Kim Kirchen

Kim Kirchen (born 3 July 1978 in Luxembourg City) is a Luxembourgian former road racing cyclist. He is the son of cyclist Erny Kirchen and the great-nephew of cyclist Jeng Kirchen.

Career

Kirchen signed as a professional cyclist in 2000 with De Nardi-Pasta Montegrappa, and went on to join in 2001. For the 2006 cycling season, he joined the following the demise of the Fassa Bortolo team.

His first recorded race was in Dommeldange in 1999, and he had to wait until 2000 for his first professional victory when he won the Piva Col trophy. Kirchen was named the Luxembourgian Sportsman of the Year in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008, surpassing the achievement of fellow cyclist Charly Gaul and putting him fourth in the all-time stakes.

In July 2008 he showed good form during the Tour de France, placing 7th in the general classification and wearing the yellow jersey for a total of four stages.

In 2010, Kirchen joined , after he was unable to agree with on a contract extension. He suffered a suspected heart attack during the 2010 Tour de Suisse, in June 2010. He did not race in 2011 because of the heart condition and later retired from the sport.

Since 2011, Kirchen co-commentates all cycling races broadcast on RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg, along with former Cofidis cyclist Tom Flammang.

Major results

1999

1st Road race, National Road Championahips

2001

1st Stage 3 Tour de Luxembourg

2002

1st Overall Ronde van Nederland

1st Overall Tour de Berne

2003

1st Paris–Brussels

4th Overall Tour de Suisse

2004

1st Road race, National Road Championahips

1st Stage Tour de Luxembourg

6th Road race, Olympic Games

2005

1st Overall Tour de Pologne

1st Points classification

1st Stage 7

1st Gran Premio di Chiasso

1st Trofeo Laigueglia

1st Stage 4 Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali

2nd La Flèche Wallonne

2nd Coppa Placci

2006

1st Road race, National Road Championahips

1st Prologue Tour de Luxembourg

2007

2nd Overall Tour de Suisse

2nd Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

3rd Overall Tour de Pologne

3rd Brabantse Pijl

3rd Milano–Torino

7th Overall Tour de France

1st Stage 15

2008

1st Time trial, National Road Championahips

1st La Flèche Wallonne

Tour of the Basque Country

1st Stages 2 & 4

1st Stage 6 Tour de Suisse

7th Overall Tour de France

1st Stage 4

Held after Stages 6–9

Held after Stages 6–7 & 9

2009

1st Time trial, National Road Championahips

1st Stage 7 Tour de Suisse

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

References

External links

1978 births

Living people

Luxembourgian male cyclists

Luxembourgian Tour de France stage winners

Cyclists at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Cyclists at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Olympic cyclists for Luxembourg

Sportspeople from Luxembourg City

Tour de Suisse stage winners