Cycling Facts and Trivia

Just like any other professional sport, cycling has its own bit of trivia to intrigue the minds of even the most knowledgable cycling enthusiast. Facts about Greg Lemond, cyclists' salaries and teams are all covered in this informational section.

Did You Know...

• Greg LeMond became the first American to win the Tour de France in 1986. That year fellow American teammate Andy Hampsten (now with Motorola) placed fourth. LeMond won the 1989 and 1990 Tour de France, the world's most prestigious cycling event. He also won the 1983 and '89 World Championships.

• Greg LeMond was named 1989 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, and athlete of the year by "ABC Sports" in 1989 and 1990.

• American, Andy Hampsten won the Tour de France's "Alpe d'Huez" stage in the 1992 Tour de France, the most prestigious stage of the Tour. He was the first American to win the stage. He is also the only American ever to win the Tours of Italy (Giro) and Switzerland. This year he will ride for the U.S.-based US Postal Service team.

• 7-Eleven was the first U.S.-based professional team to compete in the Tour de France, in 1986. In 1987, while riding for 7-Eleven, Davis Phinney (formerly with Coors Light) became the first American to win a road stage in the Tour de France.

• The first American cyclist to ride in the Tour de France was Jonathan Boyer of Carmel, Calif. in 1981.

• There are more than 1,000 professional riders in the world.

• There are now more than 70 registered pro teams worldwide, with Italy (11), Spain (7), and the United States (6), leading the pack. Source: UCI

• There are now pro teams from over 30 countries, the most in the history of the sport. Source: UCI

• 1996 will see 3 American teams competing in Europe ( Motorola, US Postal Service, and Saturn), the most ever.

• An estimated 2 million spectators over 11 days cheered along the 1000-mile Tour DuPont course in 1993. That figure makes the Tour DuPont one of the most popular events watched by spectators in the United States last year. Tour DuPont-Source: Independent Report from 129 police jurisdictions

• The Society of the Tour de France reported approximately 23 million spectators viewed its 21-day event last July, making it the most popular events attended last year.

• The first major stage race took place in Asia in 1995. The Kent Tour of China was run in October, boasting tremendous success.

• In the mid-1890s, there were as many pro cyclists as there are Major League baseball players today (650). Source: Hearts of Lions: The Story of American Bicycle Racing.

• In the early 1900s, world champion cyclist Frank Kramer ($20,000 to $25,000) of the U.S. earned more than American League batting champion Ty Cobb ($4,000)-Hearts of Lions: The Story of American Bicycle Racing.

• Ironically, cycling is being called "The Sport of the 1990s" and was deemed the same over a century ago in the 1890s when bike racing was first introduced.

• Henry Ford, the Dodge Brothers, Glenn Curtis, Walter Marmon, and the Wright brothers were cyclists that shared the wisdom and financial backing by professional riders of their time. Ford started his automobile company through the backing of world-champion Tom Cooper. Source: Story of American Bicycle Racing.

• The Tour DuPont, until 1996, was uniquely sanctioned as one of the few "International Open" races in the world, permitting national amateurs to compete against the pros.

• Cycling is second most popular sport by attendance in Europe, second only to football (soccer). -The Societe of the Tour de France, 1989

• The professional cycling season lasts from February to October and features a World Cup with money attached to points earned, much like NASCAR.

• Most international riders race more than 180 races and 18,000 miles! in a season.

• Cyclists reach speeds of 60 m.p.h. downhill and climb grades of 10-15 percent at 10-12 m.p.h.

• There are more than 180 races on the international calendar. Source: UCI

• Cycling is one of the true internationally competitive sports, with races sanctioned in North and South America, Asia, Australia and Europe. Source: UCI

• UCI, the international governing body for cycling internationally, sanctions the Tour DuPont along with USPro, the national organizing body for pro cycling in the U.S.

• Cyclists will eat PowerBars and other energy foods that can be easily digested.

• Average cyclists will drink 16 glasses (8 oz.) of water per day.

• Cyclists will pack food in pockets in their jerseys.

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More Did You Know...

• Cyclists eat "lunch on the bike", pre packed and handed to them in a tote bag at designated "Feed Zones."

• Cyclists burn approximately 10,000 calories during a stage race like the Tour DuPont.

• Cyclists will eat pasta 3 times a day during a stage race.

• Each team has at least one masseur and one bike mechanic.

• The average road racing bicycle is $3,000 and the average time trial bike is between $4,000 and $6,000.

• The world's highest paid cyclist is Spain's Miguel Indurian, 1991, '92 and '93 Tour de France winner at more than $1.5 million. The average salary for top pro cyclists in Europe is over $100,000 per year.

• Cyclists share their team's earnings. Last year, while Raul Alcala won $50,000 for winning the Tour DuPont, he shared his winnings with other riders and team staff.

• VeloNews reports the average neo-pro will earn between $20,000-$30,000 while good first-year signees will earn $60,000-$70,000. Top cyclists may make $500,000 to $2 million per year.

• The Red Zinger Classic, later known as the Coors Classic, was the first lengthy stage race (like the Tour DuPont and its predecessor the Tour de Trump) held in America. It ran from 1975-88.

• The first United States Professional National Road Championship was held in 1983 at Baltimore. CoreStates Bank began sponsoring the one-day championship in 1985, the year five-time speedskating gold-medalist Eric Heiden won Nationals, in Philadelphia.