Matthias Kessler

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Matthias Kessler (photo: T-Mobile Team)

Rund um den Henninger Turm 2005

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

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. On June 27, 2007, Kessler was suspended by Astana for failing a drugs test for testosterone taken in Charleroi in April 2007.^[1] He was then fired on July 13.^[2]

1 Major achievements
2 References
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Major achievements

1999: (U23) Germany National Road Race Champion
2002: 6th – Liège-Bastogne-Liège; 2nd overall – Tour de Piemont; 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