About Sean Kelly

I spent nearly two decades racing at the highest level of international cycling. During the 1980s, I became known as an all-round rider who could compete in the toughest one-day classics, sprint against the fastest riders, and challenge for overall victories in stage races.

Over my career, I won 193 professional races, including the 1988 Vuelta a España, four points classifications at the Tour de France, and nine cycling Monuments. One of the achievements I’m most proud of is winning Paris–Nice seven years in a row, from 1982 to 1988. I was also ranked world number one for five consecutive seasons during what many consider the peak years of my career.

I came from humble beginnings in rural Waterford, and hard work was always at the centre of everything I did. I wasn’t known for flashy riding or grand statements; I preferred to let my results speak for themselves. My reputation was built on consistency, toughness, and the ability to perform in all kinds of conditions, whether on mountain roads, cobblestones, or in long, demanding stage races.

Since retiring from professional racing in 1994, I’ve remained involved in the sport through rider development, and television commentary. Today, many cycling fans know me as a race analyst, sharing insights from a lifetime spent competing at the highest level. I still ride my bike as often as possible and enjoy taking part in events like the Mallorca 312 and 4 day Tour De Munster each year. There is also the Sean Kelly 3 Counties event every September that is now a highlight of my season.

Whilst I was slow to switch from clip-less pedals I was always interested in cycling technology, once it worked and was reliable. Back when I was racing I had many victories on Vitus and Concorde bikes but today I prefer to ride Pinarello, either a Dogma X for comfort during long days in the saddle or the Dogma F when I feel like going fast, or when my training buddies are feeling frisky. If I had a Dogma F back when I was racing I might have 10 monuments now.

Cycling gave me opportunities I could never have imagined as a young rider from Carrick-on-Suir, and I remain grateful to have been part of an era that helped shape modern professional cycling. My goal was always simple: work hard, race honestly, and be as competitive as possible every time I pinned on a number.