René Martens (
Hasselt
Hasselt (, , ; la, Hasseletum, Hasselatum) is a Belgian city and municipality, and capital and largest city of the province of Limburg in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is known for its former branding as "the city of taste", as well as ...
, 27 May 1955) is a
Belgian
Belgian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to, Belgium
* Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent
* Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German
*Ancient Belgian language, an extinct language ...
former professional
road bicycle racer
Road bicycle racing is the cycle sport discipline of road cycling, held primarily on paved roads. Road racing is the most popular professional form of bicycle racing, in terms of numbers of competitors, events and spectators. The two most common ...
. He notably won the
1982 Tour of Flanders
The 66th running of the Tour of Flanders cycling classic was held on Sunday, 4 April 1982. Belgian rider René Martens claimed a surprise victory after breaking away solo on the Muur van Geraardsbergen. Eddy Planckaert won the sprint for second at ...
and a stage of the
1981 Tour de France
The 1981 Tour de France was the 68th edition of the Tour de France, taking place between 25 June and 19 July. The total race distance was 24 stages over . It was dominated by Bernard Hinault, who led the race from the sixth stage on, increasing h ...
. He also competed in 13
Grand Tours
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour is one of the three major European professional cycling stage races: Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España. Collectively they are termed the ''Grand Tours'', and all three races are similar in ...
, with his best finish being 24th overall in the
1982 Tour de France
The 1982 Tour de France was the 69th edition of the Tour de France, taking place from 2 to 25 July. The total race distance was 22 stages over . It was won by Bernard Hinault, his fourth victory so far.
Teams
In response to the finish of the 1 ...
.
Major results
;1976
: 1st Overall
Tour de Liège
The Tour de la province de Liège (English: Tour of the Province of Liège) is a cycling race held annually in the Liège province of Belgium. Although it isn't part of UCI Europe Tour, it has been won by many famous cyclists since its creation i ...
::1st Stages 4 (ITT) & 5
: 1st
Triptyque Ardennaise
: 1st
Internatie Reningelst
: 2nd
Flèche Ardennaise
The Flèche Ardennaise is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in June in the province of Liège, Belgium. Since 2010, the race is organized as a 1.2 event on the UCI Europe Tour
The UCI Continental Circuits are a series of road bicycle ...
: 2nd
Seraing–Aachen–Seraing
Seraing–Aachen–Seraing was a men's cycling race organized for the last time in 2001. The race was run between Seraing, Belgium and Aachen
Aachen ( ; ; Aachen dialect: ''Oche'' ; French and traditional English: Aix-la-Chapelle; or ' ...
;1977
: 1st
Flèche Ardennaise
The Flèche Ardennaise is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in June in the province of Liège, Belgium. Since 2010, the race is organized as a 1.2 event on the UCI Europe Tour
The UCI Continental Circuits are a series of road bicycle ...
: 1st
Circuit du Hainaut
: 2nd Overall
Grand Prix François Faber
The Grand Prix François Faber is a one-day road cycling race held annually in Luxembourg since 1918. Originally held as a stage race, it was created in honor of the Luxembourg cyclist François Faber who killed during World War I
World W ...
::1st Stage 2b
: 10th Overall
Trophée de l'Avenir
;1978
: 4th
Scheldeprijs
The Scheldeprijs is a cycling race in Flanders and the Netherlands which starts in Terneuzen, crosses the Scheldt River, and finishes in Schoten. Until 2018 it was held entirely in Belgium. The event, ranked as a 1.HC race on the UCI Europe Tou ...
: 5th
Druivenkoers Overijse
Druivenkoers Overijse is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in August in Overijse, Belgium. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour
The UCI Continental Circuits are a series of road bicycle racing compet ...
: 8th
Paris–Brussels
The Brussels Cycling Classic (known until June 2013 as Paris–Brussels) is a classic cycle races, semi classic European Road bicycle racing, bicycle race, one of the oldest races on the international calendar.
History
Paris–Brussels was first ...
;1979
(2 pro wins)
: 1st Stages 4b (ITT) & 5
Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme
The Catalan Cycling Week (''Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme'' in Catalan) was a multi-stage road bicycle race held in Catalonia, Spain. Held annually from 1963 until 2005, it was run as a 2.HC race on the UCI Europe Tour in the second half of March ...
: 8th
Paris–Brussels
The Brussels Cycling Classic (known until June 2013 as Paris–Brussels) is a classic cycle races, semi classic European Road bicycle racing, bicycle race, one of the oldest races on the international calendar.
History
Paris–Brussels was first ...
;1980
: 2nd
Scheldeprijs
The Scheldeprijs is a cycling race in Flanders and the Netherlands which starts in Terneuzen, crosses the Scheldt River, and finishes in Schoten. Until 2018 it was held entirely in Belgium. The event, ranked as a 1.HC race on the UCI Europe Tou ...
