| Nationality | French |
| Born | November 19, 1969 |
| Birthplace | Casablanca, Morocco |
| Height | 1.74 m |
| Weight | 64 kg |
| Discipline | Road |
| Role | Climber |
| Professional debut | 1991 |
| Retired | 2004 |
Richard Virenque is a retired French professional road cyclist who was born in Casablanca, Morocco on November 19, 1969. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest climbers of his period and was a beloved figure among French cycling enthusiasts.
Virenque went professional in 1991 and rode for a number of teams, notably Festina and Quick-Step, throughout his career. He was renowned for his strong climbing skills and aggressive racing style, frequently attacking on mountain stages to gain time on his competitors.
At the Tour de France, where he won the polka-dot jersey for the best climber a record-setting seven times, Virenque achieved his greatest triumph. In addition, he won seven mountain stages of the Tour de France and countless more races over his career.
Despite his prowess as a cyclist, Virenque’s career was marred by controversy. He was a member of the Festina squad that was involved in the 1998 Tour de France doping controversy, and he acknowledged to using performance-enhancing substances during his career. Thereafter, he was banned from the sport for nine months and struggled to regain his form.
After retiring from riding in 2004, Virenque created his own cycling team, which he managed for several years.
Richard Virenque’s biggest achievements:
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 2 stages at the Tour de France |
| 1995 | 4 stages at the Tour de France |
| 1997 | Polka dot jersey at the Tour de France |
| 1999 | Polka dot jersey and 3 stage wins at the Tour de France |
| 2000 | Polka dot jersey and 2 stage wins at the Tour de France |
| 2003 | Polka dot jersey at the Tour de France |
| 2003 | 2 stages at the Tour de l’Avenir |
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