Jan Janssen, Dutch, 1940 -

Jan Janssen was an accomplished Dutch cyclist who enjoyed success in that brief interlude between the reigns of Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx. He was World Road Race Champion in 1964, and won the Tour de France in 1968.

I hold a special affection for him because, along with Jan Raas, Gerrie Knetemann, Alex Zulle and Laurent Fignon, he is one of the top rank of myopic, spectacle wearing, cyclists. Lost in our blurry world, we need our heros.

I believe that Jan Janssen won his World Championship using a Campagnolo Record derailleur and moved on to a Campagnolo Nuovo Record (1020/A) for his Tour de France victory.

This postage stamp was issued in 1969 by the tiny Emirate of Ajman, in the Persian Gulf. This is one of two images of Jan Janssen on this site, the other is here

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• Publisher: Ajman Post Office
• Date: 1969
• Derailleur brands: Campagnolo
• Derailleurs: Campagnolo Record (1020), Campagnolo Nuovo Record (1020/A)