Martin Earley

Martin Earley (born 15 June 1962) is an Irish former professional road bicycle racer, who competed in the 1984 and 1996 Olympic Games.

Racing career He turned professional in 1985 with the Fagor team with whom he stayed until 1987. In 1986 he won the 14th stage of the Giro d'Italia and the second of the Tour of the Basque Country. In 1987, he was part of the Irish team at the world road championship that ended with a win by Stephen Roche. After that he rode for Kas and then the Dutch PDM team of Sean Kelly. The highlight of his career was a stage win in the 1989 Tour de France when he broke clear of three riders 750m from the end of 157 km from Labastide-d'Armagnac to Pau. Earley completed five of his eight Tours; his highest finish was 44th in 1989.

After PDM left the sport, he rode for Festina, then switched to mountain biking by riding for Raleigh and then for individual sponsors. He competed in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta in the mountain bike race and finished 25th.

Career after racing He has a practice as a physiotherapist and chiropractor. He has been a coach to cyclists, including Irish Olympians Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens.

Public art In 2023, Earley's image was used as part of the Dublin Canvas Public Art Project. Designer Con Kennedy painted the electrical exchange box depicting Earley's 1986 Giro d'Italia win on stage 14.

Career achievements Major results

1978

1981 1st Shay Elliott Memorial Race 1982 3rd Overall Rás Tailteann 1st Stage 4 1985 4th Paris–Camembert 9th Overall Étoile de Bessèges 1986 1st Stage 14 Giro d'Italia 8th Overall Tour of the Basque Country 1st Stage 2 10th Overall Nissan Classic 1987 3rd Overall Tour du Haut-Var 5th Overall Tour of the Basque Country 1st Stage 3 6th Overall Nissan Classic 1988 6th Overall Nissan Classic 10th Liège–Bastogne–Liège 10th GP Ouest–France 1989 1st Stage 8 Tour de France Tour du Vaucluse 1st Stages 1 & 4 4th Overall Kellogg's Tour 7th Road race, UCI Road World Championships 9th Giro di Lombardia 1990 8th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico 9th Liège–Bastogne–Liège 1991 1st Stage 1 Tour of Galicia 3rd Grand Prix des Amériques 3rd Rund um den Henninger Turm 10th Overall Nissan Classic 10th Druivenkoers Overijse 10th Trofeo Luis Puig 1992 7th Overall Kellogg's Tour 7th Züri-Metzgete 9th Overall Nissan Classic 1993 6th Overall Tour Méditerranéen 1994