Andrew Hampsten

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Andrew Hampsten (born April 7, 1962 in Columbus, Ohio) is an American cyclist, best remembered for winning the 1988 Giro d'Italia and the Alpe d'Huez stage of the 1992 Tour de France.

1 Career highlights
- 1.1 Victories and major results
2 Notes
3 External links

[edit] Career highlights

Andy Hampsten first caught the public eye in 1985, when he won stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia. The following year, he was signed by Bernard Hinault's powerful La Vie Claire team. In his first full season as a pro, 1986, he won the Tour de Suisse and helped his compatriot and team leader Greg LeMond to victory in the Tour de France. He also finished the Tour de France in fourth place overall and claimed the white jersey of best young rider. In 1987, Hampsten repeated his victory in the Tour de Suisse, this time riding for the 7-Eleven Cycling Team. His greatest moment undoubtedly came in the 1988 Giro d'Italia, notably on a short but now legendary stage over the Gavia Pass. Attacking on the climb, Hampsten overcame a snow blizzard and sub-freezing temperatures to take the leader's jersey - although he finished second on the stage to Dutchman Erik Breukink. His subsequent overall victory in the 1988 Giro was the first and only by a non-European. Hampsten's final career highlight came in the 1992 Tour de France when he dropped his breakaway companions to win the stage to Alpe d'Huez. He again finished the race fourth, overall, having lost his third place to Gianni Bugno in the final time trial.

A former resident of Grand Forks, North Dakota, the 40-mile bikeway system in that city has been dedicated as the "Andy Hampsten Bikeway System."^[1] Hampsten now lives in Tuscany and Boulder, Colorado.

[edit] Victories and major results

1985: Gran Premio Yardley Gold de Montaña in Colombia; Giro d'Italia (stage 20 win)
1986: Tour de Suisse (1st overall; prologue win); Tour de France (4th overall; Best Young Rider Maillot blanc)
1987: Tour de Suisse (1st overall)
1988: Giro d'Italia (1st overall, King of the Mountains, 2 stage wins)
1989: Subida a Urkiola; Giro d'Italia (3rd overall)
1990: Subida a Urkiola; Tour de Suisse (3rd overall; stage 7 win)
1991: Tour de Suisse (3rd overall; King of the Mountains)
1992: Tour de France (4th overall; Stage 14 win to Alpe d'Huez); Tour de Romandie (1st overall; stage 3 win)
1993: Tour de Galice (1st overall; stage 2 win); Tour de Romandie (3rd overall)
1994: Tour de Romandie (3rd overall)