Vasili Vasilyevich Kiryienka (Belarusian:Васіль Васілевіч Кірыенка;Łacinka: Vasil Vasilevič Kiryjenka; born 28 June 1981) is aBelarusian formerracing cyclist,[4] who rode professionally between 2006 and 2020 for the OTC Doors,Rietumu Banka–Riga,Tinkoff Credit Systems,Movistar Team andTeam Ineos squads. He currently works as adirecteur sportif forUCI Continental teamBelAZ.[5]
Born inRechytsa,Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Kiryienka won his first national time trial championship in 2002. His early career focused mainly on the track, where he won the Points Race at the2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. Later that season Kiryienka won Stage 19 of theGiro d'Italia, a mountainous affair leading toPresolana, after spending the day on the attack and registering more than 6 hours and a half in the saddle. He attacked his six breakaway companions at the foot of the Monte Para climb and soloed to the finish for the win, by a margin of over four minutes.[6]
Kiryienka moved to the SpanishCaisse d'Epargne squad for the 2009 season.
In 2010 he finished second in the tenth stage of theTour de France after he was outsprinted at the line in Gap bySérgio Paulinho (Team RadioShack) after the pair's decisive attack with 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) remaining.[7]
On 23 May 2011, during theGiro d'Italia, Kiryienka's Movistar Team teammateXabier Tondo was killed in a freak accident at home while preparing to train with teammates. He was reportedly crushed between his car and a garage door.[8] Five days later, Kiryienka rode to victory in a solo effort on Stage 20, a mountain top finish atSestriere, and he dedicated the stage victory to Tondó, pointing skyward as he crossed the finish line.[9] The team had met to consider withdrawing from the race after Tondó's death, but instead the riders unanimously voted to ride on.[10] Kiryienka commented that the squad at the Giro hoped to get a further stage win (asFrancisco Ventoso's win had come before Tondó's death) to honor him, while other members of the team grieved with Tondó's family.[11]
In September 2012, Kiryienka finished third in theindividual time trial at theroad world championships.[12]
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Kiryienka left Movistar Team at the end of the 2012 season, and joinedTeam Sky on an initial three-year contract from the 2013 season onwards.[13]
In May 2015, Kiryienka won theindividual time trial of theGiro d'Italia, which was 59.5 kilometres (37.0 miles) long and relatively rolling.[14] In June 2015, he won theindividual time trial at the inauguralEuropean Games inBaku,Azerbaijan.[15] On 23 September 2015, Kiryienka won theindividual time trial at theCI Road World Championships inRichmond, Virginia, United States.[16]
Kiryienka had the honor to carry the flag of his native Belarus at the opening ceremony of the2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he competed in the men's individual time trial event; he finished in 17th place. In October, he competed in thesame event at the World Championships in Doha, where he won the silver medal – giving him at least one medal of each colour for his career.[17]
In January 2020, Kiryienka retired from the sport due to recurring "cardiac issues".[4]
Time trial, National ChampionshipsTime trial, National ChampionshipsTime trial, National Championships
OverallRoute du Sud
Points classification
Time trial,UCI World Championships
Combativity award Stage 11Vuelta a España
Time trial,UCI World Championships
Time trial,European GamesTime trial, National Championships
Time trial,UCI World ChampionshipsTime trial, National ChampionshipsTime trial,European Games| Grand Tour | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Giro d'Italia | 35 | 73 | 37 | 25 | — | — | — | 84 | — | 102 | DNF | — |
 Tour de France | — | — | 60 | DNF | 77 | DNF | 86 | — | 103 | 112 | — | — |
 Vuelta a España | 34 | 16 | — | — | — | 73 | 110 | 83 | — | — | — | DNF |
| — | Did not compete |
|---|---|
| DNF | Did not finish |
Individual pursuit Team pursuit Points race,UCI World Championships
Points race,UCI World Championships
| Summer Olympics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Flagbearer for BelarusRio de Janeiro 2016 | Succeeded by |
 UCI Track Cycling World Champions –Men's points race | |
|---|---|
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| UCI Road World Champions –Men's time trial | |
|---|---|
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