Andrei Kivilev

Racing cyclist born the September 21st 1973 in Taldy-Korgan (Kazakhstan), Andrei Kivilev died following a fall the March 12th 2003 at the time of the edition 2003 of Paris-Nice. Its death encouraged the international Union cyclist to make compulsory the port of the helmet in all the races which it organizes.

Career

Andrei Kivilev begins his career as an amateur in Spain, then joined the team amateur Frenchwoman the Agreement Cyclist Saint-Etienne the Loire on the councils of his compatriot Alexandre Vinokourov who is there already. In 1998, it passes professional under the colors of the team Festina. Its first results are modest, its best performances being one 5th place with the Grand Prix of Zurich and one 7th with the general classification of the international Critérium. It was however pointed out by its offensive style; the Postal US of Lance Armstrong makes him a proposal, but it finally signs at AG 2R in 2000. In 2001, it joined Cofidis, where its career takes off truly: in its first year, it gains the Route of the South and a stage of the Critérium of Dauphine released, that it finishes in fifth position with general classification, Kivilev is not regarded any more as dangerous, and can take part in escaped the river of the eighth stage which it finishes with more than 30 minutes in advance on the group. Thanks to its talents of climbing, he manages to lose relatively little time in the stages of mountain. A long time present on the podium, it loses however its third place with the profit of Joseba Beloki in last the against-the-watch, thus finishing the test in the fourth place. In 2002, it is done more discrete, except for places of honor in Paris-Nice (fourth with the general) and of Dauphine (fifth). During the following stage of the test, the group pays homage to him by neutralizing the race. After its deadly fall, UCI (international Union cyclist) made compulsory the port of the helmet on all the tests of cycling on road, except during the last rise if the arrival of the race is in altitude (arrived at the top). This rule was created the June 16th 2003 with Lausanne with the seat of UCI. Kivilev leaves a woman and a six month old son. A few days later, his/her friend Alexandre Vinokourov gains the race.

Continuations of the accident

The accident immediately starts again the debate on the port of the helmet in the professional cycle races. Thereafter, the helmet was definitively founded all the time (modified rule the February 12th 2005 with Lausanne).

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