Greg LeMond facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Greg LeMond

LeMond in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Gregory James LeMond
Nickname	L'Americain (The American) LeMonster
Born	(1961-06-26) June 26, 1961 (age 63) Lakewood, California, U.S.
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	67 kg (148 lb; 10 st 8 lb)
Team information
Current team	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	All-rounder
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France General classification (1986, 1989, 1990) Young rider classification (1984) Combination classification (1985, 1986) 5 individual stages (1985, 1986, 1989) 2 TTT stages (1984, 1985) Giro d'Italia 1 individual stage (1986) Stage races Tour de l'Avenir (1982) Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (1983) One-day races and Classics World Road Race Championships (1983, 1989) Other Super Prestige Pernod International (1983)

Gregory James LeMond (born June 26, 1961) is a famous American road cyclist. He made history by winning the Tour de France three times. He also won the Road Race World Championship twice. He is the only American man to have won the Tour de France.

LeMond started his professional cycling journey in 1981. Just two years later, he became the first American male cyclist to win the Road World Championship. In 1986, he won the Tour de France, becoming the first non-European professional to achieve this. Sadly, in 1987, he was seriously injured in a hunting accident. He missed the next two Tours due to his injuries and surgeries.

However, LeMond made an amazing comeback at the 1989 Tour. He won in a very exciting way on the last day of the race. The next year, he won the Tour again, making him one of only nine riders to win three or more Tours. LeMond stopped competing in 1994. In 1996, he joined the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame. He was also the first cyclist to sign a contract worth a million dollars.

LeMond helped bring new technology to professional cycling. This included special aerodynamic handlebars and carbon fiber bike frames. He later sold these through his company, LeMond Bicycles. He also spoke out against athletes using performance-enhancing drugs.

Greg LeMond's Early Life and Amateur Career

LeMond was born in Lakewood, California. He grew up in the Washoe Valley in Nevada. This area is known for its ranches and is near the Sierra Nevada mountains. His parents are Bob and Bertha LeMond, and he has two sisters.

Growing up, LeMond loved being outdoors. He enjoyed hiking, hunting, skiing, and fishing. He was a very active child. He believes these outdoor activities helped him stay out of trouble. LeMond said he had ADHD. He felt that cycling helped him focus better.

LeMond went to Earl Wooster High School in Reno. He often rode his bike to school. His rides home sometimes took him over mountains and through towns.

He discovered cycling in 1975. A skier named Wayne Wong suggested biking as a good way to train in the off-season. LeMond started racing in 1976. He won his first 11 races in the younger age group (13–15). Because he was so good, he was allowed to race against older competitors (16–19).

In 1977, when he was only 15, LeMond came in second in the Tour of Fresno. He raced against John Howard, who was then the top road cyclist in the U.S. LeMond caught the eye of Eddie Borysewicz, the national team coach. Borysewicz called LeMond "a diamond."

LeMond raced for the U.S. at the Junior World Championships. He finished ninth in 1978 and won gold, silver, and bronze medals in 1979. At 18, LeMond was chosen for the 1980 U.S. Olympic cycling team. He was the youngest ever to make the team. However, the U.S. did not go to the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

LeMond wanted to become a professional cyclist. In 1980, he joined the U.S. National cycling team for races in Europe. He finished third in one race and won the Circuit de la Sarthe stage race in France. This made him the first American and youngest rider ever to win a major pro-am event in Europe. This victory got him noticed by Cyrille Guimard, a team director for Renault–Elf–Gitane. Guimard offered him a professional contract for 1981. LeMond signed with Renault in Paris.

Greg LeMond's Professional Cycling Career

LeMond was a very talented amateur rider. He quickly became one of the best professional cyclists. A respected cycling journalist, John Wilcockson, called LeMond fuoriclasse, meaning he was in a class of his own.

Early Years: 1981–1983

LeMond's first professional win was in 1981. He won a stage of the French Tour de l'Oise. He then won the Coors Classic in the U.S. He also placed third in the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. This showed he had strong climbing skills. LeMond won five races in his first year as a pro.

In 1982, LeMond broke his collarbone. This injury affected his racing schedule. He still competed in the World Championships in England. He finished second, just behind Italian Giuseppe Saronni. LeMond was the first American pro to win a medal at the World Championships since 1912. He said, "To me, that second place was almost as good as winning."

