Cantaloupe richard virenque biography

InVirenque won the polka dot jersey for best climber in the Tour de France for the seventh time, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest climbers in cycling history. Throughout his career, Richard Virenque made a lasting impact on the world of cycling. Known for his aggressive riding style and exceptional climbing abilities, Virenque inspired a generation of cyclists to push their limits and strive for greatness.

He mentored and coached young riders, passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of cyclists. His dedication to the sport and commitment to excellence served as a model for aspiring riders looking to make their mark on the professional cycling scene. After retiring from professional cycling, Virenque transitioned into a successful career as a sports commentator and analyst.

His insights and expertise provided valuable commentary on races and events, further solidifying his status as a respected figure in the cycling community. Additionally, Virenque remained active in various charitable endeavors, using his platform to give back to the sport that had given him so much. Throughout his career, Richard Virenque received numerous accolades and awards in recognition of his outstanding achievements in cycling.

He was a multiple-time winner of the prestigious King of the Mountains jersey at the Tour de France, showcasing his prowess as a climber and his ability to conquer some of the most challenging terrain in the world. Despite facing challenges and controversies throughout his career, he remains a trailblazer in the sport, inspiring generations of cyclists to push their limits and strive for greatness.

Cantaloupe richard virenque biography

His achievements on the road and his unwavering love for the sport have solidified his place as a cantaloupe richard virenque biography in cycling history. Skip to content. After retiring from riding inVirenque created his own cycling team, which he managed for several years. We receive a small commission on sales, nothing changes for you. Guide: Buying a Bike.

Most famous Cyclists of all time. Mountain Bikes. I had only my bike, and I took to it in depth. He couldn't stand being in school any longer than he had to, he said, and he left to work as a plumber. I used to go cycling rather than attend my classes. Cycle-racing did not immediately inspire Virenque. His brother, Lionel, cycled, read specialist magazines and watched the Tour de France on television.

On the flat, I clung to the wheels in front as best I could, but the moment there was a hill, I left the others. I've always had that pleasure. His first win was in a race round the town at La Valette-du-Varwhen he and another rider, Pascale Ranucci, lapped the field. In he came eighth in the world championship road race at Utsunomiya, Tochigi in Japanriding une course d'enfer [ n 7 ] to impress Marc Braillon, the head of the professional team, RMO, said Pascal Lino.

I rode out of my skin," Virenque said. He turned professional for RMO in January He held it for a day, [ 2 ] losing it next day to his team-mate Pascal Linowho led for the next two weeks. Virenque was sought by several teams after his first Tour and Cyrille Guimard said at the world championship at Benidorm that he had arranged for him to join his Castorama team, where he would replace Laurent Fignon.

He stayed there until the team dissolved in the wake of a doping scandal in see below. Virenque first wore the yellow jersey of the Tour de France in and for the last time in In he won the stage to Morzine and wore the jersey on the climb of Alpe d'Huez. Virenque was a talented climber but a modest time-triallist. He was coached for time-trials by Jeannie Longo and her husband.

Virenque finished twice on the podium in the Tour de France third in and second in and won several stages, among them Mont Ventoux in He is the 18th rider in the Tour to have won stages over 10 years apart; [ n 8 ] he wore the Maillot Jaune for two days in his entire career. In the Festina cycling team was disgraced by a doping scandal see Doping at the Tour de France after a soigneurWilly Voetwas found when crossing from Belgium to France to have drugs used for doping.

They also found 82 doses of a muscle-strengthening hormone called Sauratropine; 60 doses of Pantestone, a derivative of testosterone, which boosts body strength but can cause cancer; and sundry pain-deadening corticoids and energy-fuelling amphetamines. While his former team-mates were served six-month suspensions and returned to racing in spring[ 18 ] Virenque changed teams to Polti in January [ 17 ] and prepared for the Tour by riding the Giro d'Italiain which he won a stage.

Another Italian, his team-mate Enrico Cassanisaid Virenque was referred to in Italy as "the shit". Then, very quickly, we saw he knew how to live and to joke and we respected him. He proved he had some character, some personality. A few weeks later Virenque's name emerged in an inquiry into Bernard Sainzthe so-called Dr Mabuse of cycling who was later jailed for practising as an unqualified doctor.

Cycling Weekly in Britain called it "a major blow" to the Tour's organisers. Virenque rode, at his team's request, on a bicycle painted white with red dots to resemble the polka dot jersey worn by the leader of the mountains classification and he travelled between stages with a bodyguard, Gilles Pagliuca. He said Moreau's urine showed EPO had not been detected.

The Festina affair led to a trial in Lillenorthern France, in October Virenque was a witness with others from the former Festina team. He at first denied he had doped himself but then confessed. Voet said he was aware of what he was doing and participated in trafficking between cyclists. Virenque was criticised by the media and satirists for his denial in the face of increasing evidence and his pretence of having been doped without his knowledge.

Voet wrote in Le Journal du Dimanche that he preferred Virenque as a cantaloupe richard virenque biography pro "because he didn't dope himself much". Many former colleagues shunned him, [ 26 ] remembering his arrogance and criticism. Virenque lived near Geneva in Switzerland and the Swiss cycling association suspended him for nine months.

He became depressed. In the meantime they had the help of a prominent neighbour, Laurent Jalabert. The two had not been friends and did not see each other much in Switzerland. He was desperate to help us even though we didn't really need any help. It was then that I realised his distress. He spent the whole day taking the furniture apart and putting it back together again.

It's odd, but that day did him an awful lot of good. Jalabert followed shortly after his own career ended. Few teams were willing to consider him when he completed his suspension and only a few friends kept in touch. Cofidis was said to be interested but not in his first year back. Jean Delatour, with whom Virenque trained in the winter, [ n 13 ] said it could be interested if it found more sponsorship.

Virenque returned to prominence by winning Paris—Tours on 7 October [ 9 ] in a day-long breakaway in which he dropped Jacky Durand and crossed the line seconds ahead of the peloton. Paris—Tours is a flat race that favours sprinters and not climbers. There were still 50 km [30 miles] to go.