One of TB's greatest riders, Vukota Sevaljevic, Time Trialist extraordinnaire finally calls it a day today. A sad day for TB as "Vuko" as he is affectionately known amongst fans and teammates hangs up his pedals after 15 seasons with a fine record, including holding the most bike wins for any TB rider (#4).
A quiet unassuming man, who is just at home in his sports labaratory as on the track. His family, originally from Vukovar, fled to Belgrade during the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the civil wars that ensured in the early 1990s. Unusual to the rest of his TB teammates as he came from a academic background with an amazing array of languages including Serbian, Croatian, Swedish, English, Russian and Ukrainian. No doubt helped by his father who was a Professor at Belgrade UNiversity and his mother a teacher.
Vuko himself excelled at science and sports, particularly cycling. He ...
Read moreOne of TB's greatest riders, Vukota Sevaljevic, Time Trialist extraordinnaire finally calls it a day today. A sad day for TB as "Vuko" as he is affectionately known amongst fans and teammates hangs up his pedals after 15 seasons with a fine record, including holding the most bike wins for any TB rider (#4).
A quiet unassuming man, who is just at home in his sports labaratory as on the track. His family, originally from Vukovar, fled to Belgrade during the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the civil wars that ensured in the early 1990s. Unusual to the rest of his TB teammates as he came from a academic background with an amazing array of languages including Serbian, Croatian, Swedish, English, Russian and Ukrainian. No doubt helped by his father who was a Professor at Belgrade UNiversity and his mother a teacher.
Vuko himself excelled at science and sports, particularly cycling. He was often seen at the Belgrade Velodrome and it was here that he was spotted and picked up by local cycle team - AKROBATE - where he competed at some of the highest levels. He struggled being so raw but the experience was invaluable.
Halfway through S35, Vuko secured himself a sport science scholarship programme at the University of Stockholm. And it was here where he transferred his talents to a new team - TEAM SIVERBO where he completed a whole season (S36) and picked up his first place (Stavoren ITT).
Upon completing his studies he embarked on a Masters Degree programme in Sports Science at Loughborough University and it was here that his talents were quickly snapped up by TB. He immediately made an impression by taking his first win and 3 placements in his first season, helping TB to win the U23 501-800 Category in S37. "Vuko" became an instant favourite with fans.
It was not until he became team vice-captain alongside Alan Michelsen in S42 that he enjoyed the greatest period in his career during S42-S44 with 3 consecutive wins in each season. He clocked up an amazing record; 4 wins, 13 podium finishes and 63 places including a record-equalling (with Michelsen) 11 placements in S42.A good solid mid-table rider.
After S44, Vuko was never able to enjoy the same intensity of performance as previous seasons and gradually he left behind his captaining duties and concentrated on the scientific aspects of his time-trialling as age started to take its toll. It was also during this time that he befriended fellow countryman and Crystal Palace midfielder, Luka Milivojevic and become off-season drinking buddies.
Vuko was fully supported of TB's move to Ukraine, and following his retirement at TB he is keen to take on the new role of Sporting Director at the newly built velodrome facilities at the Teams training headquarters outside Kiev and to be named the "Vukodrome" in his honour. It is also here that Vuko intends to complete his PHD in Sports science and earn the right to be Dr. - that would make his late father proud. He will be sadly missed.
Key Stats:
Highest ever Ranking: 766th (S43)
Best Podium Performance: 3rd - Miellha-Birzebbugga/Krasnodar ITT (both D6, S43)
Highest ever Divisional Performance: 113th EL Limon GP Savannah Criterium (D1.2 S36)
Best Div 1.2 Performance: as above
Best Div 2 Performance: 43rd Locarno-Ascona (S35)
Best Div 2.1 Performance: 51st Arica Time Trial (S35)
Best Div3 Performance: 45th Lunen-Zeitfahrt (S35)
Best Div4 Performance: 31st Tipitapa Time Trial (S51)
Best Div5 Performance: 16th Chivacoa TT (S50)
Best Div6 Performance: as above
Best Div7 Performance: 1st Cornol TT (S42)/Pikes Peak (S43)/Thessaloniki (S44)
Best Div8 Performance: 2nd Port Moresby (S39)/Salaspils (S41)
Best Div9 Performance: 3rd Port Mathurin (S38)
Best Div10 Performance: Not competed
Best Div11 Performance: Not competed
Best ND Performance: 1st Porto Novo TT (S37)
Tour Record
Giro Di Sicilia (D4)
Best GC: Not recorded
Best Av. Place: S51 116th
Best Stage Perf: S51 91st Catania Prologue
Fast on Wheels (D5)
Best GC: Not recorded
Best Av. Place: S51 81st
Best Stage Perf: S51 22nd Esbjerg Prologue
Monte Rosa Tour (D5)
Best GC: Not recorded
Best Av. Place: S44 90th
Best Stage Perf: S44 23rd Berne Prologue
Cesko-Slovensky-Pohar (D6)
Best GC: Not recorded
Best Av. Place: S50 84th
Best Stage Perf: S51 & S49 7th Bratislava TT
Oryx (D6)
Best GC: Not recorded
Best Av. Place: S46 75th
Best Stage Perf: S47 & S44 5th Walvis Bay-Swakopmund TT Stage 1.
Sanraizan (D7)
Best GC: Not recorded
Best Av. Rating: S45 45th
Best Stage Perf: S47 10th Fujisan TT Stage 4.
Serbia