Paul Sherwen
Encyclopedia
Paul Sherwen is an English
former professional racing cyclist. He is now a broadcaster on cycling, notably the Tour de France
. He raced in seven editions of the Tour, finishing five, and gained a reputation for his ability to suffer over long mountain stages.
, Cheshire
, Sherwen was brought up in Kenya. He started his sporting life as a swimmer, finishing second in the under-14 Kenya
n swimming championship. Upon returning to Britain, he won the regional under-18 championship for Runcorn
and District. However, at 16, he turned to cycling and rode for the Weaver Valley
CC in Cheshire, receiving guidance from Manchester
coach
Harold Nelson.
At 19, riding for Altrincham
Road Club
, he won the season-long Star Trophy series in 1976, winning the Manx International and the Archer Pernod GP
and two stages in the Tour of Malago.
A year later, he won Folkestone-London, attacking from the gun. For the French team ACBB (Athletic Club Boulogne Billancourt) he won Paris-Barentin, Paris-Mauberge and the Tour de l'Essone, was third in the amateur Paris–Roubaix and second in the British championship. He won the Archer Grand Prix cycle race
in 1976 and 1977. Despite spending only part of the year in France due to examinations, he came second in the season-long Palme d'Or competition. 1977 saw him ride the world championship in Venezuela
, the pro-am Étoile des Éspoirs and the Scottish Milk Race.
In 1978 he turned professional for Fiat under Raphaël Géminiani
, and later rode as a domestique
in the La Redoute cycling team
.
He finished 70th in the 1978 Tour de France
. In 1980, he came close to being eliminated on the third stage of the Tour. He finished outside the cut-off time (a percentage of the winner’s time), but was reinstated in view of his solo chase after a crash. The reinstatement delayed abandonment, and he was to repeat the process six years later.
Sherwen was 20th and 11th in Milan – San Remo in 1979 and 1980 respectively, and 15th in the 1984 Paris–Roubaix. He finished third in the Tour du Haut-Var, won by Sean Kelly
, in 1982, following a stage win in the season-opening Tour of the Mediterranean. He came second in the Four Days of Dunkirk
in 1983, winning a stage. He won the Grand Prix de Denain.
In the Tour, Sherwen finished 111th in 1982 and 116th in 1984. During the last mountain stage of 1984, he diced with the cut-off time. Riding with Australia
n cyclist Allan Peiper
towards the summit at La Plagne
, Peiper was knocked from his bike by a Dutch enthusiast. Sherwen – aware of the cut-off – told him to get back on his bike and they crossed the line just inside the limit.
, Sherwen crashed in the first kilometre before the race had left Epinal
. With Bernard Hinault
setting a fast pace, Sherwen had little chance to regain the other riders. He rode solo for six hours over six mountains, accompanied by a motorcycle outrider, and was over an hour behind the stage winner, and 23 minutes outside the cut-off – the Tour publicity caravan had started its return journey and had to move to one side to allow Sherwen to complete the stage. However, again, his courage and endurance were rewarded by reinstatement – he did continue and went on to finish this Tour which would be his last.
Sherwen joined Raleigh in 1986 alongside Mark Bell
, Paul Watson
, Jon Clay
and Jeff Williams
. He retired after two seasons winning the British road race championship
in 1987 his final season. He then managed the Banana-Raleigh team until Raleigh pulled out at the end of 1989. During this time, he worked as a co-commentator with Phil Liggett
for Channel 4
's coverage of the Tour de France. After Banana-Raleigh, Sherwen worked with the American Motorola Cycling Team.
, Australia's SBS Network
and the United States' CBS Sports
with Phil Liggett
. Sherwen lives in Kampala
, Uganda
where he has interests in a gold mine, commuting between Uganda and the United States regularly.
1977
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional racing cyclist. He is now a broadcaster on cycling, notably the 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 raced in seven editions of the Tour, finishing five, and gained a reputation for his ability to suffer over long mountain stages.
Cycling career
Born in WidnesWidnes
Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, Sherwen was brought up in Kenya. He started his sporting life as a swimmer, finishing second in the under-14 Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n swimming championship. Upon returning to Britain, he won the regional under-18 championship for Runcorn
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
and District. However, at 16, he turned to cycling and rode for the Weaver Valley
River Weaver
The River Weaver is a river, navigable in its lower reaches, running in a curving route anti-clockwise across west Cheshire, northern England. Improvements to the river to make it navigable were authorised in 1720 and the work, which included eleven locks, was completed in 1732...
CC in Cheshire, receiving guidance from Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
Harold Nelson.
At 19, riding for Altrincham
Altrincham
Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington...
Road Club
Cycling club
A cycling club is a society for cyclists. It can be local or national, general or specialised. The Cyclists' Touring Club, CTC) in the United Kingdom is a national association; i-Team and are internet clubs; the Tricycle Association, Tandem Club and the Veterans Time Trial Association, for those...
