Norbert Callens

Norbert Callens was a Belgian professional road racing cyclist, born on 22 June 1924 in Wakken, West Flanders, who died on 12 March 2005. He raced as a professional from 1945 to 1952 and his victories include the 1945 edition of the Tour of Belgium and one stage of the Tour de France. His best-remembered moment came in the 1949 Tour de France, when he won stage 3, finishing in Boulogne-sur-Mer, and took the lead of the general classification. The truck carrying the jerseys had broken down, so no yellow jersey was available and he started the next stage in an unofficial one, losing the lead to Jacques Marinelli. In 1994 the Tour finished a stage in Boulogne-sur-Mer again, Callens was invited there, and he was finally given his yellow jersey, 45 years late.