Matthias Kessler
Encyclopedia
Matthias Kessler is a German
professional road racing cyclist who rode for .
Kessler debuted as a pro during the 2000 season after becoming German under 23 champion in 1999, a year in which he also took the bronze medal in the under 23 cycling world championships. Despite the fact that he has only 3 wins in his palmarès, which includes two consecutive victories at the Gran Premio Miguel Induráin
and LUK-Cup of 2003, he is seen as an outsider for the Ardennes
classic races.
In Grand Tours
, Kessler won Stage 3 of the 2006 Tour de France
in a late breakaway. The previous day on Stage 2, he was caught by the peloton less than 50 meters from the finish line. He had to abandon the 2004 Tour de France
after a serious and spectacular fall caused him severe injuries, even though he managed to end the stage. In the 2005 Tour de France
, he was part of the T-Mobile line-up and almost got a win at Mende
.
Kessler is known for riding with his jersey open and also for wearing an undershirt intentionally torn for better cooling. On June 27, 2007, Kessler was suspended by Astana for failing a drugs test for testosterone
taken in Charleroi
in April 2007. He was then fired on July 13.
In January 2010, he had a collision with a cat while on a training ride in Mallorca, Spain, and was left in a critical condition with severe head injuries.
2002
2003
2004
2006 – T-Mobile Team
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
professional road racing cyclist who rode for .
Kessler debuted as a pro during the 2000 season after becoming German under 23 champion in 1999, a year in which he also took the bronze medal in the under 23 cycling world championships. Despite the fact that he has only 3 wins in his palmarès, which includes two consecutive victories at the Gran Premio Miguel Induráin
GP Miguel Indurain
The Grand Prix Miguel Indurain is a Spanish one-day road bicycle race. The race was inaugurated in 1951, but was limited to local competition. It was rebranded after the Spanish cyclist in 1998. In 2005, the race was upgraded to a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. For 2007 and 2008 the race was...
and LUK-Cup of 2003, he is seen as an outsider for the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
classic races.
In Grand Tours
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
, Kessler won Stage 3 of the 2006 Tour de France
2006 Tour de France
The 2006 Tour de France was the 93rd Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 23, 2006. It was won by Óscar Pereiro following the disqualification of apparent winner Floyd Landis....
in a late breakaway. The previous day on Stage 2, he was caught by the peloton less than 50 meters from the finish line. He had to abandon 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...
after a serious and spectacular fall caused him severe injuries, even though he managed to end the stage. In 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...
, he was part of the T-Mobile line-up and almost got a win at Mende
Mende, Lozère
Mende is a commune of France in the Lozère department of which it is the capital.It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mende.-Sights:* Mende Cathedral -External links:* * ,...
.
Kessler is known for riding with his jersey open and also for wearing an undershirt intentionally torn for better cooling. On June 27, 2007, Kessler was suspended by Astana for failing a drugs test for testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
taken in Charleroi
Charleroi
Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as...
in April 2007. He was then fired on July 13.
In January 2010, he had a collision with a cat while on a training ride in Mallorca, Spain, and was left in a critical condition with severe head injuries.
Major achievements
1999- (U23) National Road Race Champion
2002
- 6th – Liège–Bastogne–Liège
- 2nd overall – Tour de Piemont
- 2nd overall – Luk-Cup Bühl
2003
- 5th – Amstel Gold Race2003 Amstel Gold RaceThe Amstel Gold Race 2003 was the 38th edition of the road bicycle race "Amstel Gold Race", held on Sunday April 20, 2003 in the Limburg province, The Netherlands. The race stretched 250.7 kilometres, with the start in Maastricht and the finish in Valkenburg...
- Luk-Cup Bühl
- GP Miguel IndurainGP Miguel IndurainThe Grand Prix Miguel Indurain is a Spanish one-day road bicycle race. The race was inaugurated in 1951, but was limited to local competition. It was rebranded after the Spanish cyclist in 1998. In 2005, the race was upgraded to a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. For 2007 and 2008 the race was...
2004
- 3rd – La Flèche WallonneLa Flèche WallonneLa Flèche Wallonne is a major men's professional cycle road race held in April each year in Belgium.The first of two Belgian Ardennes classics, La Flèche Wallonne is today normally held mid-week between the Amstel Gold Race and Liège–Bastogne–Liège...
- 6th – Amstel Gold Race2004 Amstel Gold RaceThe Amstel Gold Race 2004 was the 39th edition of the annual road bicycle race "Amstel Gold Race", held on Sunday April 18, 2004 in the Limburg province, The Netherlands. The race stretched 251.1 kilometres, with the start in Maastricht and the finish in Valkenburg...
- GP Miguel Indurain
2006 – 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...
- Stage 3 – Tour de France2006 Tour de FranceThe 2006 Tour de France was the 93rd Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 23, 2006. It was won by Óscar Pereiro following the disqualification of apparent winner Floyd Landis....
- 10th – La Flèche WallonneLa Flèche Wallonne 2006The 70th edition of the La Flèche Wallonne cycling classic was held on April 19, 2006. It was won by Spanish all-rounder Alejandro Valverde of Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears cycling team in a sprint finish. He was later convicted of doping and banned for two years.- 19-04-2006: Charleroi-Huy, 202...
See also
- List of doping cases in cycling
- List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences