Charly Wegelius

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Charly Wegelius

| image = Wegeliusgiro2010.jpg

| caption = Wegelius at the 2010 Giro d'Italia

| fullname = Charles Wegelius

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1978|4|26}}

| birth_place = Espoo, Finland

| height = 1.80 m

| weight = 62 kg

| currentteam = Retired

| discipline = Road

| role = Rider

| ridertype = Climbing specialist
Domestique

| amateuryears1 = 1996–1998

| amateurteam1 = Vendée U

| amateuryears2 = 1999

| amateurteam2 = Linda McCartney Racing Team (stagiaire)

| proyears1 = 2000–2002

| proteam1 = {{UCI team code|MAP|2000}}

| proyears2 = 2003–2004

| proteam2 = De Nardi

| proyears3 = 2005–2008

| proteam3 = {{UCI team code|LIQ|2005}}

| proyears4 = 2009–2010

| proteam4 = {{UCI team code|OLO|2009}}

| proyears5 = 2011

| proteam5 = {{UCI team code|UHC|2011}}

| manageyears1 = 2012–

| manageteam1 = Team EF Education-Nippo

| majorwins = Grand Tours

:Giro d'Italia

::1 TTT stage (2007)

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry| {{flagu|Great Britain}} }}

}}

Charles "Charly" Wegelius (born 26 April 1978 in Espoo, Finland) is a British former professional road racing cyclist.

Never a winner of a professional race individually, Wegelius nevertheless made a career out of being a reliable and strong domestique, most notably in the mountains.

Career

=Early career=

Wegelius started his career in France, riding for the Vendée U team managed by Jean-René Bernaudeau, thanks to the influence of former pro Graham Jones.{{cite web |url=https://lejournaldesentreprises.com/ar/viewarticle1024.php?aaaammjj=19960926&article=19960926-1171918&type=ar |title=Archived copy |website=lejournaldesentreprises.com |access-date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150309184456/https://lejournaldesentreprises.com/ar/viewarticle1024.php?aaaammjj=19960926&article=19960926-1171918&type=ar |archive-date=9 March 2015 |url-status=dead}} His team-mates included Walter Bénéteau, Christian Guiberteau, Roger Hammond, Samuel Plouhinec, and Janek Tombak.{{cite web|url=http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/pelotons/equipes.php?q=17973|title=Vendée U 1997|work=memoire-du-cyclisme.eu}} He won a number of races in his first season, including beating Sandy Casar, who was the brightest prospect in the local area. His biggest result was winning the Under-23 section of the Grand Prix des Nations, after which Le Télégramme reported that Wegelius was one of the most promising riders of his generation.

Wegelius' cycling aspirations suffered an early setback, after being injured in an accident involving an all-terrain vehicle, which resulted in his spleen being removed and the news that he would never cycle again.[http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/interviews/wegelius01.shtml Cyclingnews talks with Charly Wegelius] Cyclingnews.com Accessed 26 September 2011 He recovered, however, and had his first professional break in 1999, when he rode as a stagiaire for the ill-fated Linda McCartney Racing Team.[http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wegelius-calls-time-on-cycling-career Wegelius calls time on cycling career] Cyclingnews.com Accessed 26 September 2011

Wegelius participated in the cycling at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, where he finished 5th in the individual time trial and 28th in the road race.[http://www.thecgf.com/sports/default.asp Commonwealth Sports – Sports Programme] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201105233/http://www.thecgf.com/sports/default.asp |date=1 February 2008 }} Commonwealth Games Federation Accessed 26 September 2011 He also started the road race at the 2004 Summer Olympics, but failed to finish.

=Italian years=

Wegelius raced in Italy for a succession of teams between 2000 and 2009. At Mapei he was part of a generation of young cyclists that included Fabian Cancellara, Luca Paolini, Dario Cioni, Rinaldo Nocentini, Filippo Pozzato, Leif Hoste, Bernhard Eisel, Allan Davis, and Michael Rogers. Wegelius took part in his first Grand Tour, Mapei's last, at the 2002 Vuelta a España. After the team's sponsor pulled out at the end of 2002, Wegelius moved to the smaller De Nardi team, which raced on the Italian domestic scene. They were invited to the Giro d'Italia in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, Wegelius notably helped Serhiy Honchar to an unexpected second place, often driving the leading group up the difficult mountain stages.{{cite web|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/giro04/?id=results/livecomp19|title=www.cyclingnews.com presents the 87th Giro d'Italia, 2004|work=cyclingnews.com}}

=World Championship controversy=

Wegelius was involved in controversy in 2005 when he and teammate Tom Southam chose not to ride to protect Roger Hammond, their team leader, in the World Championship road race, and instead took instructions from the Italian team for a fee.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2366613/Herety-resigns-over-team-tactics.html Herety resigns over team tactics] The Daily Telegraph Accessed 26 September 2011 Wegelius later repaid the costs associated with his participation in the event, and was never selected to represent his national team again.[http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/345931/charly-wegelius-rider-profile.html Charly Wegelius: Rider Profile] Cycling Weekly Accessed 1 September 2009 He later said that he regretted the incident.[http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/530015/charly-wegelius-retires-from-cycling.html Charly Wegelius retires from cycling] Cycling Weekly Accessed 26 September 2011

