Ron Kiefel

Last updated

Ron Kiefel
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 64)
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 Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 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.

Contents

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

Ron Kiefel in 100 km team trial race in 1984 Olympics (far right) 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

1978
1980
1981
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1992
1993
1994

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

Grand Tour 19851986198719881989199019911992
Jersey yellow.svg Tour de France 96 [7] 82 69 73 83 138 DNF
Jersey pink.svg Giro d'Italia 60 62 102 138

References

  1. Vergne, Laurent (July 22, 2015). "Cannibale, Chéri-pipi, Wookie, Andy torticolis… le Top 20 des surnoms mythiques du cyclisme" [Cannibal, Chéri-pipi, Wookie, Andy Torticollis... the Top 20 mythical nicknames of cycling]. Eurosport (in French). Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  2. An American in Italy cyclingnews.com, May 5, 2009
  3. "Ron Kiefel Olympic Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  4. "The Keifel Cycling Hour". Archived from the original on September 23, 2004.
  5. Crew, P. E. Z. (September 17, 2007). "PEZ-Talk: American Pioneer Ron Kiefel". PezCycling News. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  6. US National Cyclocross Champions 1975–2004
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ron Kiefel". www.procyclingstats.com. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  8. Cat's Hill Classic Bicycle Race