Charlie Wegelius
Encyclopedia
Charles "Charlie" Wegelius (born 26 April 1978 in Espoo
, Finland
) is an English
former professional road racing cyclist
.
Never a winner of an individual race, Wegelius nevertheless made a career out of being a reliable and strong domestique
, most notably in the mountains.
, which resulted in his spleen
being removed and the news that he would never cycle again. He recovered, however, and had his first professional break in 1999, when he rode as a stagiaire for the ill-fated Linda McCartney Racing Team
.
Wegelius participated in the cycling at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
, where he finished 5th in the individual time trial and 28th in the road race. He also started the road race at the 2004 Summer Olympics, but failed to finish.
chose not to ride to protect Roger Hammond, their team leader, in the World Championship road race, and instead looked after the riders in their trade teams. Wegelius later repaid the costs associated with his participation in the event, and was never selected to represent his national team again. He later said that he regretted the incident.
and the Vuelta a España
, Wegelius made his Tour de France
début in the 2007 edition
. By finishing 45th, he was the best placed British rider in the general classification at 1 hour, 41 minutes and 5 seconds behind yellow jersey winner Alberto Contador
.
He received a call-up to participate in the 2009 Tour de France
as a replacement for Thomas Dekker
, who was ruled out following a positive drug test
. He finished 60th in the general classification, 1 hour, 14 minutes and 25 seconds behind the winning Contador.
Wegelius also began the 2010 Tour de France
. However, much to his disappointment, he had to pull out after suffering from a sickness. It was his last participation in the Tour de France, as he retired after the 2011 Giro di Padania
.
to have ever represented Finland.
Wegelius was educated at Bootham School
in York
from 1989 to 1994.
Wegelius has a wife, Camilla.
2007
2008
WD = withdrew
Espoo
Espoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland. The population of the city of Espoo is . It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. Espoo shares its eastern border with Helsinki and Vantaa, while enclosing Kauniainen....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional road racing cyclist
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
.
Never a winner of an individual race, Wegelius nevertheless made a career out of being a reliable and strong domestique
Cycling domestique
A domestique is a road bicycle racer who works for the benefit of his team and leader. The French domestique translates as "servant". In Italy and Spain, the term gregario is used, while in Belgium and the Netherlands the term knecht or helper are used...
, most notably in the mountains.
Early career
Wegelius' cycling aspirations suffered an early setback, after being injured in an accident involving an all-terrain vehicleAll-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
, which resulted in his spleen
Spleen
The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...
being removed and the news that he would never cycle again. He recovered, however, and had his first professional break in 1999, when he rode as a stagiaire for the ill-fated Linda McCartney Racing Team
Linda McCartney Racing Team
The Linda McCartney Racing Team was a British professional road bicycle racing team.-History:The team began in 1998 with Linda McCartney Foods, maker of vegetarian food, sponsoring vegetarian riders and staff. The company was started by Sir Paul McCartney's wife, Linda...
.
Wegelius participated in the cycling at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
Cycling at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
The cycling competition at the 2002 Commonwealth Games involves three disciplines: mountain bike racing, road bicycle racing and track cycling. The track events were held at Manchester Velodrome.- Mountain biking:- Track:- Road:...
, where he finished 5th in the individual time trial and 28th in the road race. He also started the road race at the 2004 Summer Olympics, but failed to finish.
World Championship controversy
Wegelius was involved in controversy in 2005 when he and teammate Tom SouthamTom Southam
Tom Southam is an English competitive cyclist from Penzance, Cornwall who rides for Rapha Condor. He has represented Great Britain in five World Championships and ridden in several UCI ProTour events....
chose not to ride to protect Roger Hammond, their team leader, in the World Championship road race, and instead looked after the riders in their trade teams. Wegelius later repaid the costs associated with his participation in the event, and was never selected to represent his national team again. He later said that he regretted the incident.
Participation in the Tour de France
Having previously ridden in the Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
and the Vuelta a España
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
, Wegelius made his Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
début in the 2007 edition
2007 Tour de France
The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...
. By finishing 45th, he was the best placed British rider in the general classification at 1 hour, 41 minutes and 5 seconds behind yellow jersey winner Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
.
