Kevin Van Impe (born 19 April 1981 in Aalst, East Flanders) is a retired Belgian professional road bicycle racer. His father is former cyclist Frank Van Impe, and his uncle is Lucien Van Impe, one of the greatest climbers in cycling history and winner of the 1976 Tour de France.

Kevin Van Impe
Personal information
Full nameKevin Van Impe
Born (1981-04-19) 19 April 1981 (age 43)
Aalst, Belgium
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight75 kg (165 lb)
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Professional teams
2002–2004Lotto–Adecco
2005Chocolade Jacques–T Interim
2006–2011Quick-Step–Innergetic
2012Vacansoleil–DCM
Major wins
One-day races and Classics
Dwars door Vlaanderen (2009)

A routine out of competition drugs test performed on Van Impe caused controversy in March 2008. Van Impe was asked to give a sample for testing whilst at a crematorium making funeral arrangements for his deceased son, and was warned that failure to provide a sample would count as a refusal to give a sample, for which sanctions apply.[1] Professional cyclists racing in the Paris–Nice and Tirreno–Adriatico performed demonstrations over the lack of respect shown to Van Impe.

Van Impe retired in March 2012,[2] having only joined the Vacansoleil–DCM team in January of that year.[3]

Major results edit

1999
1st   Time trial, National Under–19 Road Championships
2000
3rd Time trial, National Under–23 Road Championships
2002
1st GP Zele
2003
1st Stage 1 Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt
2004
8th Overall Circuit Franco-Belge
9th Overall Tour of Britain
9th Brussel–Ingooigem
2005
1st Omloop van het Houtland
2nd Road race, National Road Championships
2nd Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne
6th Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen
2006
1st   Overall Circuit Franco-Belge
1st   Young rider classification
1st Stage 1
9th Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne
9th Halle–Ingooigem
2007
9th Paris–Roubaix
2009
1st Dwars door Vlaanderen

References edit

  1. ^ "Drug testers impose on funeral arrangements". Cyclingnews.com. 16 March 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
  2. ^ Stokes, Shane (23 March 2012). "Kevin Van Impe retires with immediate effect". VeloNation. VeloNation LLC. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  3. ^ Atkins, Ben (3 January 2012). "Vacansoleil-DCM presented with twelve new riders for 2012". VeloNation. VeloNation LLC. Retrieved 24 March 2012.

External links edit