=Giro d'Italia=

Having been on the Liquigas-Bianchi team since they reached the top level of cycling, Wegelius was a key domestique in the Giro d'Italia supporting Dario Cioni, Danilo Di Luca, and Stefano Garzelli.{{cite web|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/giro05/?id=/riders/2005/interviews/charly_wegelius05|title=www.cyclingnews.com presents the 88th Giro d'Italia|work=cyclingnews.com}} Wegelius competed in every Giro d'Italia between 2003 and 2010, and successfully supported Di Luca to victory in 2007, which was ironically the only Giro Wegelius failed to finish.

=Participation in the Tour de France=

Having previously ridden in the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España, Wegelius made his Tour de France début in the 2007 edition. By finishing 45th, he was the best placed British rider in the general classification at 1 hour, 41 minutes and 5 seconds behind yellow jersey winner Alberto Contador. He received a call-up to participate in the 2009 Tour de France as a replacement for Thomas Dekker, who was ruled out following a positive drug test.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8129405.stm Briton Wegelius gains Tour slot] BBC Sport Accessed 26 September 2011 He finished 60th in the general classification, 1 hour, 14 minutes and 25 seconds behind the winning Contador. Wegelius also began the 2010 Tour de France. However, much to his disappointment, he had to pull out after suffering from a sickness.[http://blog.canyon.com/?p=2793&lang=en I felt like a water bucket with dozens of bullet holes] Canyon HEROES Blog Accessed 26 September 2011 It was his last participation in the Tour de France, as he retired after the 2011 Giro di Padania.

Following his retirement, he joined the then Garmin–Cervélo team as Directeur sportif.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wegelius-to-garmin-cervelo-as-director-sportif|title=Wegelius to Garmin–Cervélo as Director Sportif|author=Daniel Benson|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=5 November 2011 }}

Personal life

Wegelius is the son of Christopher Wegelius, a Finnish former banker and the most successful show jumper ever to have represented Finland. His mother was English-born Elizabeth Jane Murray. Wegelius moved, as a small boy, with his mother, to England. He grew up in Yorkshire.

Wegelius was educated at Bootham School in York from 1989 to 1994.{{cite book|publisher=Bootham Old Scholars Association |title=Bootham School Register|place=York, England|year=2011}}

Wegelius has a wife, Camilla, and two sons. They live in Finland.

Career achievements

=Major results=

;1995

: 1st 20px Overall Junior Tour of Wales

;1999

: 2nd 15px European Under-23 Time Trial Championships

: 2nd Overall Okolo Slovenska

: 3rd Liège–Bastogne–Liège U23

: 4th Manx Trophy

: 5th Time trial, National Road Championships

;2002

: 5th Time trial, Commonwealth Games

;2004

: 5th Road race, National Road Championships

;2005

: 3rd Overall Vuelta a Aragón

;2006

: 5th Giro dell'Appennino

;2007

: 1st Stage 1 (TTT) Giro d'Italia

;2008

: 1st Stage 1b (TTT) Settimana internazionale di Coppi e Bartali

;2011

: 10th Coppa Papà Carlo

=Grand Tour general classification results timeline=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" \| Grand Tour ! scope="col" \| 2002 ! scope="col" \| 2003 ! scope="col" \| 2004 ! scope="col" \| 2005 ! scope="col" \| 2006 ! scope="col" \| 2007 ! scope="col" \| 2008 ! scope="col" \| 2009 ! scope="col" \| 2010
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" \| File:Jersey pink.svg Giro d'Italia \|— \| style="text-align:center;"\|51 \| style="text-align:center;"\|48 \| style="text-align:center;"\|46 \| style="text-align:center;"\|58 \| style="text-align:center;"\|DNF \| style="text-align:center;"\|69 \| style="text-align:center;"\|105 \| style="text-align:center;"\|29
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" \| File:Jersey yellow.svg Tour de France \|— \|— \|— \|— \|— \| style="text-align:center;"\|45 \|— \| style="text-align:center;"\|60 \| style="text-align:center;"\|DNF
style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" \| File:Jersey gold.svg/File:Jersey red.svg Vuelta a España \| style="text-align:center;"\|109 \|— \|— \| style="text-align:center;"\|60 \| style="text-align:center;"\|DNF \|— \|— \| style="text-align:center;"\|DNF \|—

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

scope="col" | Grand Tour

! scope="col" | 2002

! scope="col" | 2003

! scope="col" | 2004

! scope="col" | 2005

! scope="col" | 2006

! scope="col" | 2007

! scope="col" | 2008

! scope="col" | 2009

! scope="col" | 2010

style="text-align:center;"