Simon Gerrans
Encyclopedia
Simon Gerrans is an Australia
n professional road bicycle racer, who currently rides for the British UCI ProTour
team, .
, Victoria
and grew up in Mansfield, Victoria
.
He took up cycling after injuring his knee and speaking with his neighbour, former Yellow Jersey
holder Phil Anderson
whom he credits with introducing him to the sport.
In 2002, he finished fifth in the senior Australian National Road Race Championships
, and took the under 23 title. He went on to ride as a trainee with the Carvalhelhos-Boavista team, based in Portugal
from 1 September 2003, and then as a trainee for the AG2R Prévoyance
team from 1 September 2004. He turned professional in 2005, staying with AG2R Prévoyance, and participated in his first Tour de France
in the same year
.
Gerrans underwent surgery at a hospital in Nice following a heavy fall in the GP d'Ouverture la Marseillaise in February, 2006. A pin was inserted into his shattered left collarbone and a screw put into his broken right shoulder, and had stitches in his head. He resumed training three weeks later and went on to represent Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
in Melbourne.
In 2008, Gerrans rode for the Crédit Agricole team. He won stage 15 of the Tour de France
, the high point of his career so far, after being in the four man breakaway for most of the day. Barely surviving attacks from the other strong climbers in the breakaway, in which the fourth rider was dropped from the group, he eventually sprinted away in the last few dozen metres, without a response from the two remaining contenders.
Following the closure of the Crédit Agricole team Gerrans signed with the UCI Professional Continental Cervélo TestTeam
for the 2009 season. Despite his success of the previous year, he was not included in the squad for the 2009 Tour de France
.
On stage 14 of the 2009 Giro d'Italia
Gerrans attacked his breakaway companions on the short steep climb of San Luca, near Bologna, to win the stage - the first Grand Tour stage victory for Cervélo TestTeam. After winning 10th stage of the 2009 Vuelta a España
Gerrans became the first Australian to win a stage of each of the three Grand Tours.
He signed with Team Sky
for season 2010 and made the Team Sky selection for the 2010 Tour de France
. Gerrans was involved in a large crash on Stage 8 of the race resulting in a broken arm and his withdrawal from the race.
In 2011, Gerrans came 3rd in the Amstel Gold Race
. In August, he won the Danmark Rundt
.
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
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 professional road bicycle racer, who currently rides for the British UCI ProTour
UCI ProTour
The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI . Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, each of whom are required to compete in every round of the series...
team, .
Biography
Gerrans was born in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and grew up in Mansfield, Victoria
Mansfield, Victoria
Mansfield is a small town in the foothills of the Victorian part of the Australian Alps. It is approximately 180 km north-east of Melbourne...
.
He took up cycling after injuring his knee and speaking with his neighbour, former 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:...
holder Phil Anderson
Phil Anderson
Philip Grant Anderson OAM is an Australian former professional racing cyclist who was the first non-European to wear the yellow jersey of the Tour de France.-Origins:...
whom he credits with introducing him to the sport.
In 2002, he finished fifth in the senior Australian National Road Race Championships
Australian National Road Race Championships
The Australian National Road Race Championships, are held annually with an event for each category of rider: Men, Women & under 23 riders. The event also includes the Australian National Time Trial Championships since 2002...
, and took the under 23 title. He went on to ride as a trainee with the Carvalhelhos-Boavista team, based in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
from 1 September 2003, and then as a trainee for the AG2R Prévoyance
AG2R Prévoyance
Ag2r-La Mondiale is a French cycling team with UCI ProTour team status. Its title sponsors are the Ag2r Group, which is a French-based interprofessional insurance and supplementary retirement fund group, and the La Mondiale Group, which is a French-based international group for supplementary...
team from 1 September 2004. He turned professional in 2005, staying with AG2R Prévoyance, and participated in his first 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...
in the same year
2005 Tour de France
The 2005 Tour de France was the 92nd Tour de France, taking place from July 2 to July 24, 2005. It comprised 21 stages over 3592.5 km, the winner's average speed was 41.654 km/h. The first stages were held in the département of the Vendée, for the third time in 12 years. The 2005 Tour was...
.
