Jakob Piil
Encyclopedia
Jakob Storm Piil is a Danish
former professional road bicycle racer, where he later lived many years in Odense. He is an all-round rider, known for his aggressive style of riding, whose speciality is to pick the right breakaways. He is the cousin of Danish former professional bicycle racer Jørgen V. Pedersen
.
, riding six-day races
with shifting partners, including the Danish riders Michael Sandstød
, Tayeb Braikia, and Jimmi Madsen. In 1997 he signed up for the RDM professional cycling team
, getting only a handful of top-ten results in his first year as a pro. He moved to Danish Team Acceptcard in 1998, where he got the first, minor, victory of his career at the GP Skive in 1998. 1999 was his professional breakthrough with many good results, and a meriting win of the USPRO Championship
. In 2000, he switched to Team CSC
, back then known as Team Memory Card - Jack & Jones.
His first year at Team CSC wasn't entirely successful, as a crash into a car just before the Milan – San Remo ruined the first four months of his season, though he still managed a few minor results. 2001 was a better season for Piil, as he won the Peace Race and, perhaps most importantly for his later career, finished a merriting 2nd at stage 17 in the 2001 Tour de France
. After a 16-man break-away was established after only five kilometres, Piil was one of three riders in the 16-man group who were able to keep the peloton
behind them, but Piil found himself beaten by Serge Baguet
at the finish line. In 2002 Piil won Paris–Tours and Danmark Rundt
, and once again tried his luck at winning a stage in the 2002 Tour de France
. At the 18th stage, Piil was lined up in a favourable position to sprint for the stage win, when his foot jumped out of the toe clip with 250 meters to go, and Piil came in third.
In the 2003 Tour de France
, Piil finally got the success he sought. At the 219 kilometres long stage 10, Piil was a part of a nine-man breakaway which ended up in a duel for the stage win between Piil and Fabio Sacchi
. As the two riders neared the finishing line, they shook hands on a good final sprint, and Sacchi opened with Piil on the wheel, a position Piil used to his full advantage, sprinting past Sacchi just before the finishing line. In 2004, Piil tried again, and he won the title of the most aggressive rider in the 2004 Tour de France
, but didn't get a stage win for his effort. Most of the 2005 season was ruined due to injuries, and Piil was left out of Team CSC's setup for the 2005 Tour de France
. Instead, he rode the Vuelta a España
, where he once again showed his tenacity to attack, and looked in great form until illness forced him to retire from the race. He recuperated in time for the World Cycling Championship
where he got the biggest result of the season with a fifth place, behind winner Tom Boonen
.
In 2006 Jakob Piil did not participate in any of the grand tours, and shortly after being left out of the 2006 Vuelta a España team, he wrote a contract with T-Mobile Team
.
2001
2002
2003
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
former professional road bicycle racer, where he later lived many years in Odense. He is an all-round rider, known for his aggressive style of riding, whose speciality is to pick the right breakaways. He is the cousin of Danish former professional bicycle racer Jørgen V. Pedersen
Jørgen V. Pedersen
Jørgen V. Pedersen is a retired Danish road bicycle racer, and as of 2007 sports director at Team CSC....
.
Biography
He started his career as a track racerTrack cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles....
, riding six-day races
Six-day racing
A six or six-day is a track cycling race that lasts six days. Six-day races started in Britain, spread to many regions of the world, were brought to their modern style in the United States and are now mainly a European event. Initially, individuals competed alone, the winner being the individual...
with shifting partners, including the Danish riders Michael Sandstød
Michael Sandstød
Michael Sandstød is a Danish former professional racing cyclist, who achieved success on both the road and track. Sandstød represented Denmark at the 1992 Summer Olympics, where he rode in the qualification round of the team pursuit where he won a bronze medal.-Track cycling:-Road:- External links :...
, Tayeb Braikia, and Jimmi Madsen. In 1997 he signed up for the RDM professional cycling team
Cycling team
A cycling team is a group of cyclists who join a team or are acquired and train together to compete in bicycle races whether recreational or professional - and the supporting personnel...
, getting only a handful of top-ten results in his first year as a pro. He moved to Danish Team Acceptcard in 1998, where he got the first, minor, victory of his career at the GP Skive in 1998. 1999 was his professional breakthrough with many good results, and a meriting win of the USPRO Championship
United States National Road Race Championships
The United States National Professional Road Race Championships began in 1985. They are run by the governing body, USA Cycling. Until 2006 the race was open to all nationalities, the first American to finish being named the winner and given a distinctive jersey...
. In 2000, he switched to Team CSC
Team CSC
Team Saxo Bank-SunGard is a professional cycling team from Denmark. It competes in the UCI ProTour. The team is owned and managed by former Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis, under the management of his company Riis Cycling. The sponsor is a Danish investment bank.Founded for 1998 Team home – Jack...
, back then known as Team Memory Card - Jack & Jones.
His first year at Team CSC wasn't entirely successful, as a crash into a car just before the Milan – San Remo ruined the first four months of his season, though he still managed a few minor results. 2001 was a better season for Piil, as he won the Peace Race and, perhaps most importantly for his later career, finished a merriting 2nd at stage 17 in the 2001 Tour de France
2001 Tour de France
The 2001 Tour de France was particularly difficult, having contained a 67-km long team time trial, two individual time trials and five mountain-top finishes on consecutive days, the second of which being the Chamrousse special category climb time trial. Thus, all the high-mountain stages were...
