Victor Campenaerts

Victor Campenaerts, a notable Belgian professional cyclist, was born on October 28, 1991, in Wilrijk, Belgium. Over his career, Victor Campenaerts has become a prominent figure in cycling, particularly known for his time trial abilities and his success in setting the cycling one-hour record. His career began in earnest with successes in the Junior and U23 categories in Belgian championships before moving onto the international professional scene.

In a testament to his burgeoning talent, Victor Campenaerts clinched the Belgian National Time Trial Championships on June 23, 2016. His victory in this prestigious event marked him as one of Belgium's leading time trial specialists and further laid the groundwork for his future successes on both the national and international scene.

Following his national success in 2016, Victor Campenaerts retained his Belgian National Time Trial Championship title in 2017. This consecutive victory demonstrated his continued dominance in the discipline within Belgium and helped solidify his reputation as an elite time trialist. It also helped secure his place on the international cycling stage.

Victor Campenaerts won the European Time Trial Championships, cementing his status as one of the top time trialists in the world. This victory was a significant achievement in his career, adding to his victory in the same competition in 2017. His powerful and aerodynamic riding style has made him a formidable competitor against the clock, and this win further demonstrated his ability to excel in individual time trials.

Victor Campenaerts demonstrated his prowess in stage racing by winning the individual time trial stage of the BinckBank Tour on July 21, 2018. This victory in Stage 7 showcased his ability to perform against the clock in multi-stage races, underscoring his reputation as one of the leaders in time trials. His win not only highlighted his time-trialling strength but also helped boost his standings in stage race competitions.

On April 16, 2019, Victor Campenaerts broke the UCI Hour Record by covering a distance of 55.089 kilometers in one hour at the Velodromo Bicentenario in Aguascalientes, Mexico. This record-breaking performance surpassed the previous record set by Bradley Wiggins in 2015. Campenaerts's meticulous preparation and his strategic use of high altitude conditions contributed to setting this new benchmark in one of cycling's most challenging events.

Victor Campenaerts competed in the 2019 Tour de France, marking his participation in the world's most prestigious cycling race. Although he did not win a stage, his performance, particularly in the time trials and support roles, was noteworthy, showcasing his strength and endurance across a grueling multi-week event. His presence in the Tour de France underscored his status as a top professional in the cycling world.

Victor Campenaerts made a career move by signing with the NTT Pro Cycling Team. This new contract, announced on February 25, 2020, represented a significant new chapter in his professional cycling career. Campenaerts's decision to join NTT Pro Cycling was aimed at seeking new opportunities and challenges, leveraging his time-trialling capabilities within the dynamics of a different team setup.

Victor Campenaerts added to his palmares by winning Stage 10 of the Giro d'Italia on October 11, 2020. This victory marked his first Grand Tour stage win and showcased his versatility as a cyclist beyond his time-trialling expertise. Campenaerts's victory at the Giro showed his ability to compete and win at the highest level of professional cycling, further cementing his reputation as an elite cyclist.

Victor Campenaerts caught the spotlight with a remarkable performance in the 2023 Classic Brugge-De Panne. Despite his reputation predominantly as a time trialist, Campenaerts showed versatility in this one-day race. His tenacity and strategy throughout the event highlighted his evolution as a cyclist capable of competing in various styles of racing, suggesting future successes in similar one-day events.