Matti Breschel
Encyclopedia
Matti Breschel is a Danish
professional road bicycle racer who currently rides for UCI ProTeam .
in 2004 where he helped fellow Dane Mads Christensen
finish 3rd. He also won the bronze medal at the Danish National Road Racing Championship during the summer of 2004 as well.
He turned professional for the 2005 season in Denmark based , where he signed a two-year contract. At the press conference, regarding his choice to join Team CSC in October 2004, he stated that he simply wished to adjust to the rigors of professional cycling, saying "I hope to get in the team, but in the beginning I just want to learn the game and to learn the races. Somewhere I know that I'm in for a beating." Under tutelage of seasoned veteran Lars Michaelsen
, Breschel would start the season in the Tour of Qatar
, where the two riders finished side by side, Breschel conceding the final victory to Michaelsen. They would ride a number of classics and smaller races together, and Breschel finished in a number of secondary placings, just missing the victory podiums.
For the start of the 2006 season, he once again showed himself in Tour of Qatar, finishing as the best young rider of the race for the second year in a row. He showed his good form in March with a third place finish in Le Samyn
, being beaten only by Philippe Gilbert
in the bunch sprint of the peloton, and a few days later he sprinted his way to second place at stage 2 of the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen
where he was second only to world class sprinter Robbie McEwen
. For the third, and last, stage of the race, Breschel would once more sprint against McEwen, with the winner taking the overall victory of the race, this time with the effect that both riders crashed. Breschel broke his vertebrae in two places and McEwen was de-classed in the race.
He came back with thunder and lightning in 2007 and came in an impressive 14th at the Paris–Roubaix, which his team-mate Stuart O'Grady
won.
After recovering he won his first victory as a professional in stage 2 of Danmark Rundt
in August 2007. This was the first Danish stage win in five years of this national tour.
In 2008 his best season came and he got his first big international breakthrough when he on June 8, 2008, won the Philadelphia International Championship also known as the Commerce Bank International Championship in Philadelphia, PA where he outsprinted all contenders in a little bunch sprint after a long and hard race. A couple of weeks later he went on to take another impressive victory when he won the 2nd stage of Ster Elektrotoer
, a stage finishing on the feared Cauberg
and also won the overall points jersey.
He maintained his good form through the season and also came in 2nd in the Danish Road Racing Championship, only beaten by his team made Nicki Sørensen
.
In August he won two stages at Tour of Denmark and also led the overalls until the final time trial securing him a total fifth place.
After all a very impressive season for the young gun the biggest scalp came on September 21 where he won the last stage of the Vuelta a España
in Madrid in a very convincing way only a few days after he came in second in the 17th stage of the Vuelta a España
.
Only a week later Breschel rode very impressively at the world cycling championships finishing 3rd and getting a bronze medal.
During the 2010 season Breschel rode well in the Cobbled Classics but suffered from bad luck. Breschel won Dwars door Vlaanderen and put in in strong performances in Gent–Wevelgem and Ronde Vlaanderen, but suffered mechanical defects in both races. In Paris–Roubaix he was troubled by a knee injury.
2004
2005
2007
2008
2009
2010
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
professional road bicycle racer who currently rides for UCI ProTeam .
Career
He got his breakthrough with small Danish Team PH, finishing 6th at the U/23 Cycling World Championship in VeronaVerona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
in 2004 where he helped fellow Dane Mads Christensen
Mads Christensen (cyclist)
Mads Christensen is a professional Danish road and former track cyclist, currently riding for Saxo Bank-SunGard.-Palmarès:2000...
finish 3rd. He also won the bronze medal at the Danish National Road Racing Championship during the summer of 2004 as well.
He turned professional for the 2005 season in Denmark based , where he signed a two-year contract. At the press conference, regarding his choice to join Team CSC in October 2004, he stated that he simply wished to adjust to the rigors of professional cycling, saying "I hope to get in the team, but in the beginning I just want to learn the game and to learn the races. Somewhere I know that I'm in for a beating." Under tutelage of seasoned veteran Lars Michaelsen
Lars Michaelsen
Lars Michaelsen is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer who last rode for Team CSC. He got his break through in his second year as a professional, when he won the 1995 edition of Gent–Wevelgem. In the 1997 Vuelta a España he won stage 1 and wore the leader's jersey for three days...
, Breschel would start the season in the Tour of Qatar
Tour of Qatar
The Tour of Qatar is a road bicycle race race held in Qatar and is part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race consists of a men's competition over six stages...
, where the two riders finished side by side, Breschel conceding the final victory to Michaelsen. They would ride a number of classics and smaller races together, and Breschel finished in a number of secondary placings, just missing the victory podiums.
For the start of the 2006 season, he once again showed himself in Tour of Qatar, finishing as the best young rider of the race for the second year in a row. He showed his good form in March with a third place finish in Le Samyn
Le Samyn
Memorial José Samyn is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in March in Fayt-le-Franc, Belgium, starting in Frameries and finishing in Dour. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour...
