Richard Virenque facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Richard Virenque

Virenque at the 2003 Tour de France
Personal information
Full name	Richard Virenque
Nickname	Ricco
Born	(1969-11-19) 19 November 1969 (age 55) Casablanca, Morocco
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Weight	65 kg (143 lb; 10 st 3 lb)
Team information
Current team	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	Climbing specialist
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France Mountains classification (1994–1997, 1999, 2003, 2004) 7 individual stages (1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002–2004) Giro d'Italia 1 individual stage (1999) One-Day Races and Classics Paris–Tours (2001)

Richard Virenque (born 19 November 1969) is a retired French professional road racing cyclist. He was very popular with fans because of his friendly personality. He was known for his long rides by himself during races.

Richard was a fantastic climber. He is famous for winning the King of the Mountains competition in the Tour de France a record seven times! However, he is also known for being a main person in a big controversy in 1998. This event was called the Festina Affair. He was accused of not playing fair in cycling.

Early Life and Family

Richard Virenque grew up in Casablanca, Morocco. He lived with his parents, his brother Lionel, and his sister Nathalie. His family was well-off and had a gardener and a nurse.

Richard's mother said he was a kind and lively boy. He enjoyed helping her in the garden. His hero was the famous singer Michael Jackson. Richard's father, Jacques, owned a tire company.

Richard started cycling by riding around his family's garden. He said his first bike was very simple. It had no brakes, so he had to drag his feet to stop! Richard sometimes skipped school to go fishing at the beach. He later realized that cycling was what he was meant to do.

In 1979, when Richard was nine, his family moved to La Londe-les-Maures in France. This was near the beautiful Côte d'Azur. His parents later divorced, which made Richard very sad. He said his bike became his comfort during this tough time.

Richard didn't enjoy school much. He left to become a plumber. However, he often went cycling instead of attending his classes.

Starting His Cycling Journey

Virenque (second from the left) during an amateur race in 1990

Richard wasn't immediately interested in bike racing. His brother, Lionel, loved cycling and watched the Tour de France. One day, Lionel took Richard to a race. After that, Richard decided to join a cycling school.

He joined the Vélo Club Hyèrois when he was 13. His grandfather encouraged him to get his first cycling license. Richard knew right away that he was good at climbing hills.

He remembered his early races: "My shorts were too big for me back then. On flat roads, I tried my best to keep up. But as soon as there was a hill, I would leave everyone behind. I always loved that feeling."

Richard's first win was in a race in La Valette-du-Var. He and another rider, Pascale Ranucci, were so fast they passed everyone else. Later, he did his national service in the army. Talented athletes often went to the Joinville battalion in Paris. He spent his last time as an amateur with the ASPTT in Paris.

In 1990, Richard finished eighth in a world championship road race in Japan. He rode incredibly well to impress Marc Braillon, who led the professional team RMO. Richard said he rode "like a kamikaze." His effort paid off, and Braillon offered him a professional contract.

Becoming a Professional Cyclist

Richard Virenque, King of the Mountains, 1999

Richard Virenque became a professional cyclist for RMO in January 1991. He rode his first Tour de France in 1992. He was a replacement for another team member. He earned 15,000 francs a month.

His dream was to keep up with the best climbers. These included riders like Claudio Chiappucci and Indurain. On the third day of the Tour, he briefly wore the yellow jersey. This jersey is for the leader of the race. He got it after a long ride with two other cyclists. He held it for one day. Richard finished second in the climbers' competition that year.

After his first Tour, many teams wanted Richard. He joined another French team called Festina. He stayed with them until 1998.

Richard wore the yellow jersey for the last time in 2003. That year, he won a stage to Morzine. He also wore the jersey on the famous climb of Alpe d'Huez. Richard was a great climber but not as strong in time-trials. He even got coaching for time-trials from famous cyclist Jeannie Longo.

Richard finished on the podium twice in the Tour de France. He was third in 1996 and second in 1997. He also won several stages, including the Mont Ventoux stage in 2002. He is one of only 18 riders to win stages more than 10 years apart. He wore the Maillot Jaune (yellow jersey) for two days in his career.

The Festina Affair

In 1998, the Festina cycling team faced a big problem. This event became known as the Festina Affair. A team helper was found with items that were not allowed in cycling.

Some of Richard's teammates admitted to using unfair methods. They were removed from the Tour de France. Richard, however, kept saying he was innocent.

His former teammates were suspended for six months. They returned to racing in 1999. Richard changed teams to Team Polti in January 1999. He prepared for the 1999 Tour de France by riding the 1999 Giro d'Italia. He even won a stage there.

Later, Richard's name came up in an investigation about a man named Bernard Sainz. This man was accused of acting as a doctor without being qualified. Richard's team fined him a large sum of money.

The Tour de France director, Jean-Marie Leblanc, tried to ban Richard from the 1999 Tour de France. But a cycling organization ruled that Richard could race.

