Kim Kirchen

Kim Kirchen (born 3 July 1978) is a Luxembourgish former road racing cyclist. He is the son of cyclist Erny Kirchen and the great-nephew of cyclist Jeng Kirchen.

Career

Kirchen signed as a professional cyclist in 2000 with De Nardi-Pasta Montegrappa, and went on to join in 2001. For the 2006 cycling season, he joined the following the demise of the Fassa Bortolo team.

His first recorded race was in Dommeldange in 1999, and he had to wait until 2000 for his first professional victory when he won the Piva Col trophy. Kirchen was named the Luxembourgian Sportsman of the Year in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008, surpassing the achievement of fellow cyclist Charly Gaul and putting him fourth in the all-time stakes.

In July 2008 he showed good form during the Tour de France, placing 7th in the general classification and wearing the yellow jersey for a total of four stages.

In 2010, Kirchen joined , after he was unable to agree with on a contract extension. He suffered a suspected heart attack during the 2010 Tour de Suisse, in June 2010. He did not race in 2011 because of the heart condition and later retired from the sport.

Since 2011, Kirchen co-commentates all cycling races broadcast on RTL TÃÂ©lÃÂ© LÃÂ«tzebuerg, along with former Cofidis cyclist Tom Flammang.

Personal life

Kim Kirchen was born on 3 July 1978, in Luxembourg. His father, Erny Kirchen, was a cyclist, notably winning the FlÃÂ¨che du Sud and being the national vice-champion in 1974.

Kim Kirchen started cycling at the age of 13 in 1992, with the Amis du Cyclisme de la Commune de Contern (ACC Contern), a renowned Luxembourgish club presided over by Marcel Gilles, where he notably rode alongside FrÃÂ¤nk Schleck.

Kim Kirchen married Caroline in 2007. On 8 July 2010, just a few days after he emerged from a coma, his wife gave birth to twins, Liam and Mike.