Stijn Devolder
A Belgian classics specialist who mastered the art of peaking for one monumental, rain-soaked race, conquering the Tour of Flanders twice against the odds.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Belgian road bicycle racer·Birthday: August 29·Generation X
Biography
Stijn Devolder's career is a testament to the power of perfect timing. In the hard world of Belgian cycling, he was not a constant winner, but a rider who understood his body and his role within the powerful Quick-Step team. For years, he labored as a loyal domestique, setting a fierce tempo on the cobbled climbs for superstars like Tom Boonen. Then, in 2008 and again in 2009, he executed a flawless personal plan. With Boonen marked by rivals, Devolder was given a long leash and exploded away on the key climbs, time-trialing alone to victory in the Tour of Flanders each time. These were not wins from a long breakaway, but devastating attacks that showcased his strength as an individual rider when the spotlight suddenly found him. His later career was hampered by injuries, but those two glorious April days secured his permanent place in the pantheon of Flandrian heroes.
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.
Stijn was born in 1979, 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 Stijn Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Stijn's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
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
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Tour of Flanders monument classic in back-to-back years (2008 and 2009).
- Secured the Belgian National Time Trial Championship title in 2007.
- Won a stage of the Vuelta a España in 2006 while riding for the Discovery Channel team.
Did You Know?
His two Tour of Flanders victories came while he was riding in support of team leader Tom Boonen, who finished second in 2008.
He was known for his powerful time trialing ability, which was key to his solo wins in Flanders.
He suffered a serious knee injury in a crash at the 2010 Tour de France that impacted the remainder of his career.
“I won the Ronde twice; I knew exactly when to make my move.”
