Thomas Dekker: Rider Profile

THOMAS DEKKER

Date of birth: 06/09/1984

From: Dirkshorn, Netherlands

Team: Garmin-Sharp

Previous teams: Chipotle-Garmin (2011), Silence-Lotto (2009), Rabobank (2003-2008)

Thomas Dekker career profile

Thomas Dekker burst onto the scene with two stage wins in the Ster Elektrotoer at the age of just 19, making a name for himself with his time trialling performances.

Equally impressive was his climbing ability, as he showed to great effect, winning the Tour de l'Avenir in 2004 and beating some formidable opposition to take Tirreno-Adriatico in 2006.

Dekker developed into a genuine all-rounder, coping with the demands of the Grand Tours. He also showed that he was capable in the classics, taking top-ten placings in Amstel Gold, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2008.

Rumours began to circulate in 2008, however, that Dekker had show ‘irregular' blood values. It was a story quickly picked up by the Dutch press, but equally quickly rejected by his then team, Rabobank, the UCI and Dekker himself.

He raced very little for the rest of 2008 as a result of his dispute with the Rabobank team and signed for Silence-Lotto for 2009.

Prior to the 2009 Tour de France it was announced that a sample taken from Dekker in 2007 had been retroactively tested and found to contain EPO. Dekker subsequently admitted taking the drug. He received a two-year suspension, returning to competition in June 2011 for the Chipotle team, the development arm of the Garmin-Cervelo squad. He then moved up to ride for Garmin in 2012 for four years, but enjoyed little success.

In November 2014, he announced his intention to take on the Hour Record in the spring of 2015 despite not having signed to a team.

Thomas Dekker results

2011

Duo Normand (with Johan Van Summeren)

2008

Vuelta a Castilla y Leon; points classification [annulled due to doping ban]

2007

Tour of Switzerland; stage six

Tour de Romandie; overall

Tour de Romandie; stage five

Tour de Romandie; points classification

3 Lander Tour; overall

3 Lander Tour; stage two

3 Lander Tour; four

Trofeo Pollenca

2006

Tirreno-Adriatico; overall

2005

Criterium International; stage two

Tour of Poland; stage 7b

National time trial champion

GP Stad Zottegem

2004

Tour de l'Avenir; stage one

Tour de Normandie; overall

Olympia Tour; overall

Olympia Tour; stage

Olympia Tour; stage

GP Eddy Merckx

National time trial champion

2003

Ster Elektrotoer; prologue

Ster Elektrotoer; stage two

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