Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Christchurch, New Zealand | 14 January 1955
Team information | |
Current team | Retired |
Discipline | Road |
Role | Rider |
Professional team | |
1979–1981 | Splendor |
Major wins | |
Grand Tours
|
Paul Jesson (born 14 January 1955) is a retired New Zealand professional racing cyclist. Jesson became the first New Zealander to win a stage at a grand tour when he won Stage 10 of the 1980 Vuelta a España.[1]
Jesson's first professional race for Splendor was the 1979 Tour de France. This occurred because his team did not have enough riders to start.[2]
In the prologue of the 1980 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré Jesson hit a parked car resulting in a serious crash. He was admitted to hospital where he was unconscious for a week and had his leg amputated below the knee.[1] Although the injury ended his professional racing career he did go on to win medals at the Paralympics[3]