Olivier Asmaker
Encyclopedia
Olivier Asmaker is a former French cyclist, born in Savigny-sur-Orge
near Paris, on 13 March 1973. But he spent his childhood in Rodez
.
A brilliant amateur rider who won the 1997 Coupe de France Amateurs with his team of Montauban
, he began cycling
as professional on 1 September 1997 in the Belgian team TVM
. Three seasons of training followed from there, during which Olivier Asmaker took part in the greatest races: Ronde van Vlaanderen, Giro d'Italia
or Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. Its best results during these years are rather modest: a fifth place in a Grand Prix du Midi Libre
's stage and a fourteenth place on Grand Prix de Wallonie
.
At the end of its contract at the end of the 2000 season, Laurent Jalabert
held one hand to Olivier by helping him to join the new Danish team CSC-Tiscali. 2001 will be the summit of its career. He took part in a high number of races from the Tour Down Under
in Australia in January to Paris–Tours, in October.
On 18 May 2001, Olivier Asmaker was escaped in company of well known riders, such as David Millar
, Sylvain Chavanel
, Robbie McEwen
, Baden Cooke
or Inigo Landaluze
, in the first stage of the Tour de Picardie
. It was the good escape of the day. Asmaker attacked in the last kilometre and won into Fort Mahon, in the Somme
department. He took the leader jersey and kept it until the end of the race, in spite of the unceasing attacks of David Millar
.
CSC-Tiscali obtained an invitation for the Tour de France
thanks to that performance notably. But in a short descent of stage 1 of the Grand Prix du Midi Libre
, at home, he fell and broke his collarbone. No Tour de France for Asmaker.
In 2002, he raced a lot with his friend Laurent Jalabert
. On April, he missed only just a second victory on the Tour de Picardie by finishing third. He was not selected to ride the Tour de France, and was very deceived.
He raced his last race as professional in Paris–Tours 2002 and made a 150 kilometres escape with his team mate Jakob Piil
, who won the race ahead of Jacky Durand
.
At the end of the season, the contract of Asmaker wasn't renewed. Asmaker sought a team hopelessly, in vain. Its professional adventure will stop there. In 2003, he returned in the amateurs category, in the US Montauban team. First race, first victory by winning the GP de Montastruc ahead of the best riders of the Pyrenees region. The following year, he won the GP of Vougy in solo and first stage of the Tour des Deux-Sèvres.
At the end of the 2005 season, he stopped its career to devote himself to his future job as a policeman.
Savigny-sur-Orge
Savigny-sur-Orge is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 19.1 km from the center of Paris in the département of Essonne.During the 2005 civil unrest in France, Savigny was the first city to implement a curfew...
near Paris, on 13 March 1973. But he spent his childhood in Rodez
Rodez
Rodez is a town and commune in southern France, in the Aveyron department, of which it is the capital. Its inhabitants are called Ruthénois.-History:Existing from at least the 5th century BC, Rodez was founded by the Celts...
.
A brilliant amateur rider who won the 1997 Coupe de France Amateurs with his team of Montauban
Montauban
Montauban is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. It is the capital of the department and lies north of Toulouse....
, he began cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
as professional on 1 September 1997 in the Belgian team TVM
TVM
TVM might be an acronym or abbreviation for:*Television movie*The 1996 Doctor Who television movie, as it is sometimes referred to by fans*Ticket vending machine*Time value of money - Finance and Accounting...
. Three seasons of training followed from there, during which Olivier Asmaker took part in the greatest races: Ronde van Vlaanderen, Giro d'Italia
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...
or Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. Its best results during these years are rather modest: a fifth place in a Grand Prix du Midi Libre
Grand Prix du Midi Libre
The Grand Prix du Midi Libre was a multiple-stage cycling course in the south of France. The race, named after the newspaper that organized it, was first organized in 1949 and was an important preparation courses for the Tour de France...
's stage and a fourteenth place on Grand Prix de Wallonie
Grand Prix de Wallonie
The Grand Prix de Wallonie is an annual road bicycle race held annually in Wallonia, Belgium. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.-Palmarès:-External links:*...
.
At the end of its contract at the end of the 2000 season, Laurent Jalabert
Laurent Jalabert
Laurent Jalabert is a French former professional road racing cyclist, from 1989 to 2002. Affectionately known as "Jaja" , he won many one-day and stage races and was ranked number 1 in the 1990s...
held one hand to Olivier by helping him to join the new Danish team CSC-Tiscali. 2001 will be the summit of its career. He took part in a high number of races from the Tour Down Under
Tour Down Under
The Tour Down Under is a cycling race in Adelaide, South Australia and surrounding area. The race starts on the third Tuesday of January each year and attracts riders from across Australia and the world. In 2005, the Tour Down Under was promoted by the Union Cycliste Internationale to the...
in Australia in January to Paris–Tours, in October.
