Christian Vande Velde

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Christian Vande Velde
File:Christian Vande Velde - TDF 2011.jpg
Vande Velde at the 2011 Tour de France
Personal information
Full name Christian Vande Velde
Nickname VDV, CVV
Born (1976-05-22) May 22, 1976 (age 47)
Lemont, Illinois, U.S.
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 69 kg (152 lb; 10.9 st)
Team information
Current team Retired
Discipline Road
Role Rider
Rider type All-rounder
Professional team(s)
1998–2003 U.S. Postal Service
2004 Liberty Seguros
2005–2007 Team CSC
2008–2013 Slipstream–Chipotle
Major wins
Redlands Bicycle Classic (1999)
Tour de Luxembourg (2006)
Tour of Missouri (2008)
USA Pro Cycling Challenge (2012)

Christian Vande Velde (born May 22, 1976) is a retired American professional road racing cyclist of Belgian descent, who rode professionally between 1998 and 2013.[1] Vande Velde competed for the U.S. Postal Service, Liberty Seguros, Team CSC and Garmin–Sharp squads.[2] He is the son of United States Bicycling Hall of Fame inductee John Vande Velde.[3]

Career

1998–2006

Vande Velde started his Grand Tour career by participating in the 1998 Vuelta a España, where he assisted Lance Armstrong, to a fourth-place finish. Vande Velde twice rode on the Tour de France team that brought Lance Armstrong to victory, in 1999, and 2001. In the 1999 Tour de France, Vande Velde was for a time the leader of the young rider classification; he did not compete, however, in the 2000 Tour de France. Vande Velde moved to Liberty Seguros in 2004, and switched to Team CSC in 2005. During this time, he worked as a domestique,[4] riding in support of varying team captains, even though the 2005 season saw Vande Velde taking chances of his own. In one instance, Vande Velde was a breakaway participant on the fourth stage of the Eneco Tour. The breakaway, however, was eventually hampered when the peloton was led on a false route, meaning the breakaway riders had to wait for the peloton to get back on track, at which time the gap between the break and the peloton was reduced from six to four minutes with 43 kilometres to go.[1]

At the 2006 Tour de Luxembourg, Vande Velde showed impressive performances in the mountains, which secured him first overall in the general classification.[5][6]

In the 2006 Tour de France, he was a domestique on Team CSC for team captains Carlos Sastre and Fränk Schleck.[7] Vande Velde was the best of the climbers in the team apart from Sastre and Schleck, whom he supported in the high mountain stages. On Stage 16, he pulled for most of the early slopes of the Col de la Croix de Fer, after which, team-mates Sastre and Schleck attacked to put then race leader Floyd Landis (Phonak) under pressure. On Stage 17, to Morzine, he again pulled for most of the day along with team-mates Jens Voigt, Matthias Kessler, and Serhiy Honchar from the T-Mobile Team.

2007–2011

With Slipstream–Chipotle's team time trial win, Vande Velde became the first American to wear the Maglia Rosa since Andy Hampsten in 1988.[8] Vande Velde finished the 2008 Tour de France in fourth place, 3'05" behind the winner Carlos Sastre, and seventeenth in the Olympic Road Race.[9] In the 2009 Tour de France, Vande Velde finished seventh in the overall standings.

Vande Velde won the 2008 Tour of Missouri, beating the likes of Michael Rogers (HTC–Highroad[template problem]) and Svein Tuft (Symmetrics), who finished second and third, respectively.[10]

Vande Velde crashed out of the 2010 Giro d'Italia on the third stage with a suspected clavicle break.[11] Coincidentally, in 2009 he was forced out of the Giro after a crash, also on stage three.[12] Vande Velde withdrew from the 2010 Tour de France upon completing the second stage, with two broken ribs. The crash was caused by oil leaking from a fallen television motorcycle.[13]

During the 2011 Tour de France, Vande Velde assisted Tom Danielson to a top ten finish, and was an integral part of Garmin–Cervélo's first place in the team classification.[14] Vande Velde finished a close second at the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, which was ultimately won by Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack).[15]

