Demian "Juicy" Kapriyanov announces his retirement from Professional cycling after 16 seasons. A rider whose career has spanned the leagues, cycling at the highest levels. His record of 6 wins (5 for TB.) stands as a team record.
Kapriyanov started his cycling career at the tender age of 19. He originated from a mining family from the town of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. He developed his skills at the local velodromes in eastern Ukraine as a teenager and quickly developed a reputation as a solid and consistent time trialist. After a conversation with some local Italian businessmen who were looking to establish a chain of Pizzerias in the region and some new (money) laundry facilities he was able to secure a summer sports scholarship at the Lake Garda Cycling Academy in Italy. His local team were reluctant to part company at first but after the delivery of a few horses heads they quickly c...
Read moreDemian "Juicy" Kapriyanov announces his retirement from Professional cycling after 16 seasons. A rider whose career has spanned the leagues, cycling at the highest levels. His record of 6 wins (5 for TB.) stands as a team record.
Kapriyanov started his cycling career at the tender age of 19. He originated from a mining family from the town of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. He developed his skills at the local velodromes in eastern Ukraine as a teenager and quickly developed a reputation as a solid and consistent time trialist. After a conversation with some local Italian businessmen who were looking to establish a chain of Pizzerias in the region and some new (money) laundry facilities he was able to secure a summer sports scholarship at the Lake Garda Cycling Academy in Italy. His local team were reluctant to part company at first but after the delivery of a few horses heads they quickly came round to idea.
He must have impressed as he attracted the attention of OCM Heavyweight side, Mapei Bianchi and signed pro-terms the following year in readiness for S50. His first season was brutal and he struggled in the top cycling division, but still his TT talents were beginning to take shape as he was in his debut year also selected for his first NT cap. It was also in Italy that he developed a niche taste in Kapri-Sun , hence the nickname. He started to learn quickly. However unfortunately it was not good enough to keep his place in the team and he was quickly offloaded to Norwegian cycle side Hell Grannies for only 2 rides who then (following some fat Agent transfer fees and dodgy envelopes) moved Juicy to Danish outfit ABK and he started to settle in D4 albeit he unable to secure any placements although he still secured 2 further NT caps.
The Following season, S52, Juicy started to see success with 2 placements and a PB in WT at the Vancouver Time TRial. He quickly came to the attention of newly created Ukrainian Side, Arxhangiilpoznyakax. Although the move meant a drop down in the division, Juicy was feeling homesick so he lept at the chance to return home midway through the season. It must have helped as his performances continued to improve as the following season he picked up his first win at the D5 Hanja-Kaarula.
Juicy shone under the tutelege of his 2 whole seasons at Arxhangiilpoznyakax before their Coach Fedor, hearing of the new Vukodrome being established in Kyiv and recognising Juicy TT talents, generously offered to Juicy to their Ukrainian Cycle Rivals - TEAM BOBYN. It was here that Kapriyanov spent the rest of the career. Although the move meant a further drop in divisions to D8 - it meant that Juicy was to focus exclusively on TT's under the tutelege of TB TT great Vukota Sevaljevic. The move provided to be an instant success. In his first full season at TB in S56 he secured his first win for TB, 2 podiums and five places. A great time to be a Ukrainian Cyclist as the National Team secured 2 Comrade Cup titles between S55-S57 with two great Ukrainian Teams. Juicy was certainly a part of this process.
S57 was to prove to be Juicy's greatest season. He became only the 2nd TB rider in history to pick up 2 wins. He also picked up 2 further podiums and 6 places as TB started to progress through the divisions to D5 and D6. He also secured his first NT CON Cap. He finished the season in TB record rank of 428th.
After the euphoria of S57, following the death of his father, his performances during S58-S59, while still good, slipped a little. He came back with aplomb in S60m with his 5th win at the D5 Dungan TT - one of his finest moments. But again following the death of his mother his performances between S61-S62 faltered as he was only able to secure one tour stage place each season. Again after a 2 year recovery he bounced back with his 6th and final win as the Bratislava TT with 5 other placements to finish off a solid season.
This sadly was his final flourish as the combination of aging legs and higher levels of competition as TB started to progress to the higher divisions meant that his cycling days were starting to come to an end.
He finished S65 - his final season with a podium 2nd in neighbouring Belarus at the D5 Vitsyebsk TT and was promptly deported after calling President Lukashanko a t**t. It is unlikely TB will be able to race in Belarus for the time being.
A great unassuming rider with a real technical TT talent. He will be missed but TB are proud to announce that Kapriyanov will be joining the coaching staff at the Vukodrome.
Key Stats:(*TB records)
Races: 396 (282 for TB)
Wins: 6 (5* for TB) joint record
Podiums: 10
Best Tour GC:
S63 FAST ON WHEELS (D5) 14th
S63 CESKO (D6) 13th
Classics: N/A
Placements: 37
Highest ever Ranking: 427th (S57)*
International Caps: 18*
Best Win (as a TB rider)
S60 D5 Dungan ITT
Best Podium Performance:
S56 2nd D4 Tipitapa Time Trial
Highest ever Divisional Performance:
(S50) D1 94th Chennai-Pondicherry
Best Div 1 Performance As Above
Best Div 1.1 Performance (S51) 86th Prague-Liberac
Best Div 2 Performance N/A
Best Div3 Performance: (S52) 27th Gold Coast-Gold Coast, Kangeroo Tour (Stage 1)
Best Div4 Performance: As above
Best Div5 Performance: As above
Best Div6 Performance: (S56) WIN Pie Corner Pelican Race
Best Div7 Performance: (S56) 4th Tavistock ITT
Best Div8 Performance: (S55) 2nd Vasteras-Uppsala
Div9-Div 11 & ND Performance: Not competed
Ukraine Club Records
None
Best International Performance:
S55 WTB 6th Goteberg TT
Comrade Cup Title S55 (1 caps), S57 (2 Caps, incl 1 x CON app) and S65 (1 cap)
U23 Honours - N/A
Tour Records (GCs and key wins listed where relevant)
KANGEROO TOUR (D3) Av.Poss (S52) 86th
GIRO (D4) Av.Pos. S51 88th
LA COUPE (D4) Av.Pos. (S63) 125th
MINUTEMEN (D4) Av.Pos. (S53) 69th
Best Stage Performance: S62 8th Revere's Midnight Ride TT
FAST ON WHEELS (D5) Av.Pos. (S60) 66th GC S63 14th
Best Stage Performance: S55 2nd Odense-Odense (stage 5)
EL CORAZON (D5) Av.Pos. (S64) 130th
MONTE ROSA TOUR (D5) Av.Pos. (S57) 88th
Best Stage Performance: S57 WIN Bern Prologue
ORYX (D6) Av.Pos. S57 85th
Best Stage Performance: S57 2nd Walvis Bay-Swakopund TT
CESKO (D6) Av.Pos. S56 82nd GC: S63 13th
Best Stage Performance: S63 WIN Bratislava TT
JAWLAT (D6) Av.Pos. S61 95th
SANREIZEN (D7) Av.Pos. (S56) 73rd
Ukraine