His major wins include the 2008 Tour de l'Avenir and stage 2 of the 2013 Tour de France, claiming the yellow jersey after winning the stage by only a second of an advantage on the peloton after a late attack. He also rode the 2010 Giro d'Italia, in which he finished 36th.
Bakelants left RadioShack–Leopard at the end of the 2013 season, and joined Omega Pharma–Quick-Step for the 2014 season. In August 2014, it was announced that he would be leaving Omega Pharma–Quick-Step after one year and joining AG2R La Mondiale on an initial two-year deal.
Ahead of the 2017 Tour de France Bakelants faced criticism for remarks he made that were deemed sexist. In an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws he was asked if it was difficult to go without sex for three weeks during a grand tour. He jokingly answered that there were podium girls after all and he would make sure to pack condoms. This prompted Tour director Christian Prudhomme to demand a public apology, which Bakelants delivered on social media.
Bakelants was severely injured in a crash at the 2017 Giro di Lombardia when he crashed into a ravine on a fast descent, fracturing seven ribs and the first and third vertebrae. He did not lose consciousness and was transferred to the hospital in Como. The crash left Bakelants 1 centimetre (0.39 inches) shorter. After his crash, Bakelants spoke out about safety standards in cycling. He hoped to return to racing in March 2018, and did so at the Classic Loire Atlantique in France.
After one year with Team Sunweb in 2019 he spent the last three years of his professional career with Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux, where he also won his last professional race with stage 5 of the 2022 Tour de Wallonie. Bakelants announced his retirement on 24 December 2022 after a non-amicable split from his last team. He felt the way he was treated by management, especially Aike Visbeek, didn't reflect the work he put in to help the team establish themselves on the World Tour.
Bakelants is married to Daphne Hofmans and they have two daughters and two sons.
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