Jules Vanhevel

Jules Vanhevel ( born March 10, 1895 in Koekelare; † 21 July 1969, Ostend ) was a Belgian racing cyclist.

Jules Vanhevel was one of the most versatile and successful cyclist of his time; he was Profi by 1919 until 1935. Already as an amateur and as a racing driver in the service of the military, he won numerous races. After the end of World War II, he was a professional racing driver.

1920 won Vanhevel the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen and won the Tour of Flanders, 1922, the Ronde van West - Vlaanderen, 1923 and 1924, the Criterium des As 1924 Paris -Roubaix, 1927 Berlin- Cottbus- Berlin, 1928, the Tour of Belgium and won many more wins. Twice - in 1920 and 1921 - he became Belgian road champion. He also competed in 26 six-day races, of which he won two, in 1923 Brussels and 1925 in Ghent, each with César Debaets.

Vanhevels 25 -year-old racer anniversary was the occasion for a popular festival in Bruges, and he became the first cyclist with a Royal Order, the Order of Leopold, excellent.

After his retirement from cycling Vanhevel dealer was for tires. The cycling he remained connected as a functionary of the Belgian Cycling Federation. He died in 1969, a day after Eddy Merckx won the Tour de France, 30 years after the last victory by Belgian Sylvère Maes.

2006, a small private museum in his honor in the brasserie was opened in " the Angel" in Vanhevels hometown Ichtegem, which is owned by members of his family.