Ron Kiefel

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Ron Kiefel
File:Frankie Andreu Ron Kiefel 1991 Thrift Drug Classic.jpg
Kiefel and Frankie Andreu (r-l) racing 1991 Thrift Drug Classic for Motorola
Personal information
Full nameRonald Alexander Kiefel
NicknameWookie[1]
Born (1960-04-11) April 11, 1960 (age 66)
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeAll-rounder
Professional teams
1985–19907-Eleven
1991–1992Motorola
1993–1994Coors Light
1995Saturn
Major wins
Grand Tours
Giro d'Italia
1 individual stage (1985)

Stage races

Tour de Luxembourg
1 individual stage (1992)
Tour DuPont
1 individual stage (1992)

One-day races and Classics

Trofeo Laigueglia (1985)
Giro di Toscana (1988)
Medal record
Men's road bicycle racing
Representing the File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1984 Los Angeles Team Time Trial

Ronald Alexander Kiefel (born April 11, 1960) is a former professional road bicycle racer from the United States. Kiefel is a seven-time Tour de France racer, Olympic bronze medalist and member of the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame.

Kiefel rode for American professional teams such as 7-Eleven, Motorola, Coors Light and Saturn. His wins included the 1985 Trofeo Laigueglia and the 1987 Tour of Tuscany.

He became the first American stage winner in a Grand Tour when he won stage 15 (from L'Aquila to Perugia) in the 1985 Giro d'Italia.[2]

He competed in seven Tours de France, and represented the USA at the 1984 Olympic Games, where he won bronze in the team time trial with Roy Knickman, Davis Phinney, and Andy Weaver.[3]

In 1983 Kiefel won the USPRO road championship, the time trial and the team time trial. He was also road champion in 1988. He retired from racing in 1996 and has since commentated on TV and radio for European classics and tours. He is a coach in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, former vice president of Wheat Ridge Cyclery, and promotes races and rides.

In 2004, Kiefel was inducted in the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Meegan, at one time hosted a weekly AM radio show.[4]

Major results

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File:1984 Olympics - 100k Team Time Trial (USA team).jpg
Ron Kiefel in 100 km team trial race in 1984 Olympics (far right)

Year by year

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1978
1980
  • 5th, U.S. National Cyclocross Championships[6]
1981
  • 5th, U.S. National Cyclocross Championships
1983
  • 1st, U.S. National Cycling Championships – Road Race
  • 1st, U.S. National Cycling Championships – Individual Time Trial
  • 1st, U.S. National Cycling Championships – Team Time Trial
1984
1985
1986
  • 1st, Prologue, Coors Classic (USA)
  • 1st, Stage 13, Coors Classic (USA)[7]
1987
  • 1st, Los Gatos Cat's Hill Classic[8] (USA)
1988
  • 1st, Overall, Tour of Tuscany (ITA)
  • 1st, U.S. National Cycling Championships – Road Race
  • 1st, Stage 12, Coors Classic (USA)
1989
  • 1st, Stage 10, Tour de Trump (USA)
  • 6th, Overall, Tour de Trump (USA)
1990
  • 1st, Stage 1, Critérium International (FR)[7]
  • 2nd, Stage 10, Tour de Trump (USA)
  • 3rd, Stage 8, Tour de France
1992
  • 1st, Stage 1, Tour de Luxembourg (LU)[7]
1993
  • 1st, Stage 7, Tour DuPont (USA)[7]
  • 1st, Los Gatos Cat's Hill Classic (USA)
1994
  • 1st, Overall, CoreStates New Jersey National Bank Classic (USA)[7]

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

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Grand Tour 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
A yellow jersey Tour de France 96[7] 82 69 73 83 138 DNF
Pink jersey Giro d'Italia 60 62 102 138

References

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  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ An American in Italy cyclingnews.com, May 5, 2009
  3. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ US National Cyclocross Champions 1975–2004
  7. ^ a b c d e f Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ Cat's Hill Classic Bicycle Race
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