Richard rode the Tour on a special bike. It was painted white with red dots, like the polka dot jersey. This jersey is for the King of the Mountains leader. He even had a bodyguard. During this time, he wrote a book called Ma Vérité (My Truth). In it, he said he was innocent. He also wrote about how unfair practices should be stopped in cycling.

The Festina affair led to a court hearing in France in 2000. Richard was a witness. At first, he continued to say he was innocent. But then, he admitted that he had been involved in the unfair practices. He said it happened without him fully understanding. This led to a famous phrase in French culture, "willingly but without knowing."

After the Controversy

After the court hearing, Richard was criticized by many. Some former teammates avoided him.

Richard lived in Switzerland. The Swiss cycling association suspended him for nine months. This was later reduced to six and a half months. He also had to pay a fine. Richard became very sad during this time. His wife, Stéphanie, said he gained weight and cried often. She told him she would stay with him if they moved back to the south of France.

A famous neighbor, Laurent Jalabert, helped Richard. They weren't close friends before. But Jalabert reached out. He said Richard was desperate to help him move. Richard spent a whole day helping with furniture. Jalabert said this day helped Richard feel much better. The two men started training together. Richard and his family moved back to France, as his wife wished.

Returning to Cycling

One of Virenque's devoted supporters

Few teams wanted Richard after his suspension. Only a few friends stayed in touch.

On July 5, 2001, he joined Domo-Farm Frites. This happened with help from Eddy Merckx, a former Tour de France winner. Merckx helped pay the extra money needed for Richard to join. Richard was paid the minimum wage for the rest of that year. It was the same salary he earned when he first became professional in 1992. The team kept him because they wanted to grow their business in France. In October 2002, he signed for two more years.

Richard made a big comeback by winning Paris–Tours on October 7, 2001. This race is usually for sprinters, not climbers like Richard. He rode in a long breakaway and crossed the finish line just ahead of the main group. It was a classic Virenque moment. He yelled in anger, "for all those who tried to destroy me." French magazines called his victory "extraordinary" and "unbelievable!"

Richard said he was tired during the race. But when he saw their lead growing, he shouted, "We can do it!"

In the 2001 and 2002 Tour de France, Laurent Jalabert won the King of the Mountains. But in 2003, Richard won his sixth mountains classification. This tied him with cycling legends Federico Bahamontes and Lucien Van Impe. He also wore the yellow jersey for a day. In 2004, he won the King of the Mountains for a record seventh time! Some other cyclists criticized him, saying he was just lucky. But Richard said they were jealous.

Bahamontes said Richard was "a great rider, but not a complete rider." He compared him to other climbers like Charly Gaul.

In 2002, Richard appeared on a TV show. The host asked him if he would use unfair methods to win the Tour if he knew he wouldn't get caught. Richard replied, "Win the Tour... Yes." The show was recorded. Richard later asked for his answer to be removed. The host said Richard was "very naive" but wished he had told the truth.

Life After Cycling

Richard Virenque rode in the Olympic Games road race in Athens. He then decided to retire. He announced his decision at a theater in Paris on September 24, 2004. His wife had suggested he race for one more season.

Richard stayed in the public eye. He won a French reality TV show called I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in Brazil in 2006. In 2005, he started Virenque Design. This company designs and sells jewelry. Many pieces feature the number 7, for his seven King of the Mountains wins.

Since 2005, he has been a commentator for Eurosport. He works alongside other former cyclists. He has also promoted an energy drink and a pharmacy company.

Richard also took part in the Spa 24 Hours endurance car race in 2005. He finished 12th overall.

In August 2006, Richard was in a mountain-bike race. He fell and broke his nose. He needed 32 stitches on his face. He said hitting his head made him feel worried and sad. He also lost his sense of smell.

Personal Life

In December 2007, Richard and his wife, Stéphanie, divorced after 17 years. They have two children, Clara and Dario.

A friend, Éric Boyer, said Richard has a strong personality. He always looks forward, not back. He has successfully adapted to life after cycling.

Richard Virenque lives in Carqueiranne in France. He loves marmots, dancing, wine, gardening, and flowers. He once said, "Put me in a good garden nursery and I'm in heaven."

Career Achievements

Major Results

Grand Tour General Classification Results Timeline

Grand Tour	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Giro d'Italia	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	14	—	—	—	—	—
Tour de France	25	19	5	9	3	2	DSQ	8	6	—	16	16	15
Vuelta a España	—	—	—	5	—	—	11	—	16	24	—	DSQ	—

Books by Richard Virenque

• Ma Vérité 1999 Éditions du Rocher, with C. Éclimont and Guy Caput.
• Plus fort qu'avant 2002 Robert Laffont, with Jean-Paul Vespini.
• Richard Virenque Cœur de Grimpeur Mes Plus Belles Étapes 2006 Privat, with Patrick Louis

See also

In Spanish: Richard Virenque para niños