Jan Hirt
A Czech climber who conquered the Giro d'Italia's most brutal mountains, winning a stage and finishing in the top ten.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Czech cyclist·Birthday: January 21·Millennials
Biography
Born in the Czech Republic in 1991, Jan Hirt carved out a niche as a pure climber in the unforgiving world of professional cycling. His career was a slow burn, marked by steady progress through continental and Pro-Conti teams, where his ability to suffer on long ascents became his trademark. The breakthrough came in 2022 with the UCI WorldTeam Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux. At the Giro d'Italia that year, he unleashed his pent-up potential, soloing to a majestic victory on the grueling Blockhaus climb. That performance catapulted him to a sixth-place overall finish, announcing him as a genuine contender in Grand Tour mountain warfare. His story is one of patience and specialization, proving that in the age of all-rounders, a master of the mountains can still seize the day.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jan was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Jan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won Stage 16 of the 2022 Giro d'Italia with a solo attack on the Monte Blockhaus.
- Achieved a sixth-place overall finish in the 2022 Giro d'Italia general classification.
- Secured the overall victory at the 2021 Tour of Oman.
- Won the Czech National Road Race Championships in 2020.
Did You Know?
He originally studied to become a carpenter before focusing fully on cycling.
His Giro stage win in 2022 was his first victory at a Grand Tour.
He has ridden for teams based in the Czech Republic, Austria, and Belgium.
“The mountain doesn't care about your name, only the rhythm of your pedals.”
