René Pijnen

Dutch cyclist René Pijnen had success early in his career, winning several races at home in the mid-1960s, along with bronze in the amateur road race at the 1967 UCI Road World Championships. That same year Pijnen also won the overall classification at the Scottish Milk Race, as well as stages in races in both Belgium and Luxembourg. At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics he won gold with his compatriots in the team time trial and finished fifth in the road race.

Pijnen turned professional in 1969, finding form at the Vuelta a España in the early 1970s. At the 1970 edition of the race he held the yellow jersey as the race leader from stage 1 to stage 8b. One year later he won the opening individual time trial prologue, stage 5, and the final stage, which was another time trial. His early success in the race also resulted in him having two spells wearing the yellow jersey. Pijnen won his fourth and final stage at the Vuelta in 1972, once again taking victory in the opening prologue time trial.

Whilst still competing on the road, Pijnen shifted his focus to track cycling, winning silver and bronze in the individual pursuit at the UCI Track World Championships in 1973 and 1974, respectively. For the rest of his career he had impressive results in six day races, winning multiple events during the 1970s and 1980s. During this time Pijnen also won six Maidson track titles at the European Championships. After his retirement he ran a hotel near to where he was born.