Cédric Vasseur
Encyclopedia
Cédric Vasseur is a French
former professional road racing cyclist. He was born in Hazebrouck
, France and currently resides in Lille
with his wife and young son. From 2001 until 2005 he was part of the French professional cycling team Cofidis
, often as the captain on the road, and then moved to the Belgian
team Quick Step-Innergetic
.
Vasseur turned professional with the team Novemail in 1995, and switched to the GAN
team in 1996 which then became Crédit Agricole in 1997. His first professional victory is also his most famous: it was his solo 147-km breakaway by which he won stage 5 of the 1997
Tour de France
. He then wore the yellow jersey
as the race leader for 5 days.
In the 2000 and 2001 seasons he rode for the U.S. Postal team and participated in the 2000 Tour de France
. However, his exclusion from the 2001 Tour de France
team led to his switch to the Cofidis team. He cited personal differences with the USPS team star Lance Armstrong
which was widely quoted in French cycling publications.
In 2004 Vasseur was arrested in suspicion of doping
offences along with several other Cofidis riders, notably including then individual time trial
champion David Millar
. A counter-analysis later proved negative and Vasseur's name was then cleared. Vasseur also claimed some of the evidence in his witness statement had been forged. However, Vasseur was barred from riding in the 2004 Tour de France
since the investigation had not concluded by the time that the race had started.
Vasseur came from a family of cyclists: his father Alain Vasseur
competed in the 1970
, 71
and 74
editions of the Tour de France. His father Alain also won a stage of the Tour de France after a solo breakaway.
Vasseur is considered an all-rounder who can do well in a variety of races. He has raced through all of the spring classics such as Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris–Roubaix, and has won a stage of the Dauphiné Libéré
stage race.
1997
2002
2003
2004
2006
2007
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
former professional road racing cyclist. He was born in Hazebrouck
Hazebrouck
-Communications:The town enjoys excellent rail connections, with frequent daily services to Lille and Paris, some by High Speed Line. There is a small international airport, concentrating on business flights, at Merville-Calonne just 12 kilometre / 8 miles away...
, France and currently resides in Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
with his wife and young son. From 2001 until 2005 he was part of the French professional cycling team Cofidis
Cofidis (cycling team)
Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne is a French professional road bicycle racing team sponsored by a money-lending company, Cofidis. It was started in 1996 by Cyrille Guimard the former manager of Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon of the Renault-Elf team of the 1980s...
, often as the captain on the road, and then moved to the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
team Quick Step-Innergetic
Quick Step-Innergetic
Quick Step is a Belgian UCI ProTour cycling team led by team manager Patrick Lefévère. The directors are Rik Verbrugghe, Davide Bramati, Wilfried Peeters, Rik Van Slycke and Luca Guercilena. The mechanics are Jeanick Verstraete and Kurt Roose...
.
Vasseur turned professional with the team Novemail in 1995, and switched to the GAN
Crédit Agricole (cycling team)
Crédit Agricole was a French professional cycling team managed by Roger Legeay and sponsored by the French bank, Crédit Agricole, since 1997. Before 1997 the team was known as GAN. Since 2005, the team is one of the 20 that compete in the UCI ProTour. Crédit Agricole announced that they would...
team in 1996 which then became Crédit Agricole in 1997. His first professional victory is also his most famous: it was his solo 147-km breakaway by which he won stage 5 of the 1997
1997 Tour de France
The 1997 Tour de France was the 84th Tour de France, it took place July 5–27, 1997. Jan Ullrich's victory margin, of 9' 09" was the largest margin of victory since Laurent Fignon won the 1984 Tour de France by 10' 32"...
Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
. He then wore the yellow jersey
Yellow jersey
The general classification in the Tour de France is the most important classification, the one by which the winner of the Tour de France is determined. Since 1919, the leader of the general classification wears the yellow jersey .-History:...
as the race leader for 5 days.
