{{Short description|Dutch racing cyclist (1982–2023)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox cyclist | name = Lieuwe Westra | image = Lieuwe Westra CD.jpg | caption = Westra at the [[2011 Critérium du Dauphiné]] | fullname = Lieuwe Westra | nickname = It Beest<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lc.nl/archief/Hardrijder-op-A32-is-Lieuwe-Westra-20887796.html|title = Hardrijder op A32 is Lieuwe Westra}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date|1982|9|11|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Mûnein]], [[Netherlands]] | death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|01|14|1982|09|11|df=y}} | death_place = [[Medemblik]], [[Netherlands]] | height = {{height|m=1.85}} | weight = {{convert|74|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | discipline = [[Road bicycle racing|Road]] | role = Rider | ridertype = Time trialist | proyears1 = 2006–2008 | proteam1 = [[KrolStonE Continental Team]] | proyears2 = 2009–2013 | proteam2 = {{UCI team code|VAC|2009}} | proyears3 = 2014–2016 | proteam3 = {{UCI team code|AST|2014}} | majorwins = '''[[Race stage|Stage races]]''' :[[Danmark Rundt]] ([[2012 Danmark Rundt|2012]]) :[[Three Days of De Panne]] ([[2016 Three Days of De Panne|2016]]) '''[[Classic cycle races|Single-day races and Classics]]''' :[[Dutch National Time Trial Championships|National Time Trial Championships]] (2012, 2013) | medaltemplates = }} '''Lieuwe Westra''' (11 September 1982 – 14 January 2023) was a Dutch professional [[racing cyclist]] who rode professionally between 2006 and 2016 for the [[KrolStonE Continental Team]], {{UCI team code|VAC|2013}} and {{UCI team code|AST|2016}} teams.

==Life and career== Born in [[Mûnein]],<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120729035648/http://www.cyclingarchives.com/coureurfiche.php?coureurid=25305 Lieuwe Westra at Cycling Archives]}}</ref> Westra finished second at the [[2012 Paris–Nice]], a [[UCI World Tour]] race; he also won the [[queen stage]] to [[Mende, Lozère|Mende]]. This particular stage finished atop the ''Côte de la Croix-Neuve–Montée Laurent Jalabert''&nbsp;– a {{convert|3|km|1|abbr=on}} climb at an average gradient of 10.1%.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/drama-to-the-last-for-paris-nice|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=2 February 2012|accessdate=9 March 2012|title=Drama to the last for Paris-Nice}}</ref> He attacked inside the final kilometer and the lead group piloted by race leader [[Bradley Wiggins]] could not reel him in. He freewheeled over the finishing line, sparking speculation that he could have put on the leader's jersey had he pursued his effort, since the win put him 6 seconds in arrears of Wiggins.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-nice-2012/stage-5/results|title=Westra prevails on Mende mountain finish|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=8 March 2012|accessdate=17 December 2012|author=Daniel Benson}}</ref> He would finish Paris-Nice 8 seconds down on the Briton in the general classification.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/03/race-result/paris-nice-stage-1-results_208039|title=2012 Paris-Nice results|work=Velo News|publisher=2012 Competitor Group, Inc.|date=10 March 2012|accessdate=17 December 2012}}</ref> In August, Westra won the overall classification of the [[2012 Danmark Rundt]], a six-stage race held in [[Denmark]]. He won the event's individual time trial, helping him seal the victory as it netted him the leader's jersey, which he would not relinquish. [[Ramūnas Navardauskas]] of the {{UCI team code|GRM|2012a}} squad finished second with a deficit of 10 seconds.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/post-danmark-rundt-tour-of-denmark-2012/stage-6/results|title=Cavendish wins final stage at Tour of Denmark|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=26 August 2012|accessdate=17 December 2012}}</ref> Westra earned his first victory of the 2013 season at the [[2013 Tour of California|Tour of California]], where he foiled the sprinters' plans by breaking away with {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} and managed to resist to the lead group. [[Francisco Mancebo]] joined him in his bid for victory, the pair cooperated and Westra won the two-man sprint.<ref name="VN1">{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/14561/Tour-of-California-Westra-foils-the-bunch-sprint-with-stage-one-attack.aspx|title=Tour of California: Westra foils the bunch sprint with stage one attack|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=12 May 2013|accessdate=12 May 2013|author=Kyle Moore}}</ref>

