Dave Akam

David J. Akam (born 2 November 1960, Camberwell, London) is a retired track and road cyclist who specialized in time-trials. He was active professionally between 1984 and 1987.

Early life David Akam was a track and road cyclist. He was introduced to cycling by his P.E. teacher at Forest Hill school, South London – the British lanterne rouge John Clarey. Akam's early successes in cycling included three British National Track Championships and the Junior Individual Time Trial Road Championship. In 1978 Akam was selected for the English track team in the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, competing in the 4,000 metres Individual Pursuit. Having trained for months with the 1980 Olympic pursuit team squad, Akam fractured his hip in a kermesse crash, putting him out of contention. However, that July the 19-year-old Akam broke the British 10-mile time trial record becoming the first ever rider to clock in at under 20 minutes (the record has since been held by Graeme Obree, Bradley Wiggins and Alex Dowsett). The same year he also won the Goodwood Classic individual time trial in a time of 1 hour 2 minutes and 39 seconds – a time that has never been beaten.

Over the next three years, from 1981 to 1983, Akam lived and raced abroad, first in the Netherlands for the Jan Van Erp team, and then France. In his second year, Akam won 13 races including the Grand Prix de France.

In 1983, Akam moved his racing base to France, joining the ACBB team, a Parisian amateur team which had helped the likes of Sean Yates and Stephen Roche to the professional ranks. During that year's Tour of Norway, Akam caught the eye of Mercier and Peugeot's Francesco Moser. Akam then won the Chrono des Nations.

Professional career In 1984 he was signed by the Italian team Gis Gelati to help the Italian Moser to win his first Giro d'Italia. Akam was nicknamed "Rosso" on account of his red hair. While in Italy, Akam lived with Moser's mother. Shortly after joining Gis Gelati Akam rode for Moser in the Vuelta a España, in which Moser finished 10th overall and Akam pulled out after Stage 11. The team prepared for the 1984 Giro by winning the Team Time Trial event, the Cronostaffetta, and by racing the Tirreno–Adriatico in which Akam came 5th in the prologue time trial. Akam also competed at the Giro del Trentino to cement his place on the Giro team. At the Giro, Akam played a role in delivering Moser to first place in Verona and the first and only pink jersey of Moser's career at the Giro d'Italia. Akam often rode the Giro on the front for Moser. Until Chris Froome's victory in 34 years later, Akam was the last Briton to ride on a Giro winner's team.

In 1985 Akam was given an extension to his contract and began his preparations for the Giro well by competing at the Tirreno–Adriatico. He again rode the Giro but this time he withdrew after Stage 9 due to a crash. Akam also rode alongside the classics specialist Roger De Vlaeminck whilst at Gis Gelati.

Akam joined the Dutch team PDM–Concorde in 1986 to ride for Pedro Delgado. Akam was offered another extension but in 1987 Akam opted to join the British outfit ANC-Halfords Cycling Team.

Akam retired from cycling shortly afterwards, his career cut short by illness. Akam had raced the Giro, the Vuelta, Paris–Roubaix and Milan–San Remo. Throughout his career, Akam suffered from a mystery illness. Akam on reflection states that his dream move in 1984 to Gis Gelati came too soon because he had no time to deal with his health problems – later diagnosed as hepatitis and a liver that functioned at only 70%.

Palmarès

1977

1978

1979

1980

1st Goodwood Classic

2nd Trofeo Valco Couple Time Trial

4th Trofeo Baracchi 1981

1st Trofeo Valco Couple Time Trial 1st Fayt-le-Franc Criterium 2nd Trofeo Baracchi 2nd Neerlinter Criterium 2nd Itterbeek Criterium 3rd Prologue Olympia's Tour 1982 1st Grand Prix de France ITT 1st Trofee Jan Van Erp 1st Grand Prix Timmermans 1st Grand Prix der Witten 9th Overall Sealink Race 1st Prologue & 4th Stage 4 2nd Drielanden Omloop

Circuit des Ardennes 4th Prologue & 5th Stage 3 55th Overall Étoile des Espoirs 6th Prologue & 6th Stage 5b ITT 1983 1st Chrono des Nations 1st Overall Tour de l'Essonne 1st Stage 3 1st Prix Novoplastic 2nd Grand Prix des Nations (Amateurs) 2nd Grand Prix d'Issoire 2nd Chrono Madelinos 2nd Grand Prix de Boulogne-Billancourt 3rd Stage 2a Tour de l'Eurométropole 14th Overall Milk Race 1984 1st Cronostaffetta TTT with Francesco Moser and Roger De Vlaeminck 5th Prologue Tirreno–Adriatico 137th Overall 1984 Giro d'Italia 3rd TTT Stage 1 & 14th ITT Stage 22 7th Trofeo Baracchi Vuelta a España 9th Stage 2 1985 Tirreno–Adriatico 6th Prologue, 2nd stage 2 TTT & 8th Stage 5 ITT 1985 Giro d'Italia 2nd stage 2 TTT 1986 6th ITT Tour of Valenciana 7th Trofeo Baracchi 1987 28th Overall Milk Race 3rd Stage 11 81st Overall 4 Jours de Dunkerque