Kelly (John James), Sean (1956– )

Irish cyclist, born in Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary. One of the top riders of the modern era, he won a total of 193 races in a professional career spanning 17 years from 1977 to 1994. Kelly achieved 12 victories in the One-day Classics, and won the Paris–Nice stage race a remarkable seven years in a row, 1982–88. He won the Tour of Spain in 1988, and the Tour of Lombardy in 1983, 1985, and 1991. In 1989 he won the inaugural World Cup series, and also became the first cyclist to win the green points jersey in the Tour de France four times, having previously won it in 1982, 1983, and 1985.