Allan Peiper

Beginning to race in the local club cycle races, he soon progressed to open road races, and following success, he was often selected* for the state cycling team of Victoria at various Australian Cycling Championships. *(In the early years, riders could compete in Australian Cycling Championships only if selected by the rider's state of residence. Nowadays, riders, can enter state or national championships, without restriction). State Championship wins on the road, and in the pursuit, followed quickly by the Oceania Cycling Championships, where, Peiper cleaned up in the Junior category. He was selected for the Junior World Cycling Championships in Vienna, Austria, where, he placed 3rd in the Junior Points race.

At 16 years of age, Peiper (after the World Junior Cycling Championships) in Austria travelled to Ghent, Belgium, to live and race in the daily Kermiskoersen. In that first season (1977) in Flanders, he won one race, but finished second 39 times.[1] He had been living in a small butchers shop, in Ghent, with several other cyclists, before befriending Eddy Planckaert and being invited to live with the Planckaert family, in Nevele. The following year (1978) he returned to the World Junior Cycling Championships held in Washington, USA, where he competed in the road race, and came second in the points race.[2] Returning to Belgium, he continued to race, winning another 10 races, and placing second, a further 25 times. Peiper, was a "professional junior" until the middle of 1979, when, following a bout of ill health, he returned to Australia, to recover.

It was not until November 1980, that Peiper, had recovered enough to begin racing again. He was helped and mentored, in his recovery by Peter Brotherton a former Olympic cyclist, (who competed in the individual pursuit) for Great Britain. In 1981 Peiper, raced mainly in Australia and New Zealand, where he won the Dulux Tour of the North Island. This earned an invitation to join the famous ACBB amateur cycling team, based in Paris, France, for 1982.

The Athletic Club de Boulogne-Billancourt (ACBB) cycling team, had a ruthless reputation and culture, where riders were expected to win. If they did not, they were soon discarded. Previous English-speaking cyclists (who raced with the team) include Paul Sherwen, Graham Jones, Robert Millar, Phil Anderson, Stephen Roche and Sean Yates.
By the September, Peiper, had won 14 races, including several classics, and the prestigious GP des Nations time trial.[3] The Commonwealth Games were to be held in Brisbane in late September 1982. Cycling Australia would not consider Peiper, for the national cycling team, as he had not raced any Australian selection events.
That was the end of Peiper's amateur career. He was to become a professional cyclist, with Peugeot in 1983.

Peiper made his professional cycling debut in the traditional early season races based around the South of France.

In his second year (1984) Peiper began to win more races. Many cycle stage races, begin with a short time trial (called a prologue). This determines the first race leader, and these intense, time trial efforts, were something of a "trade mark" of Peiper. By winning the opening race prologue, the rider also leads the race overall, gains the race leader's jersey, and receives considerable publicity for himself and the cycling team. In 1984, Peiper won 3 prologues at: Étoile de Bessèges, Tour de l'Oise & the Critérium du Dauphiné. He also won the Tour of Sweden stage race, by winning the final time trial. Peiper made his debut in the 1984 Tour de France by placing 3rd in the opening prologue. On the opening road stage, he again, placed 3rd. Second place, would have given him the race lead and the yellow jersey. He also led the best young rider classification "White Jersey" competition. Peiper, finished his debut Tour de France in 95th position.

After three seasons, racing with Peugeot, Peiper joined the Dutch Panasonic team, managed by Peter Post.

The Spring Classics of 1987, were a turning point for Peiper. Intensive training[4] began to show results. He was in the race winning moves at Het Volk,[5] Milan–San Remo,[6] E3 Prijs,[7] Driedaagse de Panne,[8] Ronde van Vlaanderen,[9] Gent–Wevelgem.[10] He also started, but did not finish Paris–Roubaix, Amstel Gold Race and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. A block of April races, that would be unlikely to occur (with one rider) nowadays.

In 1988, the World Road Championship, was held in Ronse, Belgium. The race was decided, from a select 13 man group (including Peiper), who started the last lap together. Claude Criquelion attacked, quickly caught by Maurizio Fondriest, with Steve Bauer and Martial Gayant chasing behind. Peiper was next, in turn, being chased down by seven riders, including Laurent Fignon. At the finish, Criquelion & Bauer collided[11] Fondriest won the race. Peiper, was caught and passed, within the last 100m, by the chasing group. He finished 10th[12]