Gerrans underwent surgery at a hospital in Nice following a heavy fall in the GP d'Ouverture la Marseillaise in February, 2006. A pin was inserted into his shattered left collarbone and a screw put into his broken right shoulder, and had stitches in his head. He resumed training three weeks later and went on to represent Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
in Melbourne.
In 2008, Gerrans rode for the Crédit Agricole team. He won stage 15 of the Tour de France
2008 Tour de France
The 2008 Tour de France was the 95th Tour de France. The event took place from 5–27 July 2008. Starting in the French city of Brest, the tour entered Italy on the 15th stage and returned to France during the 16th, heading for Paris, its regular final destination, which was reached in the 21st stage...
, the high point of his career so far, after being in the four man breakaway for most of the day. Barely surviving attacks from the other strong climbers in the breakaway, in which the fourth rider was dropped from the group, he eventually sprinted away in the last few dozen metres, without a response from the two remaining contenders.
Following the closure of the Crédit Agricole team Gerrans signed with the UCI Professional Continental Cervélo TestTeam
Cervélo TestTeam
Cervélo TestTeam is a former professional cycling team, whose license was held in Switzerland by the cycling management company Cycling United Racing. The team's title sponsor was Cervélo, a Canadian manufacturer of bicycle frames that previously exclusively supplied...
for the 2009 season. Despite his success of the previous year, he was not included in the squad for the 2009 Tour de France
2009 Tour de France
The 2009 Tour de France was the 96th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on 4 July in the principality of Monaco with a individual time trial which included a section of the Circuit de Monaco...
.
On stage 14 of the 2009 Giro d'Italia
2009 Giro d'Italia
The 2009 Giro d'Italia was the 92nd running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 9 to 31 May 2009, and marked the 100th year since the first edition of the race...
Gerrans attacked his breakaway companions on the short steep climb of San Luca, near Bologna, to win the stage - the first Grand Tour stage victory for Cervélo TestTeam. After winning 10th stage of the 2009 Vuelta a España
2009 Vuelta a España
The 2009 Vuelta a España was the 64th Vuelta a España. The event took place from 29 August to 20 September 2009. For only the second time in the race's history, it began away from Spanish soil, with the race not in fact reaching Spain until Stage 5....
Gerrans became the first Australian to win a stage of each of the three Grand Tours.
He signed with Team Sky
Team Sky
Team Sky is a British professional road bicycle racing team that competes in international road bicycle races. The creation of the team was announced on 26 February 2009 and the team began competition in January 2010....
for season 2010 and made the Team Sky selection for the 2010 Tour de France
2010 Tour de France
The 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996...
. Gerrans was involved in a large crash on Stage 8 of the race resulting in a broken arm and his withdrawal from the race.
In 2011, Gerrans came 3rd in the Amstel Gold Race
2011 Amstel Gold Race
The 2011 Amstel Gold Race was the 46th running of the Amstel Gold Race, a single-day cycling race. It was held on 17 April 2011 over a distance of and was the tenth race of the 2011 UCI World Tour season....
. In August, he won the Danmark Rundt
2011 Danmark Rundt
The 2011 Danmark Rundt is a men's road bicycle race held from 3 to 7 August 2011. It is the 21st edition of the men's stage race to be held, which was established in 1985. Australian rider Simon Gerrans of Team Sky captured the overall title...
.
Palmarès
2002- 1st
U-23 National Road Race Champion - 1st
Overall Tour of Tasmania
- 1st Stage 3
- 1st Stage 2 Grand Prix Tell
2003
- 1st Melbourne to Warrnambool ClassicMelbourne to Warrnambool ClassicThe Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic cycling race is a one day road bicycle race . The race started in 1895 and is Australia's oldest one day race and the world's second oldest one day race, after the Liège–Bastogne–Liège Classic. Historically, the route started in central Melbourne and followed...
- 1st Stage 3 Tour of Tasmania
2004
- 1st Stage 9 Herald Sun TourHerald Sun TourThe Herald Sun Tour is an Australian professional bicycle race held in Melbourne and provincial Victoria sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale . The first tour was held in October 1952 as a six day event and it is held annually in October. It is named after the Herald Sun, Melbourne's...
2005
- 1st Overall Herald Sun TourHerald Sun TourThe Herald Sun Tour is an Australian professional bicycle race held in Melbourne and provincial Victoria sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale . The first tour was held in October 1952 as a six day event and it is held annually in October. It is named after the Herald Sun, Melbourne's...