, being beaten only by Philippe Gilbert
Philippe Gilbert
Philippe Gilbert is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Gilbert is a classics specialist...
in the bunch sprint of the peloton, and a few days later he sprinted his way to second place at stage 2 of the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen
Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen
The Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen is a stage race cycling race held annually in the West Flanders, Belgium. Since 2006 the race has been organized as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.Between 1945 and 1998 it was known a Omloop der Vlaamse Ardennen...
where he was second only to world class sprinter Robbie McEwen
Robbie McEwen
Robbie McEwen is an Australian professional road bicycle racer, for on the UCI ProTour, specializing in sprint finishes...
. For the third, and last, stage of the race, Breschel would once more sprint against McEwen, with the winner taking the overall victory of the race, this time with the effect that both riders crashed. Breschel broke his vertebrae in two places and McEwen was de-classed in the race.
He came back with thunder and lightning in 2007 and came in an impressive 14th at the Paris–Roubaix, which his team-mate Stuart O'Grady
Stuart O'Grady
Stuart O'Grady OAM , nicknamed Stuey, is an Australian professional road bicycle racer on UCI ProTeam , who started as a track cyclist. He and Graeme Brown won a gold medal in Men's Madison at the 2004 Summer Olympics...
won.
After recovering he won his first victory as a professional in stage 2 of Danmark Rundt
Danmark Rundt
Danmark Rundt is a Danish stage race for professional road bicycle racers organized as a part of the UCI Continental Circuits. It is currently sponsored by the Danish national postal agency, Post Danmark, and the race is therefore also known as Post Danmark Rundt. Currently 15 teams, with 8 riders...
in August 2007. This was the first Danish stage win in five years of this national tour.
In 2008 his best season came and he got his first big international breakthrough when he on June 8, 2008, won the Philadelphia International Championship also known as the Commerce Bank International Championship in Philadelphia, PA where he outsprinted all contenders in a little bunch sprint after a long and hard race. A couple of weeks later he went on to take another impressive victory when he won the 2nd stage of Ster Elektrotoer
Ster Elektrotoer
The Ster ZLM Toer is a stage race cycling race, held in the Netherlands as 2.1 race on the UCI Europe Tour. The race started in 1987 as an amateur race, and became a race for professional cyclists in 1996.-Name of the race:...
, a stage finishing on the feared Cauberg
Cauberg
The Cauberg is a hill in Valkenburg aan de Geul, a city in the Netherlands. The length of the climb is around 1200 m, with a maximum grade of 12%.- Road Cycling :...
and also won the overall points jersey.
He maintained his good form through the season and also came in 2nd in the Danish Road Racing Championship, only beaten by his team made Nicki Sørensen
Nicki Sørensen
Nicki Sørensen is a Danish professional road bicycle racer currently riding for . He has competed in five consecutive editions of the Tour de France from 2001 to 2005, riding as an all-round rider who rides well in hilly terrain, Sørensen is a valued support for the team captain without many wins...
.
In August he won two stages at Tour of Denmark and also led the overalls until the final time trial securing him a total fifth place.
After all a very impressive season for the young gun the biggest scalp came on September 21 where he won the last stage of the Vuelta a España
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
in Madrid in a very convincing way only a few days after he came in second in the 17th stage of the Vuelta a España
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
.
Only a week later Breschel rode very impressively at the world cycling championships finishing 3rd and getting a bronze medal.
During the 2010 season Breschel rode well in the Cobbled Classics but suffered from bad luck. Breschel won Dwars door Vlaanderen and put in in strong performances in Gent–Wevelgem and Ronde Vlaanderen, but suffered mechanical defects in both races. In Paris–Roubaix he was troubled by a knee injury.
Career highlights
2001- 1st
National U-19 Road Race Champion
2004
- 1st U-23 Giro del Canavese
- 1st Stage 2 Ringerike GP
- 6th U-23 Road Race World Championship
- 6th U-23 Paris–Roubaix
2005
- 2nd Overall Tour of QatarTour of QatarThe Tour of Qatar is a road bicycle race race held in Qatar and is part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race consists of a men's competition over six stages...
2007
- 1st Stage 2 Danmark RundtDanmark RundtDanmark Rundt is a Danish stage race for professional road bicycle racers organized as a part of the UCI Continental Circuits. It is currently sponsored by the Danish national postal agency, Post Danmark, and the race is therefore also known as Post Danmark Rundt. Currently 15 teams, with 8 riders...
- 1st Stage 2 Tour of IrelandTour of IrelandThe Tour of Ireland is a bicycle stage race held in August. The first race debuted in 1953 and ran until 1957. It was revived in 1965 and ran until 1985. In 1985 the 5 day Nissan International Classic took over as the Tour of Ireland. This lasted for 8 years until 1992...
