Career
Despite the fact that he has only 3 wins in his palmarès, which includes two consecutive victories at the Gran Premio Miguel Induráin and LUK-Cup of 2003, he is seen as an outsider for the Ardennes classic races. The previous day on Stage 2, he was caught by the peloton less than 50 meters from the finish line. He had to abandon the 2004 Tour de France after a serious and spectacular fall caused him severe injuries, even though he managed to end the stage.
Kessler is known for riding with his jersey open and also for wearing an undershirt intentionally torn for better cooling.
In January 2010, he had a collision with a cat while on a training ride in Mallorca, Spain, and was left in a critical condition with severe head injuries. On June 27, 2007, Kessler was suspended by Astana for failing a drugs test for testosterone taken in Charleroi in April 2007.
He was fired from the team on July 13. Later named as a recipient of a blood transfusion at the University of Frieburg along with teammates Andreas Kloden and Patrick Sinkewitz during the 2006 Tour de France.
