Rainer Kepplinger

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Rainer Kepplinger

| image = 2022-08-17 European Championships 2022 – Road Cycling Men's Time Trial by Sandro Halank–033.jpg

| caption = Kepplinger competing in the time trial at the 2022 European Road Championships

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|8|19|df=yes}}{{cite web |title=Rainer Kepplinger |url=https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/rainer-kepplinger |website=www.procyclingstats.com |access-date=12 August 2022 |language=en}}

| birth_place = Austria

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height =

| weight =

| currentteam = {{UCI team code|TBV}}{{cite web |title=Rainer KEPPLINGER |url=https://www.uci.org/rider-details/1060775 |website=UCI |access-date=12 August 2022 |language=en}}

| discipline = Road

| role = Rider

| ridertype =

| amateuryears1 =

| amateurteam1 =

| proyears1 = 2021–2022

| proteam1 = {{UCI team code|HAC|2021}}{{cite web |title=HRINKOW ADVARICS |url=https://www.uci.org/team-details/17278 |website=UCI |access-date=12 August 2022 |language=en}}

| proyears2 = 2023–

| proteam2 = {{UCI team code|TBV|2023}}

| majorwins =

| show-medals =

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}}

Rainer Kepplinger (born 19 August 1997) is an Austrian professional racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam {{UCI team code|TBV}}.

Career

At the 2022 UCI Esports World Championships, Kepplinger rode in the elite road race for Austria where he got into the early break but was caught on the final climb by the peloton, still managing to finish seventh.{{cite web |title=Men Final Result |url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/5DhrbKoPyEHWfaqHlRXFyM/6ac2c4b2482ba7feb4371192dc8a90a4/2022UCIEsportsWorldChampionships-Result-Men-Final.pdf |website=ctfassets.net |access-date=12 August 2022 |language=en |date=26 February 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Mickey |first1=Abby |title=Vine and Ovett of Australia finish first and second in esports World Championships |url=https://cyclingtips.com/2022/02/vine-and-ovett-of-australia-finish-first-and-second-in-esports-world-championships/ |website=CyclingTips |access-date=12 August 2022 |language=en |date=26 February 2022}} Kepplinger's first victory came from winning the Kirschblütenrennen (National event) in a two-man sprint to the line with Matthias Reutimann. Kepplinger attacked solo with 30 km to go but Reutimann was able to catch up and the pair finished 54 seconds ahead of the chasers.{{cite web |title=Kepplinger gewinnt Kirschblütenrennen |url=https://ödar.at/article/6252f041f0d4e5011d64ece9 |website=ödar.at |access-date=12 August 2022 |language=de}}

In June 2022 at the Oberösterreich Rundfahrt, he won the final stage ahead of defending champion Alexis Guérin, securing his first overall victory in the race.{{cite web |title=Kepplinger triumphiert bei Oberösterreich-Rundfahrt |url=https://sport.orf.at/stories/3096803 |website=sport.ORF.at |access-date=12 August 2022 |language=de |date=12 June 2022}} In late July a criterium was held, the Altstadtcriterium, which Geraint Thomas won, while Kepplinger finished 2 seconds behind Thomas in seventh place.{{cite web |title=Kepplinger just three seconds behind the Tour de France star - 24 Hours World |url=https://24hoursworlds.com/international/207672 |website=24hoursworlds.com |access-date=12 August 2022 |language=en |date=27 July 2022}}{{cite web |title=Altstadt-Kriterium Graz |url=https://www.altstadtkriterium-graz.at/ |website=Altstadt-Kriterium Graz |access-date=12 August 2022 |language=de-DE}}

On 12 August 2022 it was announced that Kepplinger would join UCI WorldTeam {{UCI team code|TBV|2022}} on a three-year contract from 2023.{{cite web |title=Waldinger Rainer Kepplinger unterschreibt bei Bahrain Victorious |url=https://www.tips.at/nachrichten/urfahr-umgebung/sport/574907-waldinger-rainer-kepplinger-unterschreibt-bei-bahrain-victorious |website=Tips Online |access-date=12 August 2022 |language=de |date=28 July 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Weislo |first1=Laura |title=Bahrain Victorious sign young Croatian talent Miholjevic |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bahrain-victorious-sign-young-croatian-talent-miholjevic/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=12 August 2022 |language=en |date=12 August 2022}}

Major results

Sources:{{cite web |title=Rainer Kepplinger |url=http://www.cyclingarchives.com/coureurfiche.php?coureurid=174368 |website=www.cyclingarchives.com |access-date=12 August 2022 |language=en}}

;2021

: 5th Time trial, National Road Championships

;2022

: 1st {{cjersey|yellow}} Overall Oberösterreich Rundfahrt

::1st Stage 3

: 2nd Overall Tour of Malopolska

: 2nd Time trial, National Road Championships

: 5th Overall Belgrade Banjaluka

: 7th UCI Esports World Championships

;2024

: 8th Overall Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana

;2025