Niels Albert

Niels Albert (born 5 February 1986 in Bonheiden, near Antwerp, Belgium) is a former professional cyclo-cross racing cyclist who currently resides in Tremelo. He became World Champion twice, in 2009 and 2012.

Niels Albert
Personal information
Full nameNiels Albert
Born (1986-02-05) 5 February 1986
Bonheiden, Belgium
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight66 kg (146 lb; 10.4 st)
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineCyclo-cross and road
RoleRider
Professional team
2005–2014Palmans–Sapim–Collstrop
Major wins
Cyclo-cross
World Cup
Overall classification (2010–11, 2012–13)
11 individual races
Superprestige
14 individual races
BPost Bank Trophy
Overall classification (2012–13)
15 individual races
World Championships (2009, 2012)
National Championships (2011)

Career

Similarly to Sven Nys, Albert began BMX racing, in which he was two times Belgian National Champion, before switching to cyclo-cross. On 8 October 2006 Albert took his first major senior victory at Grote Prijs Pro Cycling Neerpelt, Belgium. Albert won the first International cyclo-cross of the 2007/08 season with a victory in Erpe-Mere, Belgium.[1] Albert scored another big victory with the Superprestige in Gieten, the Netherlands where riding for the first time in the Elite category of the annual Gieten race, he beat Sven Nys and Lars Boom.[2]

He finished second at the 2008/09 Belgian Cyclo-cross Championships (behind Sven Nys).

In 2009, he became the Cyclo-cross world champion in Hoogerheide, The Netherlands. He took a second World Champion title in 2012, after a solo victory in Koksijde.[3]

His career ended abruptly on 19 May 2014, when Albert, aged 28, announced his retirement as a professional cyclist, due to heart problems.[4]

Palmarès

Cyclo-cross
2001–2002
1st National Under-17 Championships
2003–2004
1st World Junior Championships
1st National Junior Championships
2004–2005
1st, Beuvry, Leudelange
2nd, European Under-23 Championships
2005–2006
1st European Under-23 Championships
1st National Under-23 Championships
1st, Rijkevorsel
3rd, World Under-23 Championships
2006–2007
1st European Under-23 Championships
1st National Under-23 Championships
1st, Antwerpen, Loenhout, Neerpelt & Oostmalle
2nd, World Under-23 Championships
2007–2008
1st World Under-23 Championships
1st European Under-23 Championships
1st, Ardooie, Dudzele, Erpe-Mere, Lille, Gieten, Maldegem, Hoogstraten, Vorselaar & Oostmalle
2008–2009
1st World Championships
1st, Erpe-Mere, Zonhoven, Ardooie, Tabor, Veghel-Eerde, Tervuren, Otegem
2nd, National Championships
2009–2010
2nd, World Cup
Winner in Treviso, Pilzen, Nommay and Hoogerheide (Grand Prix Adri van der Poel)
Superprestige races:
Winner in Hoogstraten & Gavere
Gazet van Antwerpen Trophy:
verliezer in Namur & Essen
1st, Ardooie, Dottenijs, Eernegem, Erpe-Mere, Neerpelt, Overijse
2010–2011
1st, World Cup
Winner in Coxyde, Igorre,
Superprestige races:
Winner in Diegem
Gazet van Antwerpen Trophy:
Winner in Azencross
Cyclocross Tervuren
1st National Championships
2011–2012
1st World Championships
Superprestige races:
Winner in Ruddervorde & Zonhoven & Diegem
Gazet van Antwerpen Trophy:
Winner in Azencross
Vlaamse Industrieprijs Bosduin
Grand Prix de la Région Wallonne
2nd National Championships
10th World Cup

Road
2007
3rd Overall Boucles de la Mayenne
2009
1st Stage 1 Mi-Août Bretonne
1st Prologue Boucles de la Mayenne
4th Overall Tour Alsace
1st Stages 2 & 5
2010
5th Overall Circuito Montañes
1st Stage 6
2011
1st Stage 2 Tour Alsace
7th Overall Boucles de la Mayenne
2013
8th Ronde van Limburg

References
  1. "Albert clinches win in season's first cross". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  2. "Albert makes thirteen an unlucky number for Nys". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  3. "Albert rijdt solo naar wereldtitel in Koksijde" (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  4. Been, José. "Niels Albert ends cyclo-cross career due to heart problems". Cyclingnews. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
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