John Vande Velde (born December 27, 1948) is an American track cyclist who competed on velodromes around the world, winning three national championships (4,000 meter Individual Pursuit, 1968-1972), and he competed at the

1968 Summer Olympics The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XIX Olimpiada) and commonly known as Mexico 1968 ( es, México 1968), were an international multi-sport eve ...

and the

1972 Summer Olympics The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich 1972 (german: München 1972), was an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. ...

. He was a 2004 inductee into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame. He grew up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, racing with the West Suburban Wheelmen, founded in 1959 by family members and friends. His father Al, and Uncles Babe and Henry were active racers from their youth, and John switched his competitive focus from swimming (High School to Cornell University) to cycling. He was one of the youngest members of the 1968 US Olympic Cycling team that went to Mexico City, and a co-captain of the 1972 US Olympic Cycling team in Munich. Following the 1972 Games, he and his teammate Jackie Simes III. turned professional to race Six-Day pro races, soon representing SHIMANO in that European pro race circuit. He and his partner were second in the 1973 Berlin Six-Day. After retiring from professional cycling, Vande Velde returned to his career, and family's full-time work in road traffic control and management, while staying close to other Olympians involved in promoting some of the largest cycling events in the United States. He and his family constructed a portable wooden velodrome, the Vandedrome, which was used to promote a number of races including in Detroit and Los Angeles. John is the father of three successful athletes, including

Christian Vande Velde Christian Vande Velde (born May 22, 1976) is a retired American professional road racing cyclist of Belgian descent, who rode professionally between 1998 and 2013. Vande Velde competed for the , , and squads. He has been a cycling analyst for ...

.Featured Rider , Christian VandeVelde
USA Pro Challenge, January 1, 2012.

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* 1948 births Living people American male cyclists Olympic cyclists for the United States Cyclists at the 1968 Summer Olympics Cyclists at the 1972 Summer Olympics Cyclists from Chicago American track cyclists Pan American Games medalists in cycling Medalists at the 1971 Pan American Games Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States {{US-cycling-bio-stub