Two weeks later, LeMond won the Tour de l'Avenir. This was a tough 12-day race. He won by a record 10 minutes, which surprised everyone in Europe. This victory proved that LeMond was truly a special talent.

In 1983, LeMond won the Road World Championship in Switzerland. He became the first American male cyclist to win this title. His strong skills, like climbing and time trialing, made him a great candidate for the toughest races, known as Grand Tours.

Grand Tour Success: 1984–1986

LeMond's combination classification jersey from the 1985 Tour de France

LeMond rode his first Tour de France in 1984. He finished third and won the white jersey for the best young rider. The next year, he joined the La Vie Claire team to support Bernard Hinault. Hinault was trying to win his fifth Tour. LeMond signed a $1 million contract with the team.

During the 1985 Tour, Hinault had a crash and struggled. It became clear that LeMond was strong enough to win the Tour himself. On a tough mountain stage, LeMond was told by his team not to attack. He was frustrated, but he followed orders. Hinault won the 1985 Tour, and LeMond finished second. Hinault promised to help LeMond win the Tour the next year.

LeMond then raced in the World Championships road race. He finished second, taking the silver medal. There was no controversy this time, and LeMond congratulated the winner.

For the 1986 Tour, LeMond and Hinault were co-leaders of the La Vie Claire team. Hinault seemed less sure about helping LeMond win. He was in great shape and wanted to win a record sixth Tour. Hinault attacked early in the race and gained a big lead. He claimed he was trying to help LeMond, but these attacks were not planned together.

On Stage 13, LeMond dropped Hinault on a climb. This allowed LeMond to gain back time. On Stage 17, LeMond took the yellow jersey as race leader. It was the first time an American had worn it. The next day, LeMond and Hinault rode together up the famous Alpe d'Huez. LeMond let Hinault win the stage as a show of unity. However, Hinault continued to attack in later stages.

LeMond kept the yellow jersey and won his first Tour. But he felt betrayed by Hinault and his team. LeMond later said the 1986 Tour was the hardest race of his career.

LeMond (left) in the 1986 Coors Classic

Shooting Accident and Recovery: 1987–1988

LeMond planned to defend his Tour de France title in 1987. But he had an accident while hunting. He was accidentally shot with about 60 pellets in his back and right side. His injuries were very serious. A police helicopter took him to the hospital, and emergency surgery saved his life.

He tried to return to racing in 1988, but he still had 35 shotgun pellets in his body. Some were near his heart and liver. He also suffered from tendonitis due to over-training. LeMond missed the Tour de France for two years in a row. He then moved to a new team called ADR.

Amazing Comeback: 1989 Tour de France

LeMond in 1989 at the Tour de Trump

LeMond struggled in early races in 1989. He even told his wife he planned to retire after the 1989 Tour de France. He wasn't expected to win the Tour. His best hope was to finish in the top 20.

Without the pressure of being a favorite, LeMond surprised everyone. He rode well in the opening stage. He then won the Stage 5 individual time trial and took the yellow jersey. LeMond got stronger as the race went on. He lost the lead to his old rival, Laurent Fignon, in the mountains. But he reclaimed the yellow jersey in the Alps.

The battle continued, and Fignon took the yellow jersey back on Alpe d'Huez. Fignon had a 50-second lead over LeMond before the final stage. This was a rare individual time trial from Versailles to Champs-Élysées in Paris.

LeMond starts the final time trial of the 1989 Tour de France

Fignon was a strong time trialist. It seemed impossible for LeMond to gain 50 seconds in such a short distance. But LeMond had trained with special aerodynamic handlebars and a special helmet. He rode incredibly fast. He finished 8 seconds ahead of Fignon, winning his second Tour de France!

The 8-second difference is the closest win in Tour history. The press called it "the most astonishing victory." LeMond said it felt "much more satisfying" than his first win.

LeMond's amazing year continued. On August 27, he won the World Championships road race in France. He became only the fifth person to win both the Tour de France and the World Championship in the same year. In December, Sports Illustrated magazine named LeMond its "Sportsman of the Year." He was the first cyclist to receive this honor.

Third Tour Win: 1990

LeMond leading the 1990 Tour de France

After his success in 1989, LeMond signed the richest contract in cycling history. He joined the French team "Z" for $5.5 million over three years. He entered the 1990 Tour de France as the defending champion.

