Paul Wellens (cyclist)

Paul Wellens (born 27 June 1952 in Hasselt) is a Belgian former professional road bicycle racer.

Paul Wellens

Personal information
Full name	Paul Wellens
Born	(1952-06-27) 27 June 1952 (age 73) Hasselt, Belgium
Team information
Current team	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Professional teams
1976	Miko–de Gribaldy[1]
1977	Frisol–Thirion–Gazelle[1]
1978–1980	TI–Raleigh[1]
1981	Boule d'Or–Colnago–Campagnolo[1]
1982	Wickes–Bouwmarkt–Splendor[1]
1983	Eorotex–Magniflex[1]
1984	Ariostea[1]
1985	Tönissteiner–TW Rock–BASF[1]
1986	Miko–Carlos[1]
Major wins
Tour de France, 2 individual stages and 5 TTT stages Tour de Suisse (1978)

Cycling career

In 1978, he won the combativity award in the Tour de France. He won two individual tour stages during his career: in 1977 he won stage 15a to Morzine in a solo breakaway, leading alone over the summit of the Col du Corbier and crossing the finish line with a three-minute lead over the peloton, and the following year he won the stage to Super Besse. He was also part of the TI–Raleigh squads which took a team time trial win in the 1978 Tour, two further TTT victories the next year and another two in the 1980 edition of the race.^[2][1] In addition he took two top ten finishes on the Tour's general classification, placing sixth in 1978 and eighth as TI–Raleigh's leader in 1979. He also won the 1978 Tour de Suisse. He is the brother of fellow racing cyclists Leo and Johan Wellens and the uncle of cyclist Tim Wellens. At the 1981 Tour de France, he and his brothers all rode for the Sunair–Sport 80–Colnago team as domestiques for Freddy Maertens.^[2]

Major results

1977

Orchies

Stage 2, Tour of the Basque Country

Tour de France:

Winner stage 15A

1978

Kamerik

Tour de Suisse

Tour de France:

Winner stages 4 (TTT) & 13

6th place overall classification

1979

Beringen

Koersel

Tour de France:

Winner stages 4 (TTT) & 8 (TTT)

8th place overall classification

1980

Tour de France:

Winner stages 1b (TTT) & 7a (TTT)

1983

Stage 12, Tour de l'Avenir^[1]