Andreas Klöden was a professional German road cycle racer and a representative of team Telecom (later T-Mobile), Astana and RadioShack. Was one of the best all rounders in 2000-s, winning 2 second places in Tour de France general classification and a couple of minor tours. He was a bronze medalist at the Olympic Games 2000. Finished his career in 2013.
Background
Andreas Klöden was born in Mittweida, East-Germany in a family of a national army soldier and a teacher of German and Art. However, his family moved to another city and he connected his life with sport. He started in SG Dynamo Forst and was transferred in 1989 to sportschool in Berlin, where he trained in SC Dynamo Berlin together with Jan Ullrich.
First success of Andreas Klöden was third place in Under 23 World Time Trial Championships in 1996.
Finished his career in 2013.
Education
The children and youth sport schools (KJS) were schools for sport talented children. Klöden trained there with his future teammate and a good friend Jan Ullrich.
Career
In 1996 he became third in Under 23 World Time Trial Championships.
Andreas Klöden started his professional career in 1998 in the team Deutsche Telecom, where he helped Jan Ullrich. His first big success was in 2000, when Klöden won the general classification of Paris–Nice. He became third later at the Olympic Games 2000, making a breakaway together with his teammates Jan Ullrich and Alexander Vinokourov. Until 2004 he dropped out of the big peloton due to a number of injures but successfully returned prepared for Tour de France. He was German national champion in a road race and after Jan Ullrich failed in Alps became number one of the team. He finished second after Lance Armstrong.
In 2006 he nearly won Tour de France, being in the best shape, but lost the last mountain stage and finished third in general classification. Later became second after disqualification of Floyd Landis.
He was connected to doping scandals himself. After dismiss of Telecom he team joined the kazakh team Astana, where he had to help his former teammate Alexander Vinokourov. In 2007 he struggled for the podium, but team Astana was disqualified due to the doping scandals.
In 2009 Klöden joined Team RadioShack together with his former opponent Lance Armstrong. He managed to finish Tour on the sixth position, being rather strong in mountains.
Over the last 4 years he succeeded only in minor races.
With 1.83 m and 63 kg Klöden was meant to become one of the best grand tour riders of his generation. He was called the gentleman of the peloton. Still, his character wasn't so overt. He had a low-key farewell to the sport, quietly announcing his retirement in late 2013
Klöden had disagreements with German cycling federation and even refused to compete under German flag.
"The best German classics specialist decides to chase after Australia. Last year, he earned a lot of points in the Pro Tour. He is our future, why did he leave? I believe that Heinrich did the only right choice. He will work with professionals, not amateurs."
As a rider he was a good helper and teammate, always being in serve for his leaders Jan Ullrich and Alexander Vinokourov.
Quotes from others about the person
"Even if somebody tells, that I have the same capacities as Jan Ullrich I don't think so. He is brilliant. I guess I am only 60% of his power".
“No gifts, no gifts this year. I’ve given gifts in the Tour de France and very rarely has it ever come back to help me. And this is the biggest bike race in the world and it means more than any bike race in the world. And I wanna win. No gifts.” Lance Armstrong after sprinting to chase down and beat T-Mobile rival Andreas Klöden at Le Grand Bornand in 2004.
"Actually, I am very satisfied with my career," he said. "I have had the possibility to do nice and big races and to win some of them. For this, I also have to thank my family and my sponsors that have supported me throughout my entire career. It is maybe a slight disappointment that I didn't win a grand tour even though I had the potential to do so."