The team's plan was upset on the first day. A teammate, Ronan Pensec, got a 10-minute lead on the field. This meant LeMond couldn't challenge for the lead until his teammate lost the yellow jersey. Pensec held the lead for many stages, even in the high mountains. But he eventually lost it to Claudio Chiappucci.

LeMond slowly closed the gap. On stage 16, he launched a powerful attack on the final climb of Luz Ardiden. No one could keep up. He gained a lot of time on his rivals. He finally overtook Chiappucci in the final individual time trial on stage 20. LeMond won the 1990 Tour without winning any individual stages. He is the last rider to win the Tour while wearing the world champion jersey. His 1990 victory made him one of only seven cyclists to win three or more Tours.

In September, LeMond tried to defend his title at the 1990 UCI Road World Championships. He finished fourth.

Later Career and Retirement: 1991–1994

LeMond felt confident before the 1991 Tour de France. He was the defending champion and had a strong team. He was leading the race after Stage 8. But he lost time to Miguel Induráin, which shook his confidence. He held the yellow jersey for four more days. Then, on a tough mountain stage, he struggled and lost a lot of time. He finished the 1991 Tour in seventh place.

In 1992, LeMond won the Tour DuPont. This was his last major win. He also had a good finish in Paris–Roubaix. He never won any of cycling's 'Monument' races, but he had several high finishes in them.

In the 1992 Tour de France, he started strong. But he lost form in the mountains and had to quit the race. LeMond said a saddle sore caused him to abandon. But he also said, "My climbing is not like usual."

Former Tour champions Greg LeMond (fourth from left) and Laurent Fignon (center) climb with the "autobus" to Sestriere on Stage 13 of the 1991 Giro d'Italia

LeMond trained hard the next winter. But his performance didn't improve. He had to leave the 1993 Giro d'Italia before the final stage because he was too tired. He couldn't even enter the 1993 Tour de France.

In 1994, LeMond started the 1994 Tour de France. But he couldn't race effectively and had to quit after the first week. In December, he announced his retirement. At the time, the reasons for his struggles were not fully known. He thought he might have had a condition called mitochondrial myopathy. However, in 2007, he wondered if lead toxicity from the shotgun pellets in his body might have been the cause. He thought heavy training made the effects worse.

In 1998, LeMond was asked how he would compare to five-time Tour winners if his career hadn't been interrupted. He said, "I'm confident that I would have won five Tours."

Two years after retiring, LeMond was inducted into the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2014, a film called Slaying the Badger was released. It was about LeMond and Hinault at the 1986 Tour de France.

Business Ventures

LeMond riding on a carbon fiber bicycle in the 1991 Tour de France

LeMond was a pioneer in using carbon fiber bicycle frames. His 1986 Tour de France win was the first on a carbon-framed bike. He also won the 1989 Tour, 1989 World Championship, and 1990 Tour on carbon fiber frames. These bikes had "Greg LeMond" on them.

LeMond Cycles

In 1990, LeMond started LeMond Bicycles. He wanted to create bikes for himself and for sale to the public. He partnered with Carbonframes, Inc., for their advanced technology. While using these bikes in the 1991 Tour, he kept his carbon bike in his hotel room. LeMond's company later struggled.

In 1995, LeMond partnered with Trek Bicycle Corporation. Trek would make and sell bikes designed with LeMond under the "LeMond Bicycles" brand. This partnership lasted 13 years. It ended badly because LeMond spoke out strongly against doping in cycling.

LeMond had disagreements with Trek in 2001. He worried about the connection between a doping doctor and Trek's star athlete, Lance Armstrong. Trek pressured LeMond to apologize. They said his comments hurt the LeMond and Trek brands.

In 2007, LeMond accused Armstrong of trying to harm his relationship with Trek. In 2008, LeMond's company sued Trek. They claimed Trek didn't promote the brand well and tried to silence LeMond's comments about doping. Trek responded by stopping the LeMond Bicycles line and suing to end the agreement.

After almost two years, LeMond and Trek reached a private agreement in 2010. LeMond got full control of the LeMond Bicycles name. Trek also donated money to a charity LeMond helped found.