, he won the season-long Star Trophy series in 1976, winning the Manx International and the Archer Pernod GP
Archer Grand Prix cycle race
- History :The Archer Grand Prix has been run annually for over fifty years, organised by Stuart Benstead of the Archer Road Club . It has been descried by British Cycling as a "long running classic". The first edition was held in 1956 and won by British rider, Alfred Howling...
and two stages in the Tour of Malago.
A year later, he won Folkestone-London, attacking from the gun. For the French team ACBB (Athletic Club Boulogne Billancourt) he won Paris-Barentin, Paris-Mauberge and the Tour de l'Essone, was third in the amateur Paris–Roubaix and second in the British championship. He won the Archer Grand Prix cycle race
Archer Grand Prix cycle race
- History :The Archer Grand Prix has been run annually for over fifty years, organised by Stuart Benstead of the Archer Road Club . It has been descried by British Cycling as a "long running classic". The first edition was held in 1956 and won by British rider, Alfred Howling...
in 1976 and 1977. Despite spending only part of the year in France due to examinations, he came second in the season-long Palme d'Or competition. 1977 saw him ride the world championship in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, the pro-am Étoile des Éspoirs and the Scottish Milk Race.
In 1978 he turned professional for Fiat under Raphaël Géminiani
Raphael Geminiani
Raphaël Géminiani is a French former road bicycle racer. He had six podium finishes in the Grand Tours. He is one of four children of Italian immigrants who moved to Clermont-Ferrand. He worked in a cycle shop and started racing as a boy...
, and later rode as a domestique
Cycling domestique
A domestique is a road bicycle racer who works for the benefit of his team and leader. The French domestique translates as "servant". In Italy and Spain, the term gregario is used, while in Belgium and the Netherlands the term knecht or helper are used...
in the La Redoute cycling team
Cycling team
A cycling team is a group of cyclists who join a team or are acquired and train together to compete in bicycle races whether recreational or professional - and the supporting personnel...
.
He finished 70th in the 1978 Tour de France
1978 Tour de France
The 1978 Tour de France was the 65th Tour de France, taking place June 29 to July 23, 1978. The total race distance was 22 stages over 3908 km, with riders averaging 36.084 km/h...
. In 1980, he came close to being eliminated on the third stage of the Tour. He finished outside the cut-off time (a percentage of the winner’s time), but was reinstated in view of his solo chase after a crash. The reinstatement delayed abandonment, and he was to repeat the process six years later.
Sherwen was 20th and 11th in Milan – San Remo in 1979 and 1980 respectively, and 15th in the 1984 Paris–Roubaix. He finished third in the Tour du Haut-Var, won by Sean Kelly
Seán Kelly (cyclist)
John James 'Sean' Kelly is an Irish former professional road bicycle racer. He was one of the most successful road cyclists of the 1980s, and one of the finest classics riders of all time. From turning professional in 1977 until his retirement in 1994, he won nine monument classics, and 193...
, in 1982, following a stage win in the season-opening Tour of the Mediterranean. He came second in the Four Days of Dunkirk
Four Days of Dunkirk
The Four Days of Dunkirk is road bicycle race around the Nord-Pas de Calais region of northern France. Confusingly, since the addition of an individual time trial in 1963, the race has usually been held over a 5 or 6 day period. Since 2005, the race is organised as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe...
in 1983, winning a stage. He won the Grand Prix de Denain.
In the Tour, Sherwen finished 111th in 1982 and 116th in 1984. During the last mountain stage of 1984, he diced with the cut-off time. Riding with Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n cyclist Allan Peiper
Allan Peiper
Allan Peiper is a former Australian road cyclist, who competed in five Tour De France races, with the last being the 1992 Tour de France. He is now a directeur sportif with Team Columbia....
towards the summit at La Plagne
La Plagne
La Plagne is a French ski area in the alpine valley of the Tarentaise . Since 2003, La Plagne and the neighbouring resort of Les Arcs form Paradiski's ski area...
, Peiper was knocked from his bike by a Dutch enthusiast. Sherwen – aware of the cut-off – told him to get back on his bike and they crossed the line just inside the limit.
1985 tour
On the first day in the mountains of the 1985 Tour de France1985 Tour de France
The 1985 Tour de France was the 72nd Tour de France, taking place June 28 to July 21, 1985, over 4109 km in 22 stages and a prologue.Bernard Hinault would attempt to equal the records of Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx who had each won the Tour de France five times. Hinault was unable to...
, Sherwen crashed in the first kilometre before the race had left Epinal
Épinal
Épinal is a commune in northeastern France and the capital of the Vosges department. Inhabitants are known as Spinaliens.-Geography:The commune has a land area of 59.24 km²...
. With Bernard Hinault
Bernard Hinault
Bernard Hinault is a former French cyclist known for five victories in the Tour de France. He is one of only five cyclists to have won all three Grand Tours, and the only cyclist to have won each more than once. He won the Tour de France in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985...
setting a fast pace, Sherwen had little chance to regain the other riders. He rode solo for six hours over six mountains, accompanied by a motorcycle outrider, and was over an hour behind the stage winner, and 23 minutes outside the cut-off – the Tour publicity caravan had started its return journey and had to move to one side to allow Sherwen to complete the stage. However, again, his courage and endurance were rewarded by reinstatement – he did continue and went on to finish this Tour which would be his last.
