Christian Vande Velde: Rider Profile

Christain Vande Velde, Tour de France 2009, stage 18

published 11 August 2009

Date of Birth: 22/05/1976

From: Lemont, Illinois, U.S.A

From a young age Christian was a natural sportsman, graduating from Lemont High school in 1994 where he was named Most Valuable player in golf and Most Improved in wrestling. Christian’s true love was racing and in 1998 after a blistering amateur career where he was named Cycling Male Athlete of the year and winner of three National Championships at the U.S Olympic Training Centre, he was awarded with a contract with US Postal where he rode alongside Lance Armstrong.

After switching to Team CSC in 2005 his reputation as a domestique grew after successful races riding in support of Carlos Sastre and Frank Schleck, but it was the move to Slipstream in 2008 that finally brought the American into the limelight. Vande Velde thrived as a team leader and was the surprise package of 2008's Tour de France, finishing fifth in Paris (later promoted to fourth after Bernhard Kohl's disqualification).

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Christian Vande Velde: Rider Profile

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