2012–2013

In the 2012 Giro d'Italia, Vande Velde was instrumental to the victory of his leader Ryder Hesjedal,[16] protecting him in the mountain stages. He also was Hesjedal's roommate during the Giro, and shared his thoughts about the race, and his teammate in an interview with Velo News, where he stated that winning the Giro was "surreal".[17] Suffering various crashes during the first week, Vande Velde, however, finished second in the fifteenth stage of the 2012 Tour de France, losing in a sprint to the finish to Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo (FDJ–BigMat).[18] NBC Sports commentator Phil Liggett stated that amongst fans, Vande Velde was considered the most popular rider.[19] In the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Vande Velde put in an impressive performance in the last stage's individual time trial, finishing second to Taylor Phinney of BMC Racing Team by ten seconds. With that run, he took the leader's jersey off the shoulders of Omega Pharma–Quick-Step's Levi Leipheimer, and stepped atop the overall classification podium.[20]

During Vande Velde's first race of the season, the 2013 Volta a Catalunya, Vande Velde crashed out with a metacarpal fracture.[21] Vande Velde started the 2013 Giro d'Italia hoping to assist teammate Ryder Hesjedal in a repeat victory,[22] however, Hesjedal withdrew following stage twelve.[23][24] After Hesjedal's departure, Vande Velde struggled through the race, and finished hundred-tenth overall. Following his disappointing Giro, Vande Velde rode the 2013 Tour de France, but withdrew on stage seven due to sustained injuries from stage five.[25][26] After the Tour de France, Vande Velde attempted to defend his USA Pro Cycling Challenge title,[27][28] however, he rode a quiet race, and finished twenty-second overall.[29] Vande Velde's strongest performance during the race was on stage five, when he placed ninth in the uphill individual time trial.[30]

Vande Velde retired from professional cycling at the conclusion of the 2013 UCI World Team Time Trial Championships.[1][31]

Doping confession

In a September 2012, online forum post, Garmin-Sharp team manager and owner Jonathan Vaughters stated that Vande Velde had used blood doping products to increase red blood cell production.[32][33] On October 10, 2012, it was announced by USADA that he would be suspended for six months for admissions of doping during his time with the US Postal Cycling Team.[34] Later that day a statement was released confirming his acceptance of a six-month ban from September 1, 2012, ending on March 1, 2013, along with a stripping of all race results between June 4, 2004, and April 30, 2006.[35][36] Vande Velde released his own statement a day later that expressed regret at his decision to "cross the line". "I’m very sorry for the mistakes I made in my past and I know that forgiveness is a lot to ask for. I know that I have to earn it and I will try, every day, to deserve it – as I have, every day, since making the choice to compete clean. I will never give up on this sport, and I will never stop fighting for its future." he said.[37]

Personal life

Vande Velde currently resides in Lemont, Illinois with his wife Leah, and their daughters Uma (b. 2008), and Madeline (b. 2009).[38][39][40] Vande Velde owns a pet Weimaraner.[41] He is an alumnus of Lemont High School.

In a 2012 interview, Vande Velde stated he would consider appearing in Dancing With The Stars once his cycling career is over.[42]

