Andreas Klier

Andreas Klier, born on January 15, 1976, in Munich, Bavaria, West Germany, is a retired professional road racing cyclist who made his mark in the sport from 1996 to 2013. After concluding his cycling career, he transitioned into a managerial role with Garmin–Sharp, his final professional team, and continues to serve as a sports director with its successor, EF Education–EasyPost, as of 2024.

During his cycling career, Klier faced significant challenges, including a notable incident in April 2011 when he narrowly avoided a collision with a car during a training ride. This experience led him to install a piece of oak into his bike frame, a quirky precaution he adopted to ward off accidents by touching wood. His innovative approach even inspired the sale of bikes with oak to support the Plant for the Planet charity.

In a candid revelation on August 15, 2013, Klier admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs between 1999 and 2006, resulting in the voiding of some of his achievements, including a stage win at the 2007 Vuelta a España. This admission marked a significant moment in his career, reflecting the complexities of professional sports.

Beyond cycling, Klier discovered a passion for painting after being inspired by the works of Max Beckmann at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. His artistic journey culminated in a solo exhibition titled Alpha at the Gerhard Braun Gallery in Palma de Mallorca in 2023, where canvases sold for amounts ranging from seven thousand to ten thousand euros.