Biography
Kim Kirchen was born on July 3, 1978 in Luxembourg. He attended elementary school in Niederanven, and later attended the Lycée Technique des Arts et Métiers in Limpertsberg where he graduated with a degree in mechanics.
By the age of four Kim was already participating in small bike trips with his parents as they met with friends on the cycle path which was around a local soccer field in Niederanven. His Father, Erny, with Kim at his side met every Sunday morning with other cycling enthusiasts for a bike tour. Kim became an active member of the group in his own right around the age of 11.
During the same time Kim enjoyed playing soccer with the US Hostert club in Niederanven. Together with his teammates the club had great success as they progressed from Minimes to Juniors. When playing as a Striker for the team he had great success and was a consistent and proficient scorer for the club, including the 1-0 win against Union Luxembourg in the final game of the Minimes Indoor Championships.
Kim’s first formal cycling race was in 1992, where he placed fourth as he crossed the finish line representing the ACC Contern from Dommeldange. The ACC Contern was Kim’s first cycling club and has been the only cycling club he has belonged to in Luxembourg until now.
Kim practiced both soccer and cycling for many years while he was growing up and it was only a matter of time before he had to focus on one over the other. Much to the sorrow of his soccer trainers and coaches he chose cycling as his primary sport over soccer. But to those who really knew Kim it was not a surprise he would choose cycling because you would know that cycling has been a tradition in the Kirchen family for many years.
The brothers of Kim’s grandfather, Ben Kirchen, were all cyclists and one brother, Jeng Kirchen, took part of the Tour de France several times.
Cycling proved to be the right decision for Kim as he had tremendous success in his first years of competition and won in various age categories. Kim won the Juniors and Espoirs cycling championships; and the Grand Prix General Patton tour as Junior, in addition to the Flèche du Sud in the Elite class..
Because of his tremendous success in cycling as a teenager he was accepted in the newly developed Sport Section of the Luxembourg Army after he graduated from the Lycée Technique des Arts et Métiers. He was one of the first three to be accepted into the Sports Section of the Luxembourg Army and after three months of basic training he was exempted from further active military service to become proficient at their sport to represent the Army.
In 1998, he joined the Italian squad De Nardi, where his colleague Benoît Joachim was already a licensed professional for cycling. He spent the majority of the year in Italy and rarely returned home to family and friends in Luxembourg. This proved to be very stressful for him and his family, especially for his long-term girlfriend Caroline who he had been with since 1995. But the stress and dedication served him well as he gained many skills from the Italians and also was successful in winning several races while wearing the De Nardi Shirt.
Giancarlo Ferretti took notice of Kim and offered him a chance to cycle for the Ferritti team. In 2001, Kim signed a contract with the Fassa Bortolo squad where he stayed until 2005.
Kim currently lives in Rameldange Luxembourg and he married Caroline on May 5th 2007.