Palmarès

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

1999
1st, Overall, Jersey yellow.svg Redlands Bicycle Classic
3rd, Overall, Four Days of Dunkirk
1st, Jersey white.svg Young rider classification
4th, Overall, Circuit de la Sarthe
10th, National Criterium Championships
2000
9th, Grand Prix Eddy Merckx
2001
4th, Overall, Three Days of De Panne
5th, Overall, Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
2002
1st, Stage 1 (ITT), Volta a Catalunya
2004
<templatestyles src="Template:Hidden begin/styles.css"/>
Voided results from June 4, 2004 to April 30, 2006.[43]
2005
1st, Jersey red.svg Mountains classification, Eneco Tour
12th, Overall, Tour de Georgia
2006
1st, Overall, Jersey yellow.svg Tour de Luxembourg
2nd, Overall, Tour of Elk Grove
9th, Overall, Tour of California
2007
1st, Eindhoven Team Time Trial
2nd, Overall, Tour de Georgia
6th, Overall, Tour of California
2008
1st, USA Cycling Professional Tour
1st, Stage 1 (TTT), Giro d'Italia
1st, Overall, Jersey yellow.svg Tour of Missouri
1st, Stage 3 (TTT)
2nd, Overall, Circuit de la Sarthe
1st, Stage 2
2nd, Overall, Tour of the Bahamas
3rd, National Time Trial Championships
3rd, Overall, Tour of California
4th, Overall, Tour de France
7th, Overall, Tour de Georgia
1st, Stage 4 (TTT)
10th, Overall, Vuelta a Castilla y León
2009
1st, Stage 4, Paris–Nice
7th, Overall, Tour de France
2011
1st, Stage 2 (TTT), Tour de France
2nd, Overall, USA Pro Cycling Challenge
4th, Overall, Tour of California
5th, Overall, Tour of Oman
6th, Overall, Tour of Utah
2012
1st, Overall, Jersey yellow.svg USA Pro Cycling Challenge
1st, Stage 4 (TTT), Giro d'Italia
1st, Stage 2 (TTT), Tour of Utah

Grand Tour general classification results timeline:

Grand Tour 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Pink jersey Giro — — — — — — — 114 — — 52 WD WD — 22 110
Yellow jersey Tour — 85 — WD — — 56 — 22 24 4 7 WD 16 60 WD
gold jersey Vuelta 90 — — — 25 — — 31 — 39 — — 58 — — —

Withdrew = WD; In progress = IP; Voided results = struck through.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Featured Rider | Christian VandeVelde USA Pro Challenge, January 1, 2012.
  4. ↑ Husband, Father Professional Cyclist Official Website, January 1, 2012.
  5. ↑ Christian Vande Velde Bio USA Cycling, January 1, 2012.
  6. ↑ Tour de Luxembourg 2006 Cycling Archives, January 1, 2012.
  7. ↑ Who is this Christian Vande Velde? Biking Bis. July 26, 2008.
  8. ↑ American Christian Vande Velde eager for another Giro jersey VeloNews, May 7, 2010.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Christian Vande Velde Victorious in Missouri! Garmin–Sharp (Boulder, Colorado: Slipstream Sports LLC). September 14, 2008. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  11. ↑ Argyle goes awry: Vande Velde exits Giro as Farrar falls on GC VeloNews.com: Argyle angst: Vande Velde leaves Giro after crash
  12. ↑ Mixed day for Garmin: CVV crashes out, Farrar takes second. VeloNews.com: Mixed day for Garmin at the Giro: Farrar second, CVV crashes out
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Race report: Danielson secures top-10, Garmin-Cervélo’s poised to win team GC Garmin–Cervélo (Boulder, Colorado: Slipstream Sports LLC). July 23, 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  15. ↑ Leipheimer wins inaugural US Pro Cycling Challenge Cycling News, August 28, 2011.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Vaughters outs Garmin riders for past doping in online forum Velo News, September 5, 2012.
  33. ↑ Christian Vande Velde Affidavit USADA, September 25, 2012.
  34. ↑ U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team Investigation USADA, October 10, 2012.
  35. ↑ Six former Armstrong USPS teammates receive bans from USADA Cycling News, October 10, 2012.
  36. ↑ Christian Vande Velde strides into the ring and throws a knockout punch VeloNews, August 26, 2012.
  37. ↑ Garmin-Sharp responds to USADA case with rider statements Velo News, October 10, 2012
  38. ↑ Cyclist Adds Flair to His Win NY Times, March 12, 2009.
  39. ↑ Breaking away with cyclist Christian Vande Velde Chicago Tribune, February 7, 2010.
  40. ↑ Christian Vande Velde's Profile USA Cycling, January 1, 2012.
  41. ↑ Christian Vande Velde – Team Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda Garmin–Sharp (Boulder, Colorado: Slipstream Sports LLC). January 1, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  42. ↑ Pro Cyclist/Chicago Native Christian Vande Velde, As Tough As It Gets. Chicago Tribune, July 16, 2012.
  43. ↑ Pro Cyclist/Chicago Native Christian Vande Velde, As Tough As It Gets. Chicago Tribune, July 16, 2012

External links

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