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Jan Pronk (cyclist)

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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
Medal record
Representing the  Netherlands
UCI Motor-paced World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1947 Paris Professionals
Silver medal – second place 1949 Copenhagen Professionals
Silver medal – second place 1950 Rocourt Professionals
Gold medal – first place 1951 Milan Professionals
Silver medal – second place 1954 Cologne Professionals

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]

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