Lars Michaelsen

{{Short description|Danish cyclist (born 1969)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Lars Michaelsen

| image =

| fullname = Lars Michaelsen

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1969|3|13}}

| birth_place = Copenhagen, Denmark

| height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|79|kg|lb st|abbr=on}}

| currentteam = Retired

| discipline = Road

| role = Rider

| ridertype =

| proyears1 = 1994

| proteam1 = Catavana–AS Corbeil–Essonnes–Cedico

| proyears2 = 1995–1996

| proteam2 = Festina

| proyears3 = 1997–1998

| proteam3 = TVM

| proyears4 = 1999–2000

| proteam4 = Française des Jeux

| proyears5 = 2001–2002

| proteam5 = Team Coast

| proyears6 = 2003–2007

| proteam6 = Team CSC

| manageyears1 = 2008–2010

| manageteam1 = {{UCI team code|SAX|2008a}}

| manageyears2 = 2011

| manageteam2 = {{UCI team code|TFR|2011}}

| manageyears3 = 2012–2016

| manageteam3 = {{UCI team code|SAX|2012b}}

| manageyears4 = 2017–

| manageteam4 = {{UCI team code|AST|2017}}

| majorwins =

Grand Tours

:Vuelta a España

::1 individual stage (1997)

Stage races

:Tour of Qatar (2005)

One-day races and Classics

:Gent–Wevelgem (1995)

}}

Lars Michaelsen (born 13 March 1969) is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer who last rode for Team CSC. He got his break through in his second year as a professional, when he won the 1995 edition of Gent–Wevelgem. In the 1997 Vuelta a España he won stage 1 and wore the leader's jersey for three days (stage 2, 3 and 5). In 2002 he finished fifth in Paris–Roubaix, a result he would duplicate in 2005. In the 2006 Paris–Roubaix he was once again in the group of favourites, but he helped teammate Fabian Cancellara win the race and finished 19th himself. In his last race, the 2007 Paris–Roubaix, he finished 11th after a strong race, where only a mechanical failure prevented him from following the favorites. Again a teammate, Stuart O'Grady, won the race. Michaelsen rode at four Olympic Games.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mi/lars-michaelsen-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418024805/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mi/lars-michaelsen-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Lars Michaelsen Olympic Results |accessdate=24 July 2016}}

After retiring he became a directeur sportif, continuing with his final team until 2011 when he joined {{UCI team code|TFR|2011}}. He subsequently returned to Team Saxo Bank in 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/michaelsen-joins-saxo-bank-as-sport-director |title=Michaelsen joins Saxo Bank as sport director |author= |date=2 February 2015 |website=cyclingnews.com|access-date=26 April 2015}} Following the end of the then-Tinkoff team in 2016, he joined the Astana Proteam in 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.astanaproteam.kz/modules.php?name=astana&page=team-management&idteam=465|accessdate=18 May 2018|title=Astana – Pro Team}}

At the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire, Michaelsen was driving the Astana team car when it crashed through a traffic island manned by a race volunteer. Consequently, he was given a period of suspension of 50 days and a fine of CHF 5,000 by the UCI.{{cite web|title=UCI statement on the accident involving the Astana Pro Team car at the Tour de Yorkshire|url=http://www.uci.ch/pressreleases/uci-statement-the-accident-involving-the-astana-pro-team-car-the-tour-yorkshire/|accessdate=18 May 2018}}