Andrew Hampsten facts for kids
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Hampsten at the 1993 Tour de France
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Shirus Andrew Hampsten | ||
| Nickname | Ernie | ||
| Born | April 7, 1962 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Team information | |||
| Current team | Retired | ||
| Discipline | Road | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Rider type | All-rounder | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Andrew Hampsten (born April 7, 1962) is a famous American former professional road bicycle racer. He is best known for winning the 1988 Giro d'Italia and a stage at Alpe d'Huez in the 1992 Tour de France. Between 1986 and 1994, he often finished in the top 10 of major cycling races called Grand Tours.
Contents
Andy Hampsten's Racing Career
Andy Hampsten first became well-known in 1985. He won a stage in the Giro d'Italia, which is a big race in Italy. The next year, he joined the La Vie Claire team. In 1986, his first full year as a professional, he won the Tour de Suisse race. He also helped his teammate, Greg LeMond, win the Tour de France. Andy finished fourth overall in that Tour de France and won the white jersey for the best young rider.
Winning the Giro d'Italia
Andy won the Tour de Suisse again in 1987. But his biggest win came in the 1988 Giro d'Italia. During this race, there was a very tough stage over the Gavia Pass mountain. A severe snowstorm hit during the race, making it incredibly difficult. Andy attacked on the climb and took the lead in the race, wearing the pink jersey. He was the first American ever to do this.
Many cyclists struggled in the snow and cold. Some even had to go to the hospital because they were so cold. Andy managed to keep his lead through the rest of the race. He became the first American to win the Giro d'Italia and only the second American to win a cycling Grand Tour.
In 1989, Andy continued to ride well in the 1989 Giro d'Italia. He finished in third place overall. He also rode strongly in the 1990 Tour de France.
Alpe d'Huez Victory
Andy's last big moment in a Grand Tour was in the 1992 Tour de France. He won the famous stage that finished on the mountain of Alpe d'Huez. He rode away from other riders to take the victory. He finished fourth overall in that Tour de France, just missing out on third place.
Life After Professional Racing
After his cycling career, Andy Hampsten lived in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The city even named its 40-mile (64 km) bike path system the "Andy Hampsten Bikeway System." Today, Andy lives in Tuscany, Italy, and Boulder, Colorado, in the U.S.
In 1999, Andy and his brother Steve started a bicycle company called Hampsten Cycles in Seattle, Washington. Andy also runs a company called Cinghiale Cycling Tours. This company organizes bicycle tours in Italy for people who love to ride.
Andy Hampsten's Major Achievements
Andy Hampsten had many important wins and high finishes during his career. Here are some of his main achievements:
- 1985
- Won Stage 20 of the 1985 Giro d'Italia
- 1986
- Won the overall 1986 Tour de Suisse (and the Prologue stage)
- Finished 4th overall in the 1986 Tour de France
- Won the Young Rider Classification in the Tour de France
- 1987
- Won the overall 1987 Tour de Suisse
- 1988
- Won the overall 1988 Giro d'Italia
- Won the Mountains Classification in the Giro d'Italia
- Won the Combination Classification in the Giro d'Italia
- Won Stages 12 and 18 of the Giro d'Italia
- 1989
- Finished 3rd overall in the 1989 Giro d'Italia
- 1990
- Finished 3rd overall in the 1990 Tour de Suisse
- 1991
- Finished 3rd overall in the 1991 Tour de Suisse
- Finished 8th overall in the 1991 Tour de France
- 1992
- Won the overall 1992 Tour de Romandie
- Finished 4th overall in the 1992 Tour de France
- Won Stage 14 (Alpe d'Huez) of the Tour de France
- Finished 5th overall in the 1992 Giro d'Italia
- 1993
- Won the overall Tour of Galicia
- Finished 8th overall in the 1993 Tour de France
- 1994
- Finished 10th overall in the 1994 Giro d'Italia
Grand Tour Results Over the Years
This table shows how Andy Hampsten finished in the biggest cycling races, the Grand Tours, each year he competed.
| Grand Tour | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 / Vuelta a España |
did not contest during his career | ||||||||||
 Giro d'Italia |
20 | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | 5 | 14 | 10 | 58 |
| Tour de France |
— | 4 | 16 | 15 | 22 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 8 | — | — |
| — | Did not compete |
|---|---|
| DNF | Did not finish |
See also
In Spanish: Andrew Hampsten para niños