After five years with the {{UCI team code|VCD|2013|nolink=yes}} team,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uciworldtour.com/Modules/SUCI/TEAMS/TeamDetails.asp?id=MjgxOA&RefDate=16.01.2013&MenuId=MTY2Njk&LangId=1&BackLink=%2Ftemplates%2FUCI%2FUCI2%2Flayout%2Easp%3FMenuId%3DMTY2Njk%26LangId%3D1|title=Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team (VCD)&nbsp;– NED|work=[[UCI World Tour]]|publisher=[[Union Cycliste Internationale]]|accessdate=16 January 2013|archive-date=24 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103305/http://www.uciworldtour.com/Modules/SUCI/TEAMS/TeamDetails.asp?id=MjgxOA&RefDate=16.01.2013&MenuId=MTY2Njk&LangId=1&BackLink=%2Ftemplates%2FUCI%2FUCI2%2Flayout%2Easp%3FMenuId%3DMTY2Njk%26LangId%3D1|url-status=dead}}</ref> Westra joined {{UCI team code|AST|2014}} on a two-year contract, for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.<ref name="Astana">{{cite news|url=http://proteam-astana.com/en/news/contract-signings-2014 |title=New riders at Astana Pro Team |work={{UCI team code|AST|2013}} |publisher=Abacanto SA |date=1 August 2013 |accessdate=1 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806172229/http://proteam-astana.com/en/news/contract-signings-2014 |archivedate= 6 August 2013 }}</ref>

On Sunday 8 January 2017, Westra announced his retirement via his Facebook page. He wrote "Today I have decided to stop racing. I cannot afford to continue. Thanks to A Boskamp and K Snijder! Ok I stop but go now and I have time to solve these issues briefly Thanks to cycling world ciaoooo westra".<ref>{{cite web|title=Article from cyclingnews.com – Westra's retirement announcement sparks confusion and concern|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/westras-retirement-announcement-sparks-confusion-and-concern/|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=9 January 2017|accessdate=10 January 2017}}</ref> This post was subsequently deleted, however the next day the retirement was confirmed via the Twitter account for the {{UCI team code|WGG|2017}} team.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tweet confirming Westra's retirement|url=https://twitter.com/TeamWantyGobert/status/818461248757108740|accessdate=10 January 2017}}</ref> In an interview with the Dutch television channel [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]] in July 2017 he reported that struggles with depression were the reason for his retirement. Weight gain from his antidepressants were further preventing a continuation of his professional cycling career.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-08 |title=Koersen kon gewoon niet meer voor depressieve Westra |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2182212-koersen-kon-gewoon-niet-meer-voor-depressieve-westra |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=www.nos.nl |language=nl|trans-title=Racing was simply no longer possible for depressed Westra}}</ref> Afterwards he announced his intention to move to [[Australia]] in September 2017 to marry his Australian girlfriend Ingrid Kimber.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-10 |title=Lieuwe Westra gaat emigreren naar Australië |url=https://www.omropfryslan.nl/nl/nieuws/731959/lieuwe-westra-gaat-emigreren-naar-australie |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=www.omropfryslan.nl |language=nl|trans-title=Lieuwe Westra is going to emigrate to Australia}}</ref>

He published his autobiography ''Het Beest: het wielerleven van Lieuwe Westra'' in 2018. In this book he admitted to faking injuries and illnesses to get [[Therapeutic Use Exemptions]] for [[performance-enhancing drugs]], particularly [[cortisone]]. A practice that, he claimed, was prevalent among riders of his generation and that the team physicians readily aided to. He denied using [[Erythropoietin|EPO]] or [[blood doping]], though admitted he probably would have, had he made the move from amateur to professional cycling sooner.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-29 |title=Westra gesteht Einsatz von TUEs zur Leistungssteigerung |url=https://www.radsport-news.com/sport/sportnews_109031.htm |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=www.radsport-news.com |language=de|trans-title=Westra admits to using TUEs to improve performance}}</ref>

