcasting on 1 February 1995. The channel initially had no Belgian broadcasting license and was transmitted via London . The channel now broadcasts legally from Zaventem in Belgium...
.
In this series, Wellens together with his parents, Lucien and Wiske, and his other teammates are shown in their daily lives and preparations for the weekend races.
Cyclo-cross career
In the Under 23 category, Wellens battled Sven NysSven Nys
Sven Nys is a professional cyclist who has won his most important victories in cyclo-cross races.Nys began racing BMX at the age of 8...
. Wellens won the Under 23 Belgian championships in 1997 beating Nys while Nys got revenge at the UCI Under 23 World Cyclo-Cross championships a month later. Wellens had to settle for second place. The following year Wellens again finished second to Nys at the World Championships. Nys then left the category and Wellens became the Under 23 World Champion for two years in a row. Wellens turned professional in 2000 with the Spaar Select team. In 2002/03 season, Wellens won the World Cup and then won the Elite World Championships.
In the following season 2003/04 he dominated the sport and beat rival Sven Nys
Sven Nys
Sven Nys is a professional cyclist who has won his most important victories in cyclo-cross races.Nys began racing BMX at the age of 8...
in both the Gazet van Antwerpen and the Superprestige series. Wellens also beat Nys to become Belgian champion and as defending champion Wellens retained his World title after narrowly winning a sprint against Mario De Clercq
Mario De Clercq
Mario De Clercq is a former racing cyclist. He specialized in cyclo-cross racing but also rode on the road and circuit races during his career, he raced as a professional between 1991 and 2004...
. With these wins together with a third place overall in the World Cup, Wellens was very close to being the first cyclist to win the Grand Slam of cyclo-cross. Entering the final World Cup event where there were double points on offer, Wellens needed to win or that place in the top five ahead of Nys. However in the end it was Richard Groenendaal
Richard Groenendaal
Richard Marinus Anthonius Groenendaal is a Dutch professional cyclo-cross cyclist who rides for the AA Drink team...
who won the race and took the World Cup lead. Wellens could not compete in the final events of the Superprestige and the Gazet van Antwerpen due to injury, despite having already won both classifications.
Wellens started the 2004/05 season as World Champion but the season started poorly with a lack of form followed by injury. However his form returned toward the end of the season where he won the Grand Prix Rouwmoer
Grand Prix Rouwmoer
The Grand Prix Rouwmoer is a cyclo-cross race held in Essen, Belgium, which is part of the Cyclo-cross Gazet van Antwerpen.-Past winners:-References:*...
in Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
, a Gazet van Antwerpen race.
In the 2005 edition of the Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse
Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse
The Vlaamse Druivenveldrit is a cyclo-cross race held in Overijse, Belgium. The race is organised by the VZW Sportvrienden Overijse and was first held in 1960...
, Wellens kicked a spectator who was allegedly throwing beer at him. Wellens went on to win the event after Boom
Lars Boom
Lars Anthonius Johannes Boom is a professional cyclo-cross and road racing cyclist who was born in Vlijmen in the Netherlands. Boom rides for UCI ProTeam Rabobank cycling team, having previous ridden for the junior and continental teams. Boom won the cyclo-cross world championships in 2008...
slipped in the final lap and initially was awarded the win despite the threat of disqualification. Several days later after a meeting of the three race commissionaires and the UCI, Wellens was disqualified and Boom was awarded the win. Later Wellens was served with a ban from racing during the first month (September) of the following season (2006/07).
His younger brother Geert is also a skilful non-professional cyclo-cross cyclist. Geert was professional with the Bart's Fidea cycling team for one year.
Major victories (7)
- 2 - UCI Cyclo-cross World ChampionshipsUCI Cyclo-cross World ChampionshipsThe UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships sponsored by the Union Cycliste Internationale consists of both a men's and women's cyclo-cross world championship:* Men - UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships – Men's elite race...
2003, 2004 - 3 - Belgian National Cyclo-cross ChampionshipsBelgian National Cyclo-cross ChampionshipsThe Belgian National Cyclo-cross Championships were first held in 1910, and have been held annually since 1921 by the Royal Belgian Cycling Federation ....
2000, 2005, 2007 - 1 - UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup 2003
- 1 - SuperprestigeSuperprestige (Cyclo-cross)The Cyclo-cross Superprestige is a season-long cyclo-cross competition, consisting of around 10 rounds throughout the season in Belgium and the Netherlands. It is one of three season-long competitions, alongside the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup and the Cyclo-cross Gazet van AntwerpenThe first...
2004 - 1 - Gazet van Antwerpen Trophy 2004
2008 - Fidea Cycling Team
- 1st, Stage 1, Volta a LleidaVolta a LleidaThe Volta a Lleida is a road cycling stage race held in the Lleida region of Spain. It was a 2.2 category race on the UCI Europe Tour between 2005 and 2008.-List of overall winners:...