Lieuwe Westra

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameLieuwe•Westra
Used nameLieuwe•Westra
Born11 September 1982 in Molenend, Tietsjerksteradeel, Friesland (NED)
Died14 January 2023 in Medemblik, Noord-Holland (NED)
Measurements185 cm / 71 kg
AffiliationsAstana–Premier Tech, Astana (KAZ)
NOC Netherlands

Biography

Lieuwe Westra was a Dutch road cyclist who specialised in the time trial. Westra rode professionally from 2006 to 2016 for KrolStonE Continental, Vacansoleil–DCM, and Astana. After some top-10 finishes on the UCI European Tour circuit, Westra finished in second place at the 2012 Paris–Nice, which included victory for him on the fifth stage. In 2012 Westra became the Dutch national time trial champion and won the overall classification at the Danmark Rundt stage race. In the same year Westra competed in the road race and time trial at the 2012 London Olympics, finishing 96th and 11th, respectively.

In 2013 Westra retained his national time trial title and won the opening stage of the Tour of California. From 2011 to 2015 he rode the Tour de France five times, finishing the race on three occasions. Westra’s last stage race victory came at the 2016 edition of the Three Days of De Panne in Belgium. He retired from the sport in January 2017.

In January 2023 Westra was found dead in his office after suffering from depression for some time. He was 40.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
2012 Summer Olympics Cycling Road (Cycling) NED Lieuwe Westra
Road Race, Individual, Men (Olympic) 96
Individual Time Trial, Men (Olympic) 11