Westra returned to Europe in 2019 to open a hostel for cycling tourists in [[Calpe]] with his wife.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-12 |title=Lieuwe Westra zet een hostel op voor wielertoeristen in Spanje |url=https://www.omropfryslan.nl/nl/nieuws/895986/lieuwe-westra-zet-een-hostel-op-voor-wielertoeristen-in-spanje |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=www.omropfryslan.nl |language=nl|trans-title=Lieuwe Westra sets up a hostel for cycling tourists in Spain}}</ref>

While in Spain his problems with depression and substance abuse soon began to worsen. This was accelerated by him witnessing the serious accident of [[Amy Pieters]] on 23 December 2021 in Calpe. His behaviour got increasingly aggressive which culminated in him being given a contact ban with his wife Ingrid in May 2022. His brother Jan Hendrik took him back to the Netherlands where his behaviour didn't improve and police had to remove him from the house of his mother.

In the last months of his life he cut all contact to his family and friends from the cycling community. He lived in a garage in [[Medemblik|Zwaagdijk]] in what his biographer Thomas Sijtsma, who last saw him in September 2022, described as "inhumane conditions".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-25 |title=Het laatste jaar van wielrenner Lieuwe Westra: "Wij konden hem niet meer redden" |url=https://www.omropfryslan.nl/nl/nieuws/1212057/het-laatste-jaar-van-wielrenner-lieuwe-westra-wij-konden-hem-niet-meer-redden |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=www.omropfryslan.nl |language=nl|trans-title=The last year of cyclist Lieuwe Westra: "We couldn't save him anymore"}}</ref>

Westra died on 14 January 2023, at the age of 40.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-15 |title=Ald-hurdfytser Lieuwe Westra (40 jier) ferstoarn |url=https://www.omropfryslan.nl/fy/nijs/1187743/ald-hurdfytser-lieuwe-westra-40-jier-ferstoarn |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=www.omropfryslan.nl |language=fy|trans-title=Former cyclist Lieuwe Westra (40 years) passed away}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-15 |title=Oud-wielrenner Westra (40) overleden |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2459894-oud-wielrenner-westra-40-overleden |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=NOS |language=nl|trans-title=Former cyclist Westra (40) passed away}}</ref> An autopsy found four different substances in his body: A sleeping aid, [[Crystal Meth]], [[MDMA]] and [[Amphetamine|speed]]. An overdose of the latter proved fatal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-25 |title=Westra starb an Überdosis verschiedener Mittel |url=https://www.radsport-news.com/sport/sportnews_134658.htm |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=www.radsport-news.com |language=de|trans-title=Westra died of an overdose of various drugs}}</ref>

==Major results== Source: <ref>{{cite web|url=https://firstcycling.com/rider.php?r=933|title=Lieuwe Westra|work=FirstCycling.com|publisher=FirstCycling AS|accessdate=19 November 2023}}</ref> {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} ;2007 : 4th Overall OZ Wielerweekend ::1st Stage 2 ([[Individual time trial|ITT]]) ;2008 : 1st Stage 2 [[Tour Alsace]] : 2nd Overall [[Olympia's Tour]] : 3rd [[Duo Normand]] (with [[Jos Pronk]]) : 3rd [[Schaal Sels]] : 4th [[Omloop der Kempen]] : 5th [[2008 Hel van het Mergelland|Hel van het Mergelland]] : 6th Overall [[Tour du Loir-et-Cher]] : 6th [[Ronde van Overijssel]] : 9th [[2008 Grote Prijs Jef Scherens|Grote Prijs Jef Scherens]] ;2009 : 1st [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px]] Overall [[Tour de Picardie]] ::1st Stage 1 : 1st [[Arno Wallaard Memorial]] : 6th [[Ronde van het Groene Hart]] ;2010 : 3rd [[Dutch National Time Trial Championships|Time trial]], National Road Championships : 3rd [[2010 Chrono des Nations|Chrono des Nations]] : 4th [[Duo Normand]] (with [[Jens Mouris]]) : 5th Overall [[2010 Three Days of De Panne|Three Days of De Panne]] : 7th [[Profronde van Fryslan]] ;2011 : 1st [[Classic Loire Atlantique]] : 1st Prologue [[2011 Tour of Belgium|Tour of Belgium]] : 2nd Overall [[2011 Three Days of De Panne|Three Days of De Panne]] ::1st [[File:Jersey red.svg|20px]] Mountains classification : 3rd Overall [[2011 Volta ao Algarve|Volta ao Algarve]] : 8th [[2011 UCI Road World Championships – Men's time trial|Time trial]], [[2011 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]] : 8th [[2011 Chrono des Nations|Chrono des Nations]] ;2012 : 1st [[File:MaillotHolanda.PNG|20px]] [[Dutch National Time Trial Championships|Time trial]], National Road Championships : 1st [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px]] Overall [[2012 Danmark Rundt|Danmark Rundt]] ::1st Stage 5 ([[Individual time trial|ITT]]) : 2nd Overall [[2012 Paris–Nice|Paris–Nice]] ::1st Stage 5 : 2nd Overall [[2012 Three Days of De Panne|Three Days of De Panne]] : 2nd Overall [[2012 Tour of Belgium|Tour of Belgium]] ;2013 : 1st [[File:MaillotHolanda.PNG|20px]] [[Dutch National Time Trial Championships|Time trial]], National Road Championships : 1st Stage 1 [[2013 Tour of California|Tour of California]] : 3rd Overall [[2013 Volta ao Algarve|Volta ao Algarve]] : 5th Overall [[2013 Three Days of De Panne|Three Days of De Panne]] : 8th Overall [[Étoile de Bessèges]] : 8th Overall [[2013 Paris–Nice|Paris–Nice]] ;2014 : 1st Stage 7 [[2014 Volta a Catalunya|Volta a Catalunya]] : 1st Stage 7 [[2014 Critérium du Dauphiné|Critérium du Dauphiné]] : [[File:Jersey red number.svg|20px]] [[Combativity award in the Tour de France|Combativity award]] Stage 5 [[2014 Tour de France|Tour de France]] ;2016 : 1st [[File:Jersey white.svg|20px]] Overall [[2016 Three Days of De Panne|Three Days of De Panne]] {{colend}}