Sherwen joined Raleigh in 1986 alongside Mark Bell
Mark Bell (cyclist)
Mark Bell was an English professional cyclist from Birkenhead. He rode for Britain in the Olympic Games, won the national road championship as an amateur and then a professional and was the first foreigner to win the Étoile de Sud stage race in Belgium. He died at 49 after collapsing at his home...
, Paul Watson
Paul Watson (cyclist)
Paul Watson is a former professional English road racing cyclist from Milton Keynes. He was national road race champion, raced in the Tour de France and made headlines finishing 6th in the Belgium classic La Flèche Wallonne.-Road:19841985...
, Jon Clay
Jon Clay
Jonathan Clay, better known as Jonny Clay is a British former professional track and road racing cyclist. A silver medalist in the individual pursuit at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, Clay was also part of the team pursuit line up which took the bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.A...
and Jeff Williams
Jeff Williams (cyclist)
Jeffrey "Jeff" Williams is an English former professional road racing cyclist from Manchester. He rode for Great Britain at the Olympic Games, and won several national championship titles.-Cycling career:...
. He retired after two seasons winning the British road race championship
British National Road Race Championships
The British National Road Race Championships cover different categories of British road bicycle racing events, normally held annually.-History:...
in 1987 his final season. He then managed the Banana-Raleigh team until Raleigh pulled out at the end of 1989. During this time, he worked as a co-commentator with Phil Liggett
Phil Liggett
Phil Liggett, MBE is a British commentator and journalist who covers professional cycling. He currently commentates on the Tour de France and bike races for Versus, ITV and SBS...
for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's coverage of the Tour de France. After Banana-Raleigh, Sherwen worked with the American Motorola Cycling Team.
Today
During the Tour de France, Sherwen commentates for ITV, VersusVersus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
, Australia's SBS Network
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
and the United States' CBS Sports
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
with Phil Liggett
Phil Liggett
Phil Liggett, MBE is a British commentator and journalist who covers professional cycling. He currently commentates on the Tour de France and bike races for Versus, ITV and SBS...
. Sherwen lives in Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
where he has interests in a gold mine, commuting between Uganda and the United States regularly.
Palmarès
1976- 1st Archer Grand PrixArcher Grand Prix cycle race- History :The Archer Grand Prix has been run annually for over fifty years, organised by Stuart Benstead of the Archer Road Club . It has been descried by British Cycling as a "long running classic". The first edition was held in 1956 and won by British rider, Alfred Howling...
- 1st Premier CalendarPremier CalendarThe British Cycling Premier Calendar Road Race Series is a season-long competition run by British Cycling. It comprises a series of road bicycle races for the country's top domestic road riders.-Organisation and events:...
1977
- 2nd British National Road Race ChampionshipsBritish National Road Race ChampionshipsThe British National Road Race Championships cover different categories of British road bicycle racing events, normally held annually.-History:...
(Amateur) - 1st Archer Grand PrixArcher Grand Prix cycle race- History :The Archer Grand Prix has been run annually for over fifty years, organised by Stuart Benstead of the Archer Road Club . It has been descried by British Cycling as a "long running classic". The first edition was held in 1956 and won by British rider, Alfred Howling...
- 3rd in GP de France
- 3rd in Paris - Roubaix Espoirs
1980
- 3rd in Aix-en-Provence
- 3rd in Stage 2 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
- 3rd in Stage 3 Ronde van België, Brussel
1981
- 2nd in Gistel
- 2nd in San Sebastian
- 3rd in San Sebastian (b)
- 1st in Tour du Hainaut Occidentale
1982
- 1st in Stage 1 Tour Méditerranéen, Béziers
- 3rd in Stage 5 part b Tour Méditerranéen, Monaco
- 3rd in Tour du Haut-Var, Seillans
- 3rd in Ruiselede
1983
- 1st in GP de Denain
- 1st in San Sebastian (b)
- 1st in Stage 3 Quatre jours de Dunkerque, Saint Quentin
- 2nd in General Classification Quatre jours de Dunkerque
- 2nd in Stage 3 Driedaagse van De Panne, De Panne
- 3rd in Paris, Paris
1984
- 3rd in GP de Wallonie, Charleroi
1985
- 2nd in Clermont-Ferrand
- 2nd in Great Yarmouth
- 3rd in Stafford
- 3rd in Stage 1, Tour of Ireland, Wexford
- 3rd in Sint-Denijs
1986
- 1st in Leek
- 13th in Stage 5, 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...
- 23rd overall 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...
1987
Winner of the British National Road Race ChampionshipsBritish National Road Race ChampionshipsThe British National Road Race Championships cover different categories of British road bicycle racing events, normally held annually.-History:...
(Professional)- 3rd in Stafford