# Dave Akam

David J. Akam (born 2 November 1960, Camberwell, London) is a retired track and road cyclist who specialized in time-trials. He was active professionally between 1984 and 1987.

## Early life

David Akam was a track and road cyclist. He was introduced to cycling by his P.E. teacher at Forest Hill school, South London – the British lanterne rouge John Clarey. Akam's early successes in cycling included three British National Track Championships and the Junior Individual Time Trial Road Championship. In 1978 Akam was selected for the English track team in the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, competing in the 4,000 metres Individual Pursuit. Having trained for months with the 1980 Olympic pursuit team squad, Akam fractured his hip in a kermesse crash, putting him out of contention. However, that July the 19-year-old Akam broke the British 10-mile time trial record becoming the first ever rider to clock in at under 20 minutes (the record has since been held by Graeme Obree, Bradley Wiggins and Alex Dowsett). The same year he also won the Goodwood Classic individual time trial in a time of 1 hour 2 minutes and 39 seconds – a time that has never been beaten.
Over the next three years, from 1981 to 1983, Akam lived and raced abroad, first in the Netherlands for the Jan Van Erp team, and then France. In his second year, Akam won 13 races including the Grand Prix de France.
In 1983, Akam moved his racing base to France, joining the ACBB team, a Parisian amateur team which had helped the likes of Sean Yates and Stephen Roche to the professional ranks. During that year's Tour of Norway, Akam caught the eye of Mercier and Peugeot's Francesco Moser. Akam then won the Chrono des Nations.

## Professional career

In 1984 he was signed by the Italian team Gis Gelati to help the Italian Moser to win his first Giro d'Italia. Akam was nicknamed "Rosso" on account of his red hair. While in Italy, Akam lived with Moser's mother. Shortly after joining Gis Gelati Akam rode for Moser in the Vuelta a España, in which Moser finished 10th overall and Akam pulled out after Stage 11. The team prepared for the 1984 Giro by winning the Team Time Trial event, the Cronostaffetta, and by racing the Tirreno–Adriatico in which Akam came 5th in the prologue time trial. Akam also competed at the Giro del Trentino to cement his place on the Giro team. At the Giro, Akam played a role in delivering Moser to first place in Verona and the first and only pink jersey of Moser's career at the Giro d'Italia. Akam often rode the Giro on the front for Moser. Until Chris Froome's victory in 34 years later, Akam was the last Briton to ride on a Giro winner's team.
In 1985 Akam was given an extension to his contract and began his preparations for the Giro well by competing at the Tirreno–Adriatico. He again rode the Giro but this time he withdrew after Stage 9 due to a crash. Akam also rode alongside the classics specialist Roger De Vlaeminck whilst at Gis Gelati.
Akam joined the Dutch team PDM–Concorde in 1986 to ride for Pedro Delgado. Akam was offered another extension but in 1987 Akam opted to join the British outfit ANC-Halfords Cycling Team.
Akam retired from cycling shortly afterwards, his career cut short by illness. Akam had raced the Giro, the Vuelta, Paris–Roubaix and Milan–San Remo. Throughout his career, Akam suffered from a mystery illness. Akam on reflection states that his dream move in 1984 to Gis Gelati came too soon because he had no time to deal with his health problems – later diagnosed as hepatitis and a liver that functioned at only 70%.

## Palmarès
### 1977

    1st National Championship, Track, Pursuit, Juniors
    1st National Time Trial Championship, Juniors

### 1978

    2nd National Time Trial Championship, Juniors

### 1979

    3rd National Championship, Track, Pursuit, Amateurs
    6th National Time Trial Championship Amateurs

### 1980

    1st National Championship, Track, Madison, Amateurs
    1st Goodwood Classic
    2nd National Championship, Track, Pursuit, Amateurs
    2nd Trofeo Valco Couple Time Trial
    3rd National Championship, Track, Team Pursuit, Elite
    4th Trofeo Baracchi

### 1981

    1st National Championship, Track, Pursuit, Amateurs
    1st Trofeo Valco Couple Time Trial
    1st Fayt-le-Franc Criterium
    2nd Trofeo Baracchi
    2nd Neerlinter Criterium
    2nd Itterbeek Criterium
    3rd Prologue Olympia's Tour

### 1982

    1st Grand Prix de France ITT
    1st Trofee Jan Van Erp
    1st Grand Prix Timmermans
    1st Grand Prix der Witten
    9th Overall Sealink Race
       1st Prologue & 4th Stage 4
    2nd Drielanden Omloop
    6th National Road Race Championship Amateurs
    Circuit des Ardennes
       4th Prologue & 5th Stage 3
    55th Overall Étoile des Espoirs
       6th Prologue & 6th Stage 5b ITT

### 1983

    1st Chrono des Nations
    1st Overall Tour de l'Essonne
       1st Stage 3
    1st Prix Novoplastic
    2nd Grand Prix des Nations (Amateurs)
    2nd Grand Prix d'Issoire
    2nd Chrono Madelinos
    2nd Grand Prix de Boulogne-Billancourt
    3rd Stage 2a Tour de l'Eurométropole
    14th Overall Milk Race

### 1984

    1st Cronostaffetta TTT with Francesco Moser and Roger De Vlaeminck
    5th Prologue Tirreno–Adriatico
    137th Overall 1984 Giro d'Italia
       3rd TTT Stage 1 & 14th ITT Stage 22
    7th Trofeo Baracchi
    Vuelta a España
       9th Stage 2

### 1985

    Tirreno–Adriatico
       6th Prologue, 2nd stage 2 TTT & 8th Stage 5 ITT
    1985 Giro d'Italia
       2nd stage 2 TTT

### 1986

    6th ITT Tour of Valenciana
    7th Trofeo Baracchi

### 1987

    28th Overall Milk Race
       3rd Stage 11
    81st Overall 4 Jours de Dunkerque