Maria Wilhelmina Johanna "Mirjam" Melchers-Van Poppel (born 26 September 1975 in Arnhem, Gelderland) is a female former racing cyclist from the Netherlands, married to former sprinter Jean-Paul van Poppel. She was one of the leading cyclists in the world, having held the UCI number one ranking as well as winning highly rated races. She was a one-day specialist but has managed smaller stage races. In 2003, she won the GP Feminas Castilla y Leon round of the World Cup and finished third overall in the series behind Nicole Cooke and German sprinter Regina Schleicher. Melchers also finished first in the Damesronde van Drenthe and the Emakumeen Bira, before bringing her season to a close with a silver medal at the world championship road race in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. On 7 September 2006 Melchers crashed during the third stage of the Euregio Tour. She broke her pelvis, a hip and her jaw. Palmares Note: Beginning in 1997, the Union Cycliste Internationale awarded points to riders based on performances in races. Races were classified in categories. Although the system has evolved, major stage races are generally category 1 (strongest) and category 2. In the listings below, these categories, where known, are in parentheses. GC stands for General classification. Road 1998 1st Omloop der Groene Gemeente 1st Stage 4 Holland Ladies Tour 1st Vlijmen Criterium 1999 1st Stage 5 Holland Ladies Tour 2nd Overall Greenery International National Championship 2nd Road Race 2nd Time Trial 2nd Ronde van Drenthe 3rd Flevotour 2000 1st Overall Holland Ladies Tour 1st Stage 3 1st Road Race, National Road Championships 1st Harderwijk Road Race 1st Haarsteeg Criterium 1st Geldrop Criterium 1st Stage 2 Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale 2nd Overall Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin 2nd Le Critérium International Féminin De Lachine 3rd Overall UCI Road World Cup 3rd Overall Thüringen-Rundfahrt der Frauen 3rd GP de Plouay 3rd Canberra Women's Classic 3rd Embrach 5th Road Race, UCI Road World Championships 2001 1st Overall Thüringen-Rundfahrt der Frauen 1st Stages 1 & 2 1st Westerbeek Criterium 2nd Overall UCI Road World Cup 2nd Primavera Rosa 2nd Amstel Gold Race 2nd GP de Plouay 2nd Hamilton City Criterium 2nd Canberra Women's Classic 5th Road Race, UCI Road World Championships 2002 1st Primavera Rosa 1st Oud-Vossemeer Criterium 2nd Overall UCI Road World Cup 2nd Overall Holland Ladies Tour 1st Stage 7 2nd Overall Tour de Snowy 1st Stage 1 2nd Amstel Gold Race