Matthias Kessler

Matthias Kessler

Kessler at the Rund um den Henninger Turm 2005
Personal information
Full name Matthias Kessler
Born (1979-05-16) May 16, 1979
Nuremberg, Germany
Team information
Discipline Road
Role Rider
Rider type All-rounder
Professional team(s)
2000–2006 Team Telekom
2007 Astana

Matthias Kessler (born May 16, 1979 in Nuremberg), is a former German professional road racing cyclist who rode for Astana.

Biography

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. 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.[1]

Doping

On June 27, 2007, Kessler was suspended by Astana for failing a drugs test for testosterone taken in Charleroi in April 2007.[2] He was fired from the team on July 13.[3] Later named as a recipient of a blood transfusion at the University of Frieburg along with teammates Andreas Kloden and Patrick Sinkewitz during the 2006 Tour de France.

Major results

1999
(U23)  Germany National Road Race Champion
2002
6th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
2nd overall Giro del Piemonte
2nd overall Luk-Cup Bühl
2003
5th Amstel Gold Race
Luk-Cup Bühl
GP Miguel Indurain
2004
3rd La Flèche Wallonne
6th Amstel Gold Race
GP Miguel Indurain
2006 T-Mobile Team
Stage 3 Tour de France
10th La Flèche Wallonne

See also

References

  1. Kessler in critical condition after Mallorca crash
  2. "Pro Tour 2007 - Kessler fails dope test". Eurosport. 2007-06-27. Archived from the original on 2007-06-30. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
  3. "Astana fires Kessler after B sample returns positive". USA Today. 2007-07-13. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
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