Laurent Didier

Laurent Didier (born 19 July 1984) is a Luxembourgish former professional road bicycle racer, who competed between 2006 and 2018 for the Kuota–Senges, Designa Køkken, Saxo Bank–SunGard and Trek–Segafredo teams.

Career

Didier is from Dippach, Luxembourg and his ancestors are no strangers to the world of cycling. His father, Lucien Didier, was part of winning team time trial squads in the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia, and his grandfather Bim Diederich won three stages of the Tour and wore the yellow jersey for three days. Laurent is good in various terrains which makes him useful in different kinds of races.

From October 2008 to early February 2009, Didier rode for Danish Team CSC, and then moved home to Designa Køkken, also in Denmark. In 2009, he finished second at the Luxembourgish National Road Race Championships behind Andy Schleck and was also runner-up in the Luxembourgish National Time Trial Championships behind Kim Kirchen.

To most cycling experts it was a huge surprise that Didier was selected for the 2013 Tour de France, at the expense of former Belgian champion Stijn Devolder.[citation needed]