He received a call-up to participate in the 2009 Tour de France
2009 Tour de France
The 2009 Tour de France was the 96th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on 4 July in the principality of Monaco with a individual time trial which included a section of the Circuit de Monaco...
as a replacement for Thomas Dekker
Thomas Dekker (cyclist)
Thomas Dekker is a Dutch professional road bicycle racer for Garmin-Cervélo’s development team, Chipotle Development Team. His career highlights include winning Tirreno-Adriatico in 2006 and Tour de Romandie in 2007...
, who was ruled out following a positive drug test
Drug test
A drug test is a technical analysis of a biological specimen – for example urine, hair, blood, sweat, or oral fluid / saliva – to determine the presence or absence of specified parent drugs or their metabolites...
. He finished 60th in the general classification, 1 hour, 14 minutes and 25 seconds behind the winning Contador.
Wegelius also began the 2010 Tour de France
2010 Tour de France
The 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996...
. However, much to his disappointment, he had to pull out after suffering from a sickness. It was his last participation in the Tour de France, as he retired after the 2011 Giro di Padania
Giro di Padania
The 1st Giro di Padania has been from 6 of september till 10 of september 2011.About 200 riders participated to the 1st Giro di Padania, with the national teams of Australia, Poland and Slovenia...
.
Personal life
Wegelius is the son of Christopher Wegelius, a former Finnish banker and the most successful show jumperShow jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
to have ever represented Finland.
Wegelius was educated at Bootham School
Bootham School
Bootham School is an independent Quaker boarding school in the city of York in North Yorkshire, England. It was founded by the Religious Society of Friends in 1823. It is close to York Minster. The current headmaster is Jonathan Taylor. The school's motto Membra Sumus Corporis Magni means "We...
in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
from 1989 to 1994.
Wegelius has a wife, Camilla.
Palmarès
2002- 1st TTT Settimana Ciclista Bergamasca
2007
- 1st Stage 1 TTT Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'ItaliaThe Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
2008
- 1st Stage 1b (TTT) Settimana internazionale di Coppi e BartaliSettimana internazionale di Coppi e BartaliThe Settimana internazionale di Coppi e Bartali is an Italian cycle road race. It is run typically in late March over five days in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.-History:...
Grand Tour General Classification results timeline
| Grand Tour | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giro Giro d'Italia The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar... |
51 2003 Giro d'Italia The 2003 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 86th running of the race, was held from 10 May to 1 June 2003, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,472 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.828 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.... |
48 2004 Giro d'Italia The 2004 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 87th running of the race, was held from 8 May to 30 May 2004, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,420 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.565 km/h. It was won by Damiano Cunego... |
46 2005 Giro d'Italia The 2005 Giro d'Italia, the 88th running of the race, was held from 7 May to 29 May 2005, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,417 km, ridden at an average speed of 37,375 km/h... |
58 2006 Giro d'Italia The 2006 Giro d'Italia was the 89th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 6 May to 28 May 2006, and covered , beginning in the Belgian mining town of Seraing and ending in Milan... |
WD 2007 Giro d'Italia The 2007 Giro d'Italia was the 90th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place from 12 May to 3 June 2007. The race began in Sardinia and finished in Milan, and featured five mountain top finishes, of which one was an individual time trial... |
69 2008 Giro d'Italia The 2008 Giro d'Italia was the 91st running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It began in Palermo on 10 May and ended in Milan on 1 June. Twenty-two teams entered the race, which was won by Spaniard Alberto Contador of the cycling team... |
105 2009 Giro d'Italia The 2009 Giro d'Italia was the 92nd running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 9 to 31 May 2009, and marked the 100th year since the first edition of the race... |
29 2010 Giro d'Italia The 2010 Giro d'Italia was the 93rd edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Amsterdam on 8 May and stayed in the Netherlands for three stages, before leaving the country... |
| Tour Tour de France The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The... |
- | - | - | - | 45 2007 Tour de France The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain... |
- | 60 2009 Tour de France The 2009 Tour de France was the 96th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on 4 July in the principality of Monaco with a individual time trial which included a section of the Circuit de Monaco... |
WD 2010 Tour de France The 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996... |
| Vuelta Vuelta a España The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages... |
- | - | 60 | WD | - | - | WD 2009 Vuelta a España The 2009 Vuelta a España was the 64th Vuelta a España. The event took place from 29 August to 20 September 2009. For only the second time in the race's history, it began away from Spanish soil, with the race not in fact reaching Spain until Stage 5.... |
WD = withdrew
External links
- Charlie Wegelius Profile from Cycling Archives