About Sean Kelly

John James ‘Sean’ Kelly was born on 24 May 1956 in Curraghduff, County Waterford. He became one of the greatest professional road cyclists in history — and one of the most versatile riders ever to turn a pedal.

 

From his first professional race in 1977 to his retirement in 1994, Sean won 193 professional races, including nine Monument Classics. He won Paris–Nice a record seven consecutive times, took the first ever UCI Road World Cup in 1989, and wore the green jersey at the Tour de France four times. For five consecutive years, he was ranked World No. 1.

 

Sean grew up on a small farm in Waterford, where he and his brothers learned to ride — on a steel-rimmed High Nelly with no tyres and no brakes, racing around a milk churn in the yard. That start gave him the bike-handling instincts that later made him fearless on the cobbles of Paris–Roubaix and the descents of Liège–Bastogne–Liège.

 

After retiring from racing, Sean established Ireland’s first professional cycling team and founded the Sean Kelly Cycling Academy in Belgium. He is a regular TV commentator, a patron of SportActive cycling breaks in Mallorca, and every year helps organise the Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford charity event in his home county.

 

The Sean Kelly Cycling clothing range was built on one principle: Sean will not put his name on something he wouldn’t wear himself. Working with Rogelli, the range has kitted out professional teams, cycling clubs, and everyday riders across Ireland and Europe.

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

•       193 professional race victories (1977–1994)

•       9 Monument Classic wins

•       Paris–Nice: 7 consecutive victories

•       Vuelta a España 1988

•       Tour de France green jersey: 4 times

•       UCI Road World Cup 1989

•       World No. 1 for 5 consecutive years