Lech Piasecki

Copy of L. Piasecki medal and autograph in Sports Star Avenue in Dziwnów

Lech Piasecki (born 13 November 1961) is a Polish former racing cyclist. Born in Poznań, he became the first Polish cyclist to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, in 1987.

After Piasecki became Amateur world champion in 1985, the Colnago team wanted to sign him. The Polish cycling organisation allowed that in exchange for bicycles. His first victory as a professional cyclist was in a time trial in the 1986 Giro d'Italia, where he beat many favourites. In 1987, he won the first stage of the Tirreno–Adriatico. It was a time trial in which he started early, and the wind changed direction after Piasecki finished, so the main favourites who started later had a disadvantage. In the 1987 Tour de France, Piasecki became second in the prologue, and took the yellow jersey after finishing in the lead group of Stage 2. After he lost the lead on Stage 4, he had to abandon the 7th stage due to illness. On 24 August 1988 he became World Track Champion in individual pursuit. The following year Piasecki put forth a remarkable performance during the 1989 Giro d'Italia by winning three stages including two ITT stages, as well as a high mountain stage.

Career achievements

1982 1st Stage 7a, Milk Race 1983 6th Overall Tour de Pologne 1st Stage 6 1984 3rd Polish National Road Race Championships 1985 1st UCI Road World Championships, Amateurs 1st Overall Peace Race 1st Stages 1, 7, 8 & 11 1986 1st Tour de Romagna 1st Florence-Pistoia 1st Stage 12 (ITT) Giro d'Italia 1st Stage 3, Tour de l'Aude 1st Trofeo Baracchi (with Giuseppe Saronni) 1987 1st Stage 1 Tirreno–Adriatico 1988 1st Stage 21b (ITT) Giro d'Italia 1st Trofeo Baracchi (with Czesław Lang) 1989 1st Tour de Friuli 1st Stage 7 Tirreno–Adriatico Giro d'Italia 1st Stages 10 (ITT), 15b & 22 (ITT) 1990 1st Florence-Pistoia

Tour de France 1987 Tour de France - did not finish. Wore yellow jersey for 2 consecutive days, the first and so far only Polish cyclist to do so.