Thomas Dekker: Rider Profile
THOMAS DEKKER
Date of birth: 06/09/1984
From: Dirkshorn, Netherlands
Team: Garmin-Sharp
Previous teams: Chipotle-Garmin (2011), Silence-Lotto (2009), Rabobank (2003-2008)
Thomas Dekker career profile
Thomas Dekker burst onto the scene with two stage wins in the Ster Elektrotoer at the age of just 19, making a name for himself with his time trialling performances.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Equally impressive was his climbing ability, as he showed to great effect, winning the Tour de l'Avenir in 2004 and beating some formidable opposition to take Tirreno-Adriatico in 2006.
Dekker developed into a genuine all-rounder, coping with the demands of the Grand Tours. He also showed that he was capable in the classics, taking top-ten placings in Amstel Gold, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2008.
Rumours began to circulate in 2008, however, that Dekker had show ‘irregular' blood values. It was a story quickly picked up by the Dutch press, but equally quickly rejected by his then team, Rabobank, the UCI and Dekker himself.
He raced very little for the rest of 2008 as a result of his dispute with the Rabobank team and signed for Silence-Lotto for 2009.
Prior to the 2009 Tour de France it was announced that a sample taken from Dekker in 2007 had been retroactively tested and found to contain EPO. Dekker subsequently admitted taking the drug. He received a two-year suspension, returning to competition in June 2011 for the Chipotle team, the development arm of the Garmin-Cervelo squad. He then moved up to ride for Garmin in 2012 for four years, but enjoyed little success.
In November 2014, he announced his intention to take on the Hour Record in the spring of 2015 despite not having signed to a team.
Thomas Dekker results
2011
Duo Normand (with Johan Van Summeren)
2008
Vuelta a Castilla y Leon; points classification [annulled due to doping ban]
2007
Tour of Switzerland; stage six
Tour de Romandie; overall
Tour de Romandie; stage five
Tour de Romandie; points classification
3 Lander Tour; overall
3 Lander Tour; stage two
3 Lander Tour; four
Trofeo Pollenca
2006
Tirreno-Adriatico; overall
2005
Criterium International; stage two
Tour of Poland; stage 7b
National time trial champion
GP Stad Zottegem
2004
Tour de l'Avenir; stage one
Tour de Normandie; overall
Olympia Tour; overall
Olympia Tour; stage
Olympia Tour; stage
GP Eddy Merckx
National time trial champion
2003
Ster Elektrotoer; prologue
Ster Elektrotoer; stage two
RELATED LINKS
Cycling Weekly's Rider Profiles: Index
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
-
‘There's no point to race for 50th place’: Peter Sagan explains why he’s a cycling esports ambassador but won’t compete
As a MyWhoosh ambassador, Sagan admires the sport’s evolution, but does he have the watts to compete with today’s virtual cycling stars?
By Christopher Schwenker Published
-
Rapha's loss, your gain: prices slashed sitewide amid profitability concerns
The British clothing brand unveils an almost unheard-of 25% discount across its entire product range
By Hannah Bussey Published
-
Thomas Dekker admits that he is the rider codenamed 'Luigi' in Spanish doping scandal
Thomas Dekker has admitted his links to Operacion Puerto doping doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, saying that the codenamed rider 'Luigi' was him and not Fabian Cancellara
By Gregor Brown Published
-
Thomas Dekker's new book reveals extent of doping at Rabobank team
Former pro Thomas Dekker talks about the use of banned substances, blood doping and prostitutes in the Rabobank team in the 2000s
By Nigel Wynn Published
-
Thomas Dekker announces retirement from cycling
30-year-old Dutchman Thomas Dekker closes cycling career after failing to find a contract for 2015
By Nigel Wynn Published