- 1st Stage 3
- 1st GP Artigianato Carnaghese
- 1st Tour du Finistèr
2006
- 1st Overall Tour Down UnderTour Down UnderThe Tour Down Under is a cycling race in Adelaide, South Australia and surrounding area. The race starts on the third Tuesday of January each year and attracts riders from across Australia and the world. In 2005, the Tour Down Under was promoted by the Union Cycliste Internationale to the...
- 1st Stage 1
- 1st Overall Herald Sun TourHerald Sun TourThe Herald Sun Tour is an Australian professional bicycle race held in Melbourne and provincial Victoria sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale . The first tour was held in October 1952 as a six day event and it is held annually in October. It is named after the Herald Sun, Melbourne's...
2007
- 1st Grand Prix de Plumelec-MorbihanGrand Prix de Plumelec-MorbihanGrand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in May around Plumelec, in the region of Brittany, France. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour, also being part of the Coupe de France de cyclisme sur route.-Name of the race:-...
- 2nd Overall Bay Classic SeriesBay Classic SeriesThe Bay Classic Series is a road cycling race held in and around Port Phillip Bay in Victoria, Australia. The race consists of both a men's and a women's competition over five stages....
- 1st Stage 5
- 1st Sprint classification
2008
- 1st Stage 15, Tour de France2008 Tour de FranceThe 2008 Tour de France was the 95th Tour de France. The event took place from 5–27 July 2008. Starting in the French city of Brest, the tour entered Italy on the 15th stage and returned to France during the 16th, heading for Paris, its regular final destination, which was reached in the 21st stage...
- 1st Stage 2 Critérium InternationalCritérium InternationalThe Critérium International is a two-day bicycle stage race held in France every spring. It was formerly known as the Critérium National de la Route, first run in 1932....
- 1st Stage 1 Route du SudRoute du SudThe Route du Sud is a road bicycle race held annually in Southern France. It was first held in 1977 and since 2005 it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour...
2009
- 1st GP Ouest-France2009 GP Ouest-FranceThe 2009 GP Ouest-France was a one-day road race which took place on 23 August 2009 in Plouay, France. The race was held over , which is 12 laps of a circuit. 2009 was the fifth time that the race has been part of the UCI ProTour, but the race can be dated back to 1931 at its present location. The...
- 1st Stage 14, Giro d'Italia2009 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2009 Giro d'Italia was the 92nd running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 9 to 31 May 2009, and marked the 100th year since the first edition of the race...
- 1st Stage 10, Vuelta a España2009 Vuelta a EspañaThe 2009 Vuelta a España was the 64th Vuelta a España. The event took place from 29 August to 20 September 2009. For only the second time in the race's history, it began away from Spanish soil, with the race not in fact reaching Spain until Stage 5....
- 1st Stage 1, Bay Classic SeriesBay Classic SeriesThe Bay Classic Series is a road cycling race held in and around Port Phillip Bay in Victoria, Australia. The race consists of both a men's and a women's competition over five stages....
- 3rd GP di Lugano
- 6th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
- 7th Amstel Gold Race2009 Amstel Gold RaceThe 2009 Amstel Gold Race was the 44th edition of the Amstel Gold Race classic cycle race and took place on April 19, 2009. It was held on a course from Maastricht to Cauberg, Holland as the fifth event of the 2009 UCI ProTour, and the ninth event in the inaugural UCI World Ranking series...
- 8th Flèche Wallonne2009 La Flèche WallonneThe 2009 La Flèche Wallonne cycling race took place on 22 April 2009. It was the 73rd running of the La Flèche Wallonne between Charleroi and Huy in Belgium....
- 10th Road World Championships
2010
- 12th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
2011
- 1st Overall Danmark Rundt2011 Danmark RundtThe 2011 Danmark Rundt is a men's road bicycle race held from 3 to 7 August 2011. It is the 21st edition of the men's stage race to be held, which was established in 1985. Australian rider Simon Gerrans of Team Sky captured the overall title...
- 3rd Amstel Gold Race2011 Amstel Gold RaceThe 2011 Amstel Gold Race was the 46th running of the Amstel Gold Race, a single-day cycling race. It was held on 17 April 2011 over a distance of and was the tenth race of the 2011 UCI World Tour season....