Kjell Carlström (born October 18, 1976 in Porvoo) is a road cyclist from Porvoo who competed as a professional in 2002–2011.

 

He participated in the Tour of France in 2005, 2006 and 2007. His best ranking in the Tour of France is second place in the 8th stage from 2006.

 

On March 12, 2008, Carlström won the third leg of the Paris-Nice race after finishing better than his relegated partner Clément Lhotellerie. They had left the main group along with Bradley McGee at the very beginning of the stage. At the end of the hill, only L'hotellerie was left - Carlström spun from the duo as the winner to the finish. This is one of the most significant victories in the history of Finnish professional cycling. Kjell Carlström took one of the biggest victories in Finnish cycling history.

 

 

Carlström in the 2007 Tour prologue

 

Carlström drove from 1995 to 2001 as an amateur in both the U23 and Elite classes. The best achievements as an amateur were the best U23 driver in the "PostGirot open" race in 1997 and the overall race victory in the Tour de Serbia in 1999. Also in 2000 and 2001 came a few good placements and victories in foreign races that helped Carlström become a professional.

 

Carlström drove at the Italian Amore & Vita-Beretta from 2002-2004. In 2003, he won the 2nd stage of the Saaremaa Velotour competition and the overall competition. He had already won the same race in 2000. He was also the best in 2003 on the 7th leg of the Tour of Queensland. In 2004, Carlström won the 2nd stage of the Uniqa Classic competition and the overall competition.

 

In 2005, Carlströn also moved to the Italian World Tour from one of the top teams to the Liquigas team. He won the 3rd stage of the Uniqa Classic that year. Carlström's contract continued until the end of 2009.

 

 

The transition from an active athlete to a leader

 

In the 2010 season, Carlström moved to compete in the British Team Sky professional team. Carlström announced he would end his professional career on December 28, 2011, when Team Sky did not renew his contract.

 

He served as the assistant team leader at the IAM Cycling stable from 2013 until the end of the stable, until the end of the 2016 season. In 2017-18, he served as the team leader for the Israel Cycling Academy, then as the sports manager for 2019, and then started a new World Tour team as the GM, general manager of Israel Startup Nation.

 

He won the Finnish Road Racing Championships in 2000, 2004, 2009 and 2011. Finland's most important international race in Porvoo. Achilles was the number one cyclist of his time in Finland.

 

 

Cycling lessons in Achilles cycling coaching

 

Kjell Carlström learned from Achilles in strong cycling coaching. His coach was Ole Wackström, who also coached Harry Hannus, the man behind many Achilles breeders and top Finnish cyclists.

 

Only a very few Finnish professional cyclists can compare Carlström's achievements in professional competitions. Porvoolainen drove as a professional for ten years and most of them in top stables such as Liquigas and Team Sky.

 

He drove the Tour de France three times, more than any other Finn - and finished second in his best stage in 2006. He also drove the Giro di Italia and Vuelta Spain three times both.

 

Carlström represented Akille from Porvoo, IF Länken, Turku Sports Association and TWD Länken in Finland during his racing years. After his active career, he is still more than active on the professional tour, serving in various roles in several stables and now as the general manager of the new World Tour team Israel Startup Nation. Kjell Carlström is an important influencer and background force of the Achilles Green Team. He helps our young riders find their place in foreign amateur and professional stables.