. After a 16-man break-away was established after only five kilometres, Piil was one of three riders in the 16-man group who were able to keep the peloton
Peloton
The peloton , field, bunch or pack is the large main group of riders in a road bicycle race. Riders in a group save energy by riding close near other riders...
behind them, but Piil found himself beaten by Serge Baguet
Serge Baguet
Serge Baguet is a Belgian former professional road bicycle racer.He is the son of the ex-cyclist Roger Baguet. He is married to Sandra Rasschaert and he has a son . Baguet started his professional cycling career in 1991. He worked for Lotto for five years and one year for Vlaanderen 2002...
at the finish line. In 2002 Piil won Paris–Tours and Danmark Rundt
Danmark Rundt
Danmark Rundt is a Danish stage race for professional road bicycle racers organized as a part of the UCI Continental Circuits. It is currently sponsored by the Danish national postal agency, Post Danmark, and the race is therefore also known as Post Danmark Rundt. Currently 15 teams, with 8 riders...
, and once again tried his luck at winning a stage in the 2002 Tour de France
2002 Tour de France
The 2002 Tour de France started in Luxembourg on July 6, 2002, and ended in Paris on July 28. France was visited counter-clockwise, so the Pyrenees were there before the Alps...
. At the 18th stage, Piil was lined up in a favourable position to sprint for the stage win, when his foot jumped out of the toe clip with 250 meters to go, and Piil came in third.
In the 2003 Tour de France
2003 Tour de France
The 2003 Tour de France started and ended in Paris. Lasting from July 5 to July 27 the race covered 3,427.5 km , proceeding clockwise in twenty stages around France, including six major mountain stages...
, Piil finally got the success he sought. At the 219 kilometres long stage 10, Piil was a part of a nine-man breakaway which ended up in a duel for the stage win between Piil and Fabio Sacchi
Fabio Sacchi
Fabio Sacchi is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for professional continental team Preti Mangimi.- Palmares :* Trofeo Città di Borgomanero * Milano–Torino...
. As the two riders neared the finishing line, they shook hands on a good final sprint, and Sacchi opened with Piil on the wheel, a position Piil used to his full advantage, sprinting past Sacchi just before the finishing line. In 2004, Piil tried again, and he won the title of the most aggressive rider in the 2004 Tour de France
2004 Tour de France
The 2004 Tour de France was the 91st, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 2004. It consisted of 20 stages over 3391 km.Lance Armstrong became the first to win six Tours de France. Armstrong had been favored to win, his competitors seen as being German Jan Ullrich, Spaniards Roberto Heras and...
, but didn't get a stage win for his effort. Most of the 2005 season was ruined due to injuries, and Piil was left out of Team CSC's setup for the 2005 Tour de France
2005 Tour de France
The 2005 Tour de France was the 92nd Tour de France, taking place from July 2 to July 24, 2005. It comprised 21 stages over 3592.5 km, the winner's average speed was 41.654 km/h. The first stages were held in the département of the Vendée, for the third time in 12 years. The 2005 Tour was...
. Instead, he rode 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...
, where he once again showed his tenacity to attack, and looked in great form until illness forced him to retire from the race. He recuperated in time for the World Cycling Championship
World Cycling Championship
The UCI Road World Championships, often referred to as the World Cycling Championships, is the annual world championship for bicycle road racing organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale . The UCI Road World Championships include championships for elite men's road race and individual time trial...
where he got the biggest result of the season with a fifth place, behind winner Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint...
.
In 2006 Jakob Piil did not participate in any of the grand tours, and shortly after being left out of the 2006 Vuelta a España team, he wrote a contract with T-Mobile Team
T-Mobile Team
HTC-Highroad is a professional cycling team competing in international road bicycle races. Their current title sponsor is HTC Corporation, a Taiwanese manufacturer of smartphones. High Road Sports is the management company of team manager Bob Stapleton. Past title sponsors include Columbia...
.
Career highlights
1999- USPRO Championship
- First Union Invitational
- Stage 2 and Overall, PostGirot Open
2001
- Danish Road Racing Championship
- Stage 3, Stage 7 and Overall, The Peace Race
- Grand Prix d'Ouverture La MarseillaiseGrand Prix d'Ouverture La MarseillaiseGrand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in February around the city of Marseille, France. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour...
- 117th Overall, 2001 Tour de France2001 Tour de FranceThe 2001 Tour de France was particularly difficult, having contained a 67-km long team time trial, two individual time trials and five mountain-top finishes on consecutive days, the second of which being the Chamrousse special category climb time trial. Thus, all the high-mountain stages were...
2002
- Paris–Tours
- Stage 1 and Overall, Danmark RundtDanmark RundtDanmark Rundt is a Danish stage race for professional road bicycle racers organized as a part of the UCI Continental Circuits. It is currently sponsored by the Danish national postal agency, Post Danmark, and the race is therefore also known as Post Danmark Rundt. Currently 15 teams, with 8 riders...
- Course de la Paix stage 5
- 125th Overall, 2002 Tour de France2002 Tour de FranceThe 2002 Tour de France started in Luxembourg on July 6, 2002, and ended in Paris on July 28. France was visited counter-clockwise, so the Pyrenees were there before the Alps...
2003
- Stage 10 and 113th Overall, 2003 Tour de France2003 Tour de FranceThe 2003 Tour de France started and ended in Paris. Lasting from July 5 to July 27 the race covered 3,427.5 km , proceeding clockwise in twenty stages around France, including six major mountain stages...
- CSC Classic
- Wachovia Invitational
External links
- Elmic (source)