In the 2000 and 2001 seasons he rode for the U.S. Postal team and participated in the 2000 Tour de France
2000 Tour de France
The 2000 Tour de France was the 87th Tour de France, and took place from July 1 to July 23, 2000. It was won by American cyclist Lance Armstrong. The Tour started with an individual time trial in Futuroscope and ended traditionally in Paris. The distance travelled was 3662.5 km...
. However, his exclusion from the 2001 Tour de France
2001 Tour de France
The 2001 Tour de France was particularly difficult, having contained a 67-km long team time trial, two individual time trials and five mountain-top finishes on consecutive days, the second of which being the Chamrousse special category climb time trial. Thus, all the high-mountain stages were...
team led to his switch to the Cofidis team. He cited personal differences with the USPS team star Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
which was widely quoted in French cycling publications.
In 2004 Vasseur was arrested in suspicion of doping
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...
offences along with several other Cofidis riders, notably including then individual time trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...
champion David Millar
David Millar
David Millar is a British road racing cyclist riding for . He has won three stages of the Tour de France, two of the Vuelta a España and one Stage of the Giro d'Italia. He was the British national road champion and the national time trial champion, both in 2007...
. A counter-analysis later proved negative and Vasseur's name was then cleared. Vasseur also claimed some of the evidence in his witness statement had been forged. However, Vasseur was barred from riding in the 2004 Tour de France
2004 Tour de France
The 2004 Tour de France was the 91st, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 2004. It consisted of 20 stages over 3391 km.Lance Armstrong became the first to win six Tours de France. Armstrong had been favored to win, his competitors seen as being German Jan Ullrich, Spaniards Roberto Heras and...
since the investigation had not concluded by the time that the race had started.
Vasseur came from a family of cyclists: his father Alain Vasseur
Alain Vasseur
Alain Vasseur was a French professional road bicycle racer. Alain Vasseur is the younger brother of cyclist Sylvain Vasseur, and the father of cyclists Cédric Vasseur and Loïc Vasseur.- Palmarès :19691970- External links :...
competed in the 1970
1970 Tour de France
The 1970 Tour de France was the 57th Tour de France, taking place June 27 to July 19, 1970. It consisted of 23 stages over 4366 km, ridden at an average speed of 35.589 km/h....
, 71
1971 Tour de France
The 1971 Tour de France was the 58th Tour de France, taking place June 26 to July 18, 1971. It consisted of 22 stages over , ridden at an average speed of ....
and 74
1974 Tour de France
The 1974 Tour de France was the 61st Tour de France, taking place June 27 to July 21, 1974. It consisted of 22 stages over 4098 km, ridden at an average speed of 35.241 km/h...
editions of the Tour de France. His father Alain also won a stage of the Tour de France after a solo breakaway.
Vasseur is considered an all-rounder who can do well in a variety of races. He has raced through all of the spring classics such as Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris–Roubaix, and has won a stage of the Dauphiné Libéré
Dauphiné Libéré
The Critérium du Dauphiné is an annual cycling road race, run over eight stages in the Dauphiné region in France during the first half of June. The race was inaugurated by a local newspaper, the Dauphiné Libéré, which gave its name to the event...
stage race.
Palmares
1994- 2nd, Grand Prix de la Ville de LillersGrand Prix de la Ville de LillersGrand Prix de la Ville de Lillers is a road bicycle race held annually near Lillers, a commune in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France. The editions 1964-1995 were reserved to amateurs...
1997
- 2nd, Grand Prix de la Ville de LillersGrand Prix de la Ville de LillersGrand Prix de la Ville de Lillers is a road bicycle race held annually near Lillers, a commune in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France. The editions 1964-1995 were reserved to amateurs...
- Tour de FranceTour de FranceThe Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
stage 5 - Yellow Jersey 5 days
2002
- 4 Jours de Dunkerque stage 5
- GP d'Isbergues
2003
- Paris - Corrèze overall and stage 2
- Internationale Hessen-Rundfahrt overall and stage 1
- Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré stage 7
- Tour du Limousin stage 2
2004
- Tour de l'Ain stage 4
- Tour du Limousin stage 4
2006
- GP d'Isbergues
2007
- Tour de FranceTour de FranceThe Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
stage 10