Sean Kelly (cyclist)
Grand Tours
- Tour de France:
- Points classification (1982, 1983, 1985, 1989)
- Intermediate sprints classification (1982, 1983, 1989)
- 5 Stages
- Vuelta a España
- General Classification (1988)
- Points classification (1980, 1985, 1986, 1988)
- 16 Stages
Stage Races
- Paris–Nice
- General classification (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988)
- Tour de Suisse
- General classification (1983, 1990)
- Vuelta al País Vasco
- General classification (1984, 1986, 1987)
- Volta a Catalunya
- General classification (1984, 1986)
Single-Day Races and Classics
- UCI Road World Cup: (1989)
- Milan – San Remo: (1986, 1992)
- Paris–Roubaix: (1984, 1986)
- Liège–Bastogne–Liège: (1984, 1989)
- Giro di Lombardia: (1983, 1985, 1991)
- Critérium International: (1983, 1984, 1987)
| Competitor for Ireland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Road bicycle racing | ||
| World Championships | ||
| Bronze | 1982 Goodwood | Elite Men's Road Race |
| Bronze | 1989 Chambéry | Elite Men's Road Race |
15 April 2009
John James 'Sean' Kelly (born 24 May 1956) 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 professional races in total. He won Paris–Nice seven years in a row and the first UCI Road World Cup in 1989. He won the 1988 Vuelta a España and had multiple wins in the Giro di Lombardia, Milan – San Remo, Paris–Roubaix and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Other victories include the Critérium International, Grand Prix des Nations and smaller tours including the Tour de Suisse, Vuelta al País Vasco and Volta a Catalunya.
Although Kelly never won the World Road Race Championships, he twice won bronze medals (1982, 1989) and also finished 5th in 1987, the year compatriot Stephen Roche won gold. Kelly was first to be ranked No.1 when the FICP rankings were introduced in March 1984, a position he held for a record six years. In the 1984 season, Kelly achieved 33 victories.
Read more about Sean Kelly (cyclist): Early Life, Amateur Career and Olympic Ban, Professional Career, Height of Professional Career, Twilight of His Career, Doping, Assessment, Post-cycling Career, Personality