- Charles Wegelius
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Charles Wegelius 
Wegelius in the 2007 Tour de RomandiePersonal information Full name Charles Wegelius Nickname Charlie Born April 26, 1978
Espoo, FinlandHeight 1.80m Weight 62kg Team information Current team Retired Discipline Road Role Rider Rider type Climber/Mountain Domestique Professional team(s) 2000–2002
2003–2004
2005–2008
2009–2010
2011Mapei-Quick Step
De Nardi
Liquigas-Bianchi
Silence-Lotto
UnitedHealthcareMajor wins Giro D'Italia, 1 Stage TTT
Settimana internazionale di Coppi e Bartali, 1 Stage TTTInfobox last updated on
September 26th, 2011Charles "Charlie" Wegelius (born 26 April 1978 in Espoo, Finland) is an English former professional road racing cyclist.
Never a winner of an individual race, Wegelius nevertheless made a career out of being a reliable and strong domestique, most notably in the mountains.
Contents
Career
Early career
Wegelius' cycling aspirations suffered an early setback, after being injured in an accident involving an all-terrain vehicle, which resulted in his spleen being removed and the news that he would never cycle again.[1] He recovered, however, and had his first professional break in 1999, when he rode as a stagiaire for the ill-fated Linda McCartney Racing Team.[2]
Wegelius participated in the cycling at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, where he finished 5th in the individual time trial and 28th in the road race.[3] He also started the road race at the 2004 Summer Olympics, but failed to finish.
World Championship controversy
Wegelius was involved in controversy in 2005 when he and teammate Tom Southam chose not to ride to protect Roger Hammond, their team leader, in the World Championship road race, and instead looked after the riders in their trade teams.[4] Wegelius later repaid the costs associated with his participation in the event, and was never selected to represent his national team again.[5] He later said that he regretted the incident.[6]
Participation in the Tour de France
Having previously ridden in the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España, Wegelius made his Tour de France début in the 2007 edition. By finishing 45th, he was the best placed British rider in the general classification at 1 hour, 41 minutes and 5 seconds behind yellow jersey winner Alberto Contador.
He received a call-up to participate in the 2009 Tour de France as a replacement for Thomas Dekker, who was ruled out following a positive drug test.[7] He finished 60th in the general classification, 1 hour, 14 minutes and 25 seconds behind the winning Contador.
Wegelius also began the 2010 Tour de France. However, much to his disappointment, he had to pull out after suffering from a sickness.[8] It was his last participation in the Tour de France, as he retired after the 2011 Giro di Padania.[6]
Personal life
Wegelius is the son of Christopher Wegelius, a former Finnish banker and the most successful show jumper to have ever represented Finland.[1]
Wegelius was educated at Bootham School in York from 1989 to 1994.[9]
Wegelius has a wife, Camilla.[2]
Palmarès
- 2002
- 1st TTT Settimana Ciclista Bergamasca
- 2007
- 1st Stage 1 TTT Giro d'Italia
- 2008
- 1st Stage 1b (TTT) Settimana internazionale di Coppi e Bartali
Grand Tour General Classification results timeline
Grand Tour 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Giro 51 48 46 58 WD 69 105 29 Tour - - - - 45 - 60 WD Vuelta - - 60 WD - - WD WD = withdrew
References
- ^ a b Cyclingnews talks with Charly Wegelius Cyclingnews.com Accessed 26th September 2011
- ^ a b Wegelius calls time on cycling career Cyclingnews.com Accessed 26th September 2011
- ^ Commonwealth Sports - Sports Programme Commonwealth Games Federation Accessed 26th September 2011
- ^ Herety resigns over team tactics The Daily Telegraph Accessed 26th September 2011
- ^ Charly Wegelius: Rider Profile Cycling Weekly Accessed 1st September 2009
- ^ a b Charly Wegelius retires from cycling Cycling Weekly Accessed 26th September 2011
- ^ Briton Wegelius gains Tour slot BBC Sport Accessed 26th September 2011
- ^ I felt like a water bucket with dozens of bullet holes Canyon HEROES Blog Accessed 26th September 2011
- ^ “Lost” Old Scholars Bootham School Accessed 26th September 2011
External links
- Charlie Wegelius Profile from Cycling Archives
Categories:- 1978 births
- Living people
- Commonwealth Games competitors for England
- Cyclists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
- English cyclists
- Olympic cyclists of Great Britain
- Cyclists at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- People from Espoo
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