Martin Earley facts for kids

Martin Earley, born on June 15, 1962, is a famous former professional road cyclist from Ireland. He competed for his country in the Olympic Games twice, in 1984 and 1996. Martin was known for his strong riding and impressive wins in some of the biggest cycling races in the world.

Martin Earley's Cycling Journey

Martin Earley became a professional cyclist in 1985. He joined the Fagor team and rode with them until 1987. During this time, he achieved a big win in 1986. He won a stage (a single day's race) in the Giro d'Italia, which is one of the three most important cycling races in the world. He also won a stage in the Tour of the Basque Country.

In 1987, Martin was part of the Irish team at the World Road Championship. This was a special race where his teammate, Stephen Roche, won the world title. After Fagor, Martin rode for other well-known teams like Kas and the Dutch PDM team. On the PDM team, he rode alongside another famous Irish cyclist, Sean Kelly.

The most exciting moment of Martin's career was in the 1989 Tour de France. He won a stage by breaking away from other riders very close to the finish line. This was a huge achievement in one of the toughest races globally. Martin competed in the Tour de France eight times and finished five of them. His best overall finish was 44th place in 1989.

After his time with PDM, Martin rode for the Festina team. Later, he decided to try mountain biking. He rode for Raleigh and then for individual sponsors. He even competed in the mountain bike race at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, finishing 25th.

Life After Racing

After retiring from professional cycling, Martin Earley continued to be involved in sports. He became a physiotherapist and chiropractor, helping people with their physical health. He also used his experience to coach other cyclists. Some of the athletes he coached include Irish Olympians Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens.

Martin Earley's Big Wins

Martin Earley had many great results during his cycling career. Here are some of his most important achievements:

• 1978
  • 1st Overall Junior Tour of Ireland (This means he won the whole race for junior riders!)
• 1981
  • 1st Shay Elliott Memorial Race
• 1986
  • 1st Stage 14 Giro d'Italia (A major win in one of cycling's biggest races!)
• 1989
  • 1st Stage 8 Tour de France (Winning a stage in the Tour de France is a dream for many cyclists!)
  • 7th Road race, UCI Road World Championships (A top finish in the world championship race)
• 1994
  • 1st Road race, National Road Championships (He became the national champion of Ireland!)