Miguel Induráin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Miguel Induráin

Induráin in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Miguel María Induráin Larraya
Nickname	Miguelón Big Mig
Born	(1964-07-16) 16 July 1964 (age 60) Villava, Spain
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	76 kg (168 lb; 12 st 0 lb)
Team information
Current team	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	All-rounder
Major wins
Grand Tour Tour de France General classification (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995) 12 individual stages (1989–1995) Giro d'Italia General classification (1992, 1993) Intergiro classification (1992) 4 individual stages (1992, 1993) Stage races Volta a Catalunya (1988, 1991, 1992) Paris–Nice (1989, 1990) Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (1995, 1996) Critérium International (1991) Grand Prix du Midi Libre (1995) One-day races and Classics Olympic Time Trial (1996) World Time Trial Championships (1995) National Road Race Championships (1992) Clásica de San Sebastián (1990) Other Vélo d'Or (1992, 1993) Hour record 53.040 km (2 September 1994)

Miguel Induráin Larraya (born 16 July 1964) is a famous retired Spanish road racing cyclist. He is known for winning the Tour de France five times in a row, from 1991 to 1995. He is the only cyclist to achieve five consecutive wins in this race.

Miguel also won the Giro d'Italia twice. He is one of only seven cyclists to win both the Giro and the Tour in the same year. He wore the yellow jersey (for the race leader) in the Tour de France for 60 days! His amazing strength and height (1.86 meters or 6 feet 1 inch, and 76 kg or 168 pounds) earned him the nicknames "Miguelón" or "Big Mig."

Early Life and First Rides

Miguel Induráin was born in a small village called Villava, near Pamplona, Spain. He has three sisters and a brother, Prudencio Induráin, who also became a professional cyclist.

His first bike was a green, used Olmo, given to him for his 10th birthday. When he was 11, it was stolen. He worked hard in the fields with his father to earn money for a new one. Before cycling, Miguel tried many sports like running, basketball, and football. When he was 14, he joined a local cycling club called CC Villavés. He rode his first race in July 1978 and finished second. He won his second race and continued to compete every week. His cycling hero was Bernard Hinault. At just 18 years old, he became the youngest person to win the Spanish amateur national road championship.

Becoming a Professional Cyclist

In 1984, Miguel competed in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. After that, he became a professional cyclist on September 4, joining the Reynolds team. He won his first professional race just a week later, which was a time trial in the Tour de l'Avenir.

In 1985, he started the 1985 Vuelta a España race. He came second in the first part, called the prologue. He then became the leader, making him the youngest rider ever to lead the Vuelta a España. He also rode in the Tour de France that year, which he would do for the next 11 years.

Miguel was especially good at time trials. These are races where cyclists ride alone against the clock. He would gain a lot of time on his rivals in these stages. Then, he would ride carefully in the mountain stages to keep his lead. During his five Tour de France wins, he never won a stage that wasn't a time trial. This strategy worked well because many races back then had long time trial sections.

First Tour de France Victory in 1991

Induráin with the trophy he won at the 1991 Tour de France

In 1991, Greg LeMond was expected to win the Tour de France. Even though Miguel was great at time trials, people thought he was too big to be a good climber in the mountains.

However, on stage 13, LeMond struggled on a mountain climb called the Tourmalet. He lost more than seven minutes to Miguel. Miguel took the lead and kept the yellow jersey all the way to the end, winning his first Tour de France!

Winning Both the Tour and Giro in 1992

In 1992, Miguel won the first part of the Tour de France, a short time trial in San Sebastián. He took the yellow jersey but lost it the next day. In stage nine, a long time trial of 65 km, Miguel finished three minutes ahead of the second-place rider. He even caught Laurent Fignon, who had started six minutes before him!

The 1992 Tour also had a famous mountain stage to Sestriere. Miguel seemed to struggle on the last climb, but he finished third. This was enough for him to get the yellow jersey back. From then on, Miguel used his winning style: "crush rivals in the time trials and control them in the mountains." He also won the Giro d'Italia in 1992, showing he was a true champion.

Another Double Victory in 1993

Miguel rode the 1993 Tour de France with the same winning strategy. He won the prologue (the opening time trial) and then waited until stage nine, another time trial, to take control of the race. He won that stage by over two minutes! After that, he rode carefully, watching his rivals. He also won the 1993 Giro d'Italia again, completing another Giro-Tour double.

Tour de France and Hour Record in 1994

Induráin's yellow jersey from the 1995 Tour de France.

In 1994, Miguel won the first time trial of the Tour de France again. He beat Tony Rominger by two minutes. He also attacked in the Pyrenees mountains, leaving many rivals behind. He kept the yellow jersey and won his fourth Tour de France.

In 1994, Miguel also set a new world hour record. He rode 53.040 kilometres (32.958 mi) in one hour, beating the previous record held by Graeme Obree.

Fifth Tour de France Victory in 1995

Miguel won the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré race in 1995.

In the 1995 Tour de France, Miguel attacked early in stage seven. He and Johan Bruyneel rode away from the main group, leaving them 50 seconds behind. The next day, Miguel won the first time trial. This showed everyone that he was still the strongest. He won his fifth Tour de France in a row, a truly amazing achievement!

He also won the world time trial championship in 1995.

Aiming for a Sixth Tour in 1996

Miguel Induráin in 1996.

Miguel also won the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré again in 1996.

In the 1996 Tour de France, Miguel was hoping for a sixth win. However, he struggled from the start. He lost time in the first week, which was