LeMond Fitness

In 2002, LeMond helped start LeMond Fitness, Inc. This company makes bicycle trainers and indoor exercise bikes. LeMond is the chairman of the board. In 2012, LeMond bought the LeMond Revolution product line and relaunched it.

Partnership with Time

LeMond (left) at the 2010 Interbike trade show

In 2013, LeMond announced he was returning to making and selling bicycles. He partnered with the French company Time. He bought Time Sport USA, the U.S. distributor. LeMond said he was "really excited to be back in the bike industry."

Other Interests

LeMond also invested in real estate. In 2002, he and partners invested in the Yellowstone Club, a private ski and golf community. They later sued the founder over a loan. LeMond settled his suit in 2007.

He also became a restaurateur in 1990. He opened a restaurant called Scott Kee's Tour de France with his wife and her parents. He also partnered in several Bruegger's bagel bakery–café franchises.

In 2016, LeMond founded LeMond Composites. This company makes carbon fiber materials. In 2017, LeMond and his family moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to be near the company's manufacturing facility.

Broadcasting and Personal Life

In 2014, LeMond joined Eurosport as a cycling expert. He provided analysis for races like the Tour de France. He worked for the channel until 2017.

LeMond at Carrefour de l'Arbre, near Roubaix, in 2015

LeMond is married to Kathy Morris. They have three children: Geoffrey, Scott, and Simone. They lived in Minnesota for many years before moving to Tennessee in 2017. He is Catholic.

LeMond loves the outdoors and is a passionate fly angler. In 1991, he set a world record for catching a four-pound smallmouth bass on a light fishing line. He said, "I always pack my fly fishing equipment when I travel to bike events. I fish every chance I get."

After retiring from cycling, LeMond also competed in Formula Ford 2000 series auto racing. He is also a motivational speaker. In 2008, he narrated a documentary.

In 2007, LeMond rode in a cycling event called L'Étape du Tour. He said it was a special moment for him. He decided that day that no one would stop him from enjoying cycling. LeMond also became a founding board member of 1in6.org. This group helps men who have experienced childhood abuse.

In 2013, LeMond was in a car accident due to icy conditions. He suffered a concussion and a back injury. He made a full recovery.

In 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to give LeMond the Congressional Gold Medal. This award recognizes his service as an athlete, activist, role model, and community leader. President Donald Trump signed the bill in December 2020.

In June 2022, LeMond was diagnosed with a type of leukemia that is not life-threatening.

Career Achievements

Major Results

Grand Tour General Classification Results

Race	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
Vuelta a España	DNF	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Giro d'Italia	—	—	3	4	—	DNF	39	105	DNF	—	DNF	—
Tour de France	—	3	2	1	—	—	1	1	7	DNF	—	DNF

Classic Races Results

Monument	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
Milan–San Remo	—	17	30	—	—	2	—	—	—	—	—	22	—	140
Tour of Flanders	—	—	—	15	7	11	—	30	63	—	—	—	25	—
Paris–Roubaix	—	—	—	—	4	30	—	—	—	—	55	9	—	—
Liège–Bastogne–Liège	—	—	78	3	17	14	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Giro di Lombardia	—	—	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
World Championships	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
UCI World Championships	47	2	1	27	2	7	—	—	1	4	DNF	—	—	—

Awards and Recognition

• Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year: 1989
• Jesse Owens International Trophy: 1991
• Korbel Lifetime Achievement Award: 1992

Images for kids

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  LeMond (left) in the 1986 Coors Classic

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  LeMond in 1989 at the Tour de Trump

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  LeMond starts the final time trial of the 1989 Tour de France

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  LeMond leading the 1990 Tour de France

• 

  Former Tour champions Greg LeMond (fourth from left) and Laurent Fignon (center) climb with the "autobus" to Sestriere on Stage 13 of the 1991 Giro d'Italia

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  LeMond riding on a carbon fiber bicycle in the 1991 Tour de France

• 

  LeMond (left) at the 2010 Interbike trade show

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  LeMond at Carrefour de l'Arbre, near Roubaix, in 2015

See Also

• Yellow jersey statistics
• List of companies named after people
• List of French Americans
• List of Grand Tour general classification winners
• List of multi-sport athletes
• List of people from Minnesota
• List of sports rivalries
• List of Tour de France general classification winners
• List of Tour de France secondary classification winners
• United States at the UCI Road World Championships