Andreas Klier (born 15 January 1976) is a retired German professional road racing cyclist. He competed professionally between 1996 and 2013. Klier moved into a managerial role with his final professional team, Garmin–Sharp,[1] after announcing his retirement as a rider on 13 May 2013.[2] As of 2024 he remains a sports director with its successor team EF Education–EasyPost.[3][4]
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Andreas Klier |
| Nickname | GPS Klier |
| Born | 15 January 1976 Munich, Bavaria, Germany |
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Weight | 72 kg (159 lb) |
| Team information | |
| Current team | Retired |
| Discipline | Road |
| Role | Rider |
| Rider type | Classics specialist |
| Professional teams | |
| 1996–1998 | Team Nürnberger |
| 1999–2000 | TVM |
| 2001–2008 | Team Telekom |
| 2009–2010 | Cervélo TestTeam |
| 2011–2013 | Garmin–Cervélo |
| Major wins | |
| Gent–Wevelgem (2003) | |
Born in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, Klier currently resides in the Balearic Island of Majorca.[5] In April 2011, during a training ride, he avoided a collision with a car, from that moment onwards he had a bit of oak installed into his bike frame and thus could avoid accidents by touching wood. Bikes were sold with oak to raise money for the Plant for the Planet charity.[6]
On 15 August 2013, Klier admitted he used performance-enhancing drugs between 1999 and 2006. As a result, some of his results, including a stage win at the 2007 Vuelta a España, were voided.[7][8]
In addition to his career in cycling, Klier took up painting after seeing works by Max Beckmann at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston during a layover on a business trip. His solo exhibition Alpha was held at the Gerhard Braun Gallery in Palma, Majorca in 2023. Canvases sold for between 7,000 and 10,000 euros.[3][9][10]
Career
editDoping confession
editOn 15 August 2013, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced that Klier would be suspended for six months after admitting to doping during the period of 1999 to 2006.[7] Later that day, the organization issued a statement confirming his acceptance to a six-month ban from 12 August 2013 to 18 February 2014.[7] The action also included the stripping of all race results from 21 July 2005 onwards.[7][8] Klier released his own statement later that day, which expressed regret at his decision of "chose[ing] the wrong path." "Along the road to the top of the sport, many years ago, I chose the wrong path, and I have been very sorry for it ever since. To everyone both in and out of cycling including my family, the fans, the sponsors, the sport I love, my peers, – especially those who made the right choices – I am deeply sorry," he said.[11]
Career achievements
editMajor results
edit- 1998
- 10th Grand Prix Pino Cerami
- 1999
- 10th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
- 2000
- 3rd Circuit Franco-Belge
- 7th Gent–Wevelgem
- 9th E3 Harelbeke
- 2001
- 6th Sparkassen Giro Bochum
- 7th Scheldeprijs
- 2002
- 1st Grote Prijs Jef Scherens
- 2003
- 1st Gent–Wevelgem
- 2004
- 6th Tour of Flanders
- 7th E3 Harelbeke
- 10th Gent–Wevelgem
- 2005
- 2nd E3 Prijs Vlaanderen
- 2nd Tour of Flanders
- 4th Overall Tour of Saxony
- 10th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
- 2005
8th Road race, UCI Road World Championships9th Overall Eneco Tour of Benelux- 2006
9th Tour of Flanders- 2007
1st Stage 13 Vuelta a España6th Overall Tour of Qatar- 2008
10th GP Fina - Fayt-le-Franc- 2009
5th Overall Tour of Qatar5th Gent–Wevelgem7th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad- 2011
5th Overall Bayern-Rundfahrt
Grand Tour general classification results timeline
edit| Grand Tour | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Giro d'Italia
|
78 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
 Tour de France
|
— | 105 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
 Vuelta a España
|
74 | — | 119 | DNF | DNF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| DSQ | Disqualified |
| Voided results | |
| DNF | Did not finish |
References
edit- ^ "Team Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda Unveils 2013 Roster". Garmin–Sharp. Boulder, Colorado: Slipstream Sports LLC. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
- ^ "Andreas Klier retires to become a team director at Garmin Sharp". Cyclingnews.com. Bath, England: Future plc. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Alpha: Andreas Klier's new art exhibition". EF Pro Cycling. Ef Education First. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ "Staff page for Andreas Klier". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ "Andreas Klier at Garmin-Sharp". Garmin–Sharp. Boulder, Colorado: Slipstream Sports LLC. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
- ^ Bacon, E. (2014). The Best of Luck. In: E. Bacon and L. Birnie, ed., The Cycling Anthology: Volume One. London: Yellow Jersey Press, pp.178-191.
- ^ a b c d e "German Cycling Athlete, Klier, Accepts Sanction For Anti-Doping Rule Violation". USADA. Montreal, Quebec: World Anti-Doping Agency. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- ^ a b Shane Stokes (15 August 2013). "Klier admits usage of doping products during his pro career, loses results from 2005 onwards". Cyclingnews.com. Bath, England: Future plc. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- ^ Startt, James. "Expressionism First". Rouleur (126): 100–103.
- ^ "ANDREAS KLIER "ΑΛΦΑ - ALPHA"". Gerhardt Braun Gallery. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ Simon MacMichael (15 August 2013). "Garmin Sharp DS Andreas Klier banned for six months after admitting doping". road.cc. Bath, England: Farrelly Atkinson Ltd. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- ^ "Andreas Klier at Cycling Archives". Cycling Archives. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- ^ "Andreas Klier at Cycling Base". Cycling Base. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
External links
edit
- Andreas Klier at Cycling Archives (archived)
- Cycling Base: Andreas Klier
- Andreas Klier at CQ Ranking
- Garmin-Sharp: Andreas Klier