Maarten Tjallingii
A Dutch hardman of the peloton, famed for his breakaway courage and a single, unforgettable day in yellow at the Tour de France.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Racing cyclist·Birthday: November 5·Generation X
Biography
Maarten Tjallingii was the embodiment of the tireless breakaway specialist, a rider whose value was measured in kilometers of suffering at the front of the race rather than a crowded trophy case. For over a decade, the Dutchman was a fixture in the early moves of the spring Classics and grand tours, his long, lean frame powering through wind and rain for teams like Silence-Lotto and Rabobank. His career zenith arrived in the 2011 Tour de France. On a chaotic, crash-marred stage, Tjallingii found himself in the right move, and through a complex application of the rules, he was awarded the race leader's yellow jersey for a single day. It was a fitting reward for a consummate team rider and a fearless attacker. He retired in 2016 after a final stint with LottoNL–Jumbo, leaving behind a legacy of grit that is cherished by cycling purists.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Maarten was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Maarten Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Maarten's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
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
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned the yellow jersey as race leader for one day during the 2011 Tour de France.
- Achieved a top-ten finish in the brutal Paris-Roubaix classic in 2011.
- Won a stage of the Eneco Tour (now Benelux Tour) in 2008.
- Completed twelve Grand Tours throughout his professional career, showcasing remarkable durability.
Did You Know?
His yellow jersey from the 2011 Tour is displayed in the Dutch National Cycling Museum.
Before turning professional, he studied mechanical engineering.
Tjallingii was known for his distinctive, very upright riding position on the bike.
He once crashed into a parked team car during a race, an unusually bizarre accident for a pro.
“My job is to make the race hard, to turn the television picture beautiful.”
