Rene Wenzel
Encyclopedia
René Wenzel is a Danish
cycle racing coach, working as a consultant. He is a former coach of USA Cycling
's national junior team, Koege Cykel Ring in Denmark, and first cycling teacher at a sports college in Denmark, the Gentofte Studenter Kursus.
in 1979, and to France
in 1980, to race as a professional cyclist. He won the Danish
and the Scandinavia
n junior road championships.
Wenzel contracted mononucleosis
in 1980, and took over 18 months out of racing. A racing trip to the Philippines
in 1983 gave Wenzel his first taste of coaching when he and friend Stig Larsen worked as assistant coaches for the Philippine team. Wenzel spent five years competing in America. He excelled in endurance events on the velodrome.
Wenzel returned to Denmark in 1988, and stopped racing at the end of 1989 after more than 22 years and 300 victories. He returned to America as a national team coach from January 1990 until December 1992 when he was laid off due to the downsizing of team programs. During his employment, the team won two world championships and several silver and bronze medals.
Wenzel became first Danish directeur sportif of a UCI professional team in 1993, when he joined Saturn. In 1994 Saturn changed management and Wenzel left to create Wenzel World Champion Coaching, now Wenzel Coaching. He returned to the expanded Saturn team, renamed Saturn Cycling, as manager and directeur sportif in 1995. Wenzel worked for Saturn Cycling until spring 2000, when together with his wife, Kendra Wenzel, he returned to her native Oregon
.
Four former athletes accused Wenzel, along with Chris Carmichael, Cycling USA and Angus Fraser
, of treating them with illegal drugs in 1990, feeding them pills and giving them injections, such as cortisone
, an immunosuppressant; Greg Strock in 2000, Erich Kaiter later in 2001 and also Gerrik Latta and David Francis
. The case came to court in 2006. Strock and Kaiter reportedly made out-of-court settlements but the case against the USAC continued. Wenzel and Carmichael deny the charges.
Wenzel's 'Bike Racing 101' written with Kendra was published in May 2003.
Wenzel directed the small Continental team, Subway, in 2004 and in 2005 owned it. Its best result was to win the 2005 Tour of El Salvador.
Kendra and René Wenzel separated in May 2005, and divorced in August 2007.
In November 2007, the Malaysian National Cycling Federation
offered Wenzel the position of director of coaching, but it never came to fruition.
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...
cycle racing coach, working as a consultant. He is a former coach of USA Cycling
USA Cycling
USA Cycling or USAC, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the national governing body for bicycle racing in the United States. It covers the disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, cyclo-cross, BMX and collegiate racing...
's national junior team, Koege Cykel Ring in Denmark, and first cycling teacher at a sports college in Denmark, the Gentofte Studenter Kursus.
Biography
Wenzel went to school at Bispebjerg Skole and Efterslaegtselskabets Gymnasium before moving to BelgiumBelgium
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...
in 1979, and to France
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...
in 1980, to race as a professional cyclist. He won the Danish
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...
and the Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n junior road championships.
Wenzel contracted mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis is an infectious, widespread viral...
in 1980, and took over 18 months out of racing. A racing trip to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in 1983 gave Wenzel his first taste of coaching when he and friend Stig Larsen worked as assistant coaches for the Philippine team. Wenzel spent five years competing in America. He excelled in endurance events on the velodrome.
Wenzel returned to Denmark in 1988, and stopped racing at the end of 1989 after more than 22 years and 300 victories. He returned to America as a national team coach from January 1990 until December 1992 when he was laid off due to the downsizing of team programs. During his employment, the team won two world championships and several silver and bronze medals.
Wenzel became first Danish directeur sportif of a UCI professional team in 1993, when he joined Saturn. In 1994 Saturn changed management and Wenzel left to create Wenzel World Champion Coaching, now Wenzel Coaching. He returned to the expanded Saturn team, renamed Saturn Cycling, as manager and directeur sportif in 1995. Wenzel worked for Saturn Cycling until spring 2000, when together with his wife, Kendra Wenzel, he returned to her native Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
Four former athletes accused Wenzel, along with Chris Carmichael, Cycling USA and Angus Fraser
Angus Fraser
Angus Robert Charles Fraser is the current Managing Director of Cricket of Middlesex County Cricket Club, and a former English cricketer and journalist....
, of treating them with illegal drugs in 1990, feeding them pills and giving them injections, such as cortisone
Cortisone
Cortisone is a steroid hormone. It is one of the main hormones released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. In chemical structure, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone. It is used to treat a variety of ailments and can be administered intravenously, orally,...
, an immunosuppressant; Greg Strock in 2000, Erich Kaiter later in 2001 and also Gerrik Latta and David Francis
David Francis (cyclist)
David Francis is a former member of the United States Cycling Team and was part of the next generation of American cyclists to compete in professional cycling, a sport traditionally dominated by Europeans. His teammates included Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie, Bobby Julich and Jonathan Vaughters...
. The case came to court in 2006. Strock and Kaiter reportedly made out-of-court settlements but the case against the USAC continued. Wenzel and Carmichael deny the charges.
Wenzel's 'Bike Racing 101' written with Kendra was published in May 2003.
Wenzel directed the small Continental team, Subway, in 2004 and in 2005 owned it. Its best result was to win the 2005 Tour of El Salvador.
Kendra and René Wenzel separated in May 2005, and divorced in August 2007.
In November 2007, the Malaysian National Cycling Federation
Malaysian National Cycling Federation
The Malaysian National Cycling Federation is the national governing body of cycle racing in Malaysia.It is a member of the UCI and the Asian Cycling Confederation.-External links:*...
offered Wenzel the position of director of coaching, but it never came to fruition.