Niels Albert
 Albert during the 2007 UCI World Cyclo-cross Championships | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Niels Albert | |||||||||||||||
| Born |
5 February 1986 Bonheiden, Belgium | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Weight | 66 kg (146 lb; 10.4 st) | |||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||
| Current team | Retired | |||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Cyclo-cross and road | |||||||||||||||
| Role | Rider | |||||||||||||||
| Professional team(s) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2014 | Palmans–Sapim–Collstrop | |||||||||||||||
| Major wins | ||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Infobox last updated on 28 May 2014 | ||||||||||||||||
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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.
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:
- 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:
- 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
- ↑ "Albert clinches win in season's first cross". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
- ↑ "Albert makes thirteen an unlucky number for Nys". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
- ↑ "Albert rijdt solo naar wereldtitel in Koksijde" (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ↑ Been, José. "Niels Albert ends cyclo-cross career due to heart problems". Cyclingnews. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
External links
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