2008
- 1st Stage 21 Vuelta a España2008 Vuelta a EspañaThe 2008 Vuelta a España was the 63rd edition of the Vuelta a España, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The event took place from 30 August to 21 September 2008 over 21 stages covering . The first stage was a team time trial in Granada. The event finished in Madrid 23 days later...
- 1st Philadelphia InternationalPhiladelphia International ChampionshipThe Philadelphia International Championship is an annual bicycle race held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is described as "America's top international cycling classic, and one of the richest and most prestigious one day races outside of Europe." It is one of the longest single-day races in the...
- 1st Stage 2 Ster Electrotoer
- 1st Stage 2 Danmark RundtDanmark RundtDanmark Rundt is a Danish stage race for professional road bicycle racers organized as a part of the UCI Continental Circuits. It is currently sponsored by the Danish national postal agency, Post Danmark, and the race is therefore also known as Post Danmark Rundt. Currently 15 teams, with 8 riders...
- 1st Stage 3 Danmark RundtDanmark RundtDanmark Rundt is a Danish stage race for professional road bicycle racers organized as a part of the UCI Continental Circuits. It is currently sponsored by the Danish national postal agency, Post Danmark, and the race is therefore also known as Post Danmark Rundt. Currently 15 teams, with 8 riders...
- 1st Points ClassificationPoints classificationThe points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
- 1st Points Classification
- 3rd
World Championships Elite Road Race2008 UCI Road World ChampionshipsThe 2008 UCI Road World Championships took place in Varese, Italy, between September 23 and September 28, 2008. The event consisted of a road race and a time trial for men, women and men under 23.-Medals table:-Events summary:-External links:**...
2009
- 1st National Road Race Champion
- 1st Stage 4 Tour de Suisse2009 Tour de SuisseThe 2009 Tour de Suisse was the 73rd edition of the Tour de Suisse stage race. It took place from 13 June to 21 June and is part of both the 2009 UCI ProTour and the inaugural World Calendar. It began with a short individual time trial in Liechtenstein and ended with another time trial, in Bern...
- 1st Stage 2 Volta a Catalunya2009 Volta a CatalunyaThe 2009 Volta a Catalunya was the 89th edition of the Volta. It took place between 18 May and 24 May, and was part of both the ProTour and the inaugural World Calendar...
- 1st Stage 4 Tour de Luxembourg2009 Tour de LuxembourgThe 2009 Tour de Luxembourg cycling race was the 69th running of the Tour de Luxembourg. It was won by Fränk Schleck from Luxembourg, the first home rider to win this race in 26 years.-Stages:Key:...
- 1st Points ClassificationPoints classificationThe points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
,
- 1st Points Classification
- 1st Stage 1 Danmark RundtDanmark RundtDanmark Rundt is a Danish stage race for professional road bicycle racers organized as a part of the UCI Continental Circuits. It is currently sponsored by the Danish national postal agency, Post Danmark, and the race is therefore also known as Post Danmark Rundt. Currently 15 teams, with 8 riders...
- 1st Points ClassificationPoints classificationThe points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
- 1st Points Classification
- 2nd Vattenfall Cyclassics2009 Vattenfall CyclassicsThe 2009 Vattenfall Cyclassics is a one day road race, which is part of the 2009 UCI ProTour, took place on 16 August 2009. The race covered a total of and took place in Hamburg, Germany.-Results:-External links:*...
- 3rd Overall Tour of Ireland2009 Tour of IrelandThe 2009 Tour of Ireland was the 35th running of the Tour of Ireland stage race. The event was held from 21–23 August. It consisted of three stages, and was rated as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.-Participating teams:...
- 1st Youth Classification
- 6th Ronde van Vlaanderen2009 Ronde van VlaanderenThe 2009 Tour of Flanders cycle race is the 93rd edition of the monument classic and took place on 5 April. The course is 259.7 km long and goes from Brugge to Meerbeke. The weather during the race was sunny and warm at 12 °C...
- 7th World Championships Elite Road Race2009 UCI Road World ChampionshipsThe 2009 UCI Road World Championships were held in Mendrisio, Switzerland, between September 23 and September 27, 2009. The event consisted of a road race and a time trial for men, women and men under 23.-Medals table:-Individual time trials:...
- 10th Paris–Roubaix
2010
- 1st Dwars door VlaanderenDwars door VlaanderenDwars door Vlaanderen is a Flanders Classics road bicycle race. Traditionally, it is the start of the Flemish cycling week, with Gent–Wevelgem , the Three Days of De Panne and the Ronde van Vlaanderen. Dwars door Vlaanderen has always been contested on a Wednesday, a week and a half before the...
- 1st Stage 3 Tour of Denmark
- 1st Points ClassificationPoints classificationThe points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
- 1st Points Classification
- 2nd
UCI Road World Championships - Men's Road Race - 8th Gent–Wevelgem