Jan Pronk (cyclist)

Jan Pronk (October 19, 1918 – March 15, 2016) was a Dutch professional cyclist who specialized in motor-paced racing. In this discipline he won five medals at the world championships, including a gold medal in 1951.[1][2]

Jan Pronk
Jan Pronk in 2007
Personal information
Born19 October 1918
Den Helder, Netherlands
Died15 March 2016 (aged 97)
Egmond aan Zee, Netherlands
Sport
SportCycling

That gold medal was controversial because of the assistance by his compatriot Kees Bakker. At the end of the race, Bakker, a 35-year-old veteran at the time, was exactly one lap behind Pronk, who was in the lead. Then, up to the finish line, Bakker rode behind Pronk, covering him from attacks by the competitors. There were speculations that Bakker was paid by Pronk before the race; nevertheless, these tactics were then banned at competitions.[3]

References

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