: 9th
De Kustpijl
De Kustpijl is a cycling race held annually in Belgium. It is part of UCI Europe Tour
The UCI Continental Circuits are a series of road bicycle racing competitions which were introduced in 2005 by the Union Cycliste Internationale
The ''Unio ...
: 10th
GP Eddy Merckx
Grand Prix Eddy Merckx was a cycle race around Brussels, where Eddy Merckx was born. It was held between 1980 and 2004, disappearing after the creation of the UCI ProTour in 2005. The race was initially an individual time trial, becoming a Team ti ...
;1981
(1)
: 1st Stage 9
Tour de France
The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consist ...
: 3rd Overall
Ronde van Nederland
The Tour of the Netherlands ''(Dutch: Ronde van Nederland)'' was a road bicycle racing stage-race in the Netherlands, founded in 1948. It's an annual race since 1975. Because of the start of the UCI ProTour in 2005, it was replaced by the Eneco T ...
: 7th Overall
Tour of Belgium
The Tour of Belgium ( nl, Ronde van België; french: Tour de Belgique) is a five-day bicycle race which is held annually in Belgium, and is part of the UCI ProSeries.
It was held annually between 1908 and 1981, except during both world wars. Be ...
;1982
(1)
: 1st
Tour of Flanders
The Tour of Flanders ( nl, Ronde van Vlaanderen), also known as ''De Ronde'' (''"The Tour"''), is an annual road cycling race held in Belgium every spring. The most important cycling race in Flanders, it is part of the UCI World Tour and orga ...
: 1st
Flèche Hesbignonne
The Flèche Hesbignonne-Cras Avernas was a one-day road cycling race held annually in Belgium. Created in 1952, it first took place between Niel and Sint-Truiden. It was then held between Cras-Avernas and Remouchamps. It was on the UCI Europe ...
: 4th
GP Stad Zottegem
Egmont Cycling Race is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in August in Zottegem, Belgium. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour
The UCI Continental Circuits are a series of road bicycle racing competiti ...
: 5th
GP Eddy Merckx
Grand Prix Eddy Merckx was a cycle race around Brussels, where Eddy Merckx was born. It was held between 1980 and 2004, disappearing after the creation of the UCI ProTour in 2005. The race was initially an individual time trial, becoming a Team ti ...
: 10th
Grand Prix de Wallonie
The Grand Prix de Wallonie is an annual road bicycle race held annually in Wallonia, Belgium. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. It has a profile similar to the Ardennes classics The Ardennes classics a ...
;1983
(1)
: 1st
Schaal Sels
Schaal Sels is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in September in Merksem, Belgium. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour
The UCI Continental Circuits are a series of road bicycle racing competitions w ...
: 2nd
Druivenkoers-Overijse
: 7th
Coppa Bernocchi
The Coppa Bernocchi is a European bicycle race held in Legnano, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.
In 1919 the business magnate Antonio Bernocchi founded the Coppa Bernocchi (or Bernocchi Cu ...
: 8th
Grand Prix Cerami
;1984
: 8th
Bordeaux–Paris
The Bordeaux–Paris professional cycle race was one of Europe's classic cycle races, and one of the longest in the professional calendar, covering approximately – more than twice most single-day races. It started in northern Bordeaux in sou ...
;1985
(1)
: 1st
Bordeaux–Paris
The Bordeaux–Paris professional cycle race was one of Europe's classic cycle races, and one of the longest in the professional calendar, covering approximately – more than twice most single-day races. It started in northern Bordeaux in sou ...
;1986
: 2nd
Nationale Sluitingprijs
Nationale Sluitingprijs is a semi classic European bicycle race held annually in Putte (Kapellen), Belgium. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour
The UCI Continental Circuits are a series of road bicycle racing ...
: 9th
Bordeaux–Paris
The Bordeaux–Paris professional cycle race was one of Europe's classic cycle races, and one of the longest in the professional calendar, covering approximately – more than twice most single-day races. It started in northern Bordeaux in sou ...
;1987
: 1st
Flèche Hesbignonne
The Flèche Hesbignonne-Cras Avernas was a one-day road cycling race held annually in Belgium. Created in 1952, it first took place between Niel and Sint-Truiden. It was then held between Cras-Avernas and Remouchamps. It was on the UCI Europe ...
: 4th
Bordeaux–Paris
The Bordeaux–Paris professional cycle race was one of Europe's classic cycle races, and one of the longest in the professional calendar, covering approximately – more than twice most single-day races. It started in northern Bordeaux in sou ...
External links
*
Official Tour de France results for René Martens
1955 births
Living people
Belgian male cyclists
Belgian Tour de France stage winners
Sportspeople from Hasselt
Cyclists from Limburg (Belgium)
20th-century Belgian people
{{Belgium-cycling-bio-1950s-stub