Jan Plantaz

Cyclist Jan Plantaz began his career with a few podium finishes in races at home in the Netherlands, also finishing third in the amateur road race at the 1951 UCI Road World Championships. These results earned Plantaz a place on the Olympic team for the 1952 Games in Helsinki, where he finished 22nd in the individual road race. He was also part of the Dutch quartet in the 4,000 metres team pursuit on the track. One year later he won a stage of the Flèche du Sud race in Luxembourg in addition to finishing second overall in the general classification.

Plantaz then turned professional in 1954, shifting his focus to track cycling and finishing second in the individual pursuit at the Dutch championships. He became a veteran of six-day races, competing in almost 30 events over the next few years, including multiple races in the United States. Plantaz had his biggest win towards the end of his career when he won the 1960 edition of the Antwerpen Six-Day race. He called time on his professional career a few years later at the age of 31. Tragically Plantaz died during a training ride in February 1974 after suffering a heart attack. He was 43-years-old.