===Grand Tour general classification results timeline===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | [[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tour]] ! scope="col" | 2009 ! scope="col" | 2010 ! scope="col" | 2011 ! scope="col" | 2012 ! scope="col" | 2013 ! scope="col" | 2014 ! scope="col" | 2015 |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" | [[File:Jersey pink.svg|20px|link=|alt=A pink jersey]] [[General classification in the Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]] |colspan=7 {{N/A|Did not contest during his career}} |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" | [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px|link=|alt=A yellow jersey]] [[General classification in the Tour de France|Tour de France]] |— |— | [[2011 Tour de France|128]] | [[2012 Tour de France|DNF]] | [[2013 Tour de France|DNF]] | [[2014 Tour de France|79]] | [[2015 Tour de France|77]] |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="row" | [[File:Jersey red.svg|20px|link=|alt=A red jersey]] [[General classification in the Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]] | [[2009 Vuelta a España|87]] |— |— |— | [[2013 Vuelta a España|DNF]] |— |— |}

{| class="wikitable" |+ Legend |- ! scope="row" | — | Did not compete |- ! scope="row" | DNF | [[Did not finish]] |}

==See also== * [[List of Dutch Olympic cyclists]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{UCI rider}} * {{ProCyclingStats}} * {{Cycling Archives}} * [http://www.cyclingbase.com/Lieuwe-Westra.html Lieuwe Westra] at Cycling Base * {{Olympics.com|lieuwe-westra}} * {{Olympedia}} * {{TeamNL|lieuwe-westra|old_id=5399-lieuwe-westra}} * {{Official website}} {{in lang|nl}}<!-- per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->

{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{succession box | before = [[Stef Clement]] | title = {{nowrap|[[Dutch National Time Trial Championships|Dutch National Time Trial]]<br>Champion}} | after = [[Tom Dumoulin]] | years = [[2012 national road cycling championships|2012]]–[[2013 national road cycling championships|2013]]}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Westra, Lieuwe}} [[Category:1982 births]] [[Category:2023 deaths]] [[Category:Dutch male cyclists]] [[Category:Road racing cyclists]] [[Category:People from Tytsjerksteradiel]] [[Category:Cyclists at the 2012 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Olympic cyclists for the Netherlands]] [[Category:Danmark Rundt winners]] [[Category:Dutch cycling time trial champions]] [[Category:UCI Road World Championships cyclists for the Netherlands]] [[Category:Cyclists from Friesland]] [[Category:Drug-related deaths in the Netherlands]]