Dirk Baert

Dirk Baert battled polio until he was nine-years-old, but started track cycling in the kilo time trial as a teenager.

His 18th place at the Mexico Olympics was unremarkable, but Baert then moved to the individual pursuit. Turning professional in May 1970, he won the individual pursuit world title in 1971, returning to the podium with bronze medals in 1972 and 1975. Although Baert would subsequently win many medals at the Belgian championships, he then focused his attention on the road. As a sprinter, he won several minor or kermesse races and also won a stage in the 1974 Tour of Belgium. Baert was also a good standard cobblestone racer and won the 1976 GP Samyn. He competed in two Grand Tours - the Tour de France in 1974 and Giro d’Italia in 1979 - while his best finish in a Monument was 12th in the 1976 Tour of Flanders. Baert retired from cycling in 1984, winning his ninth Belgian track title that year (1x tandem, 1x kilo, 6x pursuit, 1x omnium).

After retirement, Baert coached the Belgian amateur cyclists. He was also later a team manager with DKPC, a Continental Tour team. Baert’s daughter, Evelyn, was a five-time Belgian track champion in the 1990s. and his father-in-law Roger Decock, won the 1952 Tour of Flanders.