On 18 May 2001, Olivier Asmaker was escaped in company of well known riders, such as David Millar
David Millar
David Millar is a British road racing cyclist riding for . He has won three stages of the Tour de France, two of the Vuelta a España and one Stage of the Giro d'Italia. He was the British national road champion and the national time trial champion, both in 2007...
, Sylvain Chavanel
Sylvain Chavanel
Sylvain Chavanel Albira is a French professional road bicycle racer. His brother Sébastien Chavanel is also a cyclist.Chavanel started his professional career in 2000 with Jean-René Bernaudeau's team Bonjour, which became Brioches La Boulangère in 2003...
, Robbie McEwen
Robbie McEwen
Robbie McEwen is an Australian professional road bicycle racer, for on the UCI ProTour, specializing in sprint finishes...
, Baden Cooke
Baden Cooke
Baden Cooke is an Australian professional racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team .Cooke began competitive cycling at 11. He completed secondary school at Galen College in Wangaratta, Victoria....
or Inigo Landaluze
Iñigo Landaluze
Iñigo Landaluze Intxaurraga is a professional road bicycle racer, currently under suspension.Landaluze turned professional in 2001 with Euskaltel-Euskadi, his present team...
, in the first stage of the Tour de Picardie
Tour de Picardie
The Tour de Picardie is a professional multi-stage cycle road race held annually in Picardy, France. Since 2005, it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour....
. It was the good escape of the day. Asmaker attacked in the last kilometre and won into Fort Mahon, in the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
department. He took the leader jersey and kept it until the end of the race, in spite of the unceasing attacks of David Millar
David Millar
David Millar is a British road racing cyclist riding for . He has won three stages of the Tour de France, two of the Vuelta a España and one Stage of the Giro d'Italia. He was the British national road champion and the national time trial champion, both in 2007...
.
CSC-Tiscali obtained an invitation for the 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...
thanks to that performance notably. But in a short descent of stage 1 of the Grand Prix du Midi Libre
Grand Prix du Midi Libre
The Grand Prix du Midi Libre was a multiple-stage cycling course in the south of France. The race, named after the newspaper that organized it, was first organized in 1949 and was an important preparation courses for the Tour de France...
, at home, he fell and broke his collarbone. No Tour de France for Asmaker.
In 2002, he raced a lot with his friend Laurent Jalabert
Laurent Jalabert
Laurent Jalabert is a French former professional road racing cyclist, from 1989 to 2002. Affectionately known as "Jaja" , he won many one-day and stage races and was ranked number 1 in the 1990s...
. On April, he missed only just a second victory on the Tour de Picardie by finishing third. He was not selected to ride the Tour de France, and was very deceived.
He raced his last race as professional in Paris–Tours 2002 and made a 150 kilometres escape with his team mate Jakob Piil
Jakob Piil
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...
, who won the race ahead of Jacky Durand
Jacky Durand
Jacky Durand is a retired French professional road bicycle racer. Durand had an attacking style, winning the Ronde van Vlaanderen in 1992 after a breakaway, and three stages in the Tour de France....
.
At the end of the season, the contract of Asmaker wasn't renewed. Asmaker sought a team hopelessly, in vain. Its professional adventure will stop there. In 2003, he returned in the amateurs category, in the US Montauban team. First race, first victory by winning the GP de Montastruc ahead of the best riders of the Pyrenees region. The following year, he won the GP of Vougy in solo and first stage of the Tour des Deux-Sèvres.
At the end of the 2005 season, he stopped its career to devote himself to his future job as a policeman.
Wins
- 1996
- 2nd Tour du Tarn-et-Garonne
- 1998
- 5th stage 2 Grand Prix du Midi LibreGrand Prix du Midi LibreThe Grand Prix du Midi Libre was a multiple-stage cycling course in the south of France. The race, named after the newspaper that organized it, was first organized in 1949 and was an important preparation courses for the Tour de France...
- 5th stage 2 Grand Prix du Midi Libre
- 1999
- 14th Grand Prix de WallonieGrand Prix de WallonieThe Grand Prix de Wallonie is an annual road bicycle race held annually in Wallonia, Belgium. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.-Palmarès:-External links:*...
- 15th Grand Prix de Sabinanigo
- 14th Grand Prix de Wallonie
- 2001
- 1st Stage 1 Tour de Picardie
- Overall Classification Tour de Picardie
- 2002
- 2nd Boucles de l'AulneBoucles de l'AulneBoucles de l'Aulne is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in May or June around Châteaulin, in the region of Brittany, France. Since 2006, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour....
- 3rd Stage 1 Tour de Picardie
- 3rd Tour de Picardie
- 7th Stage 1 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
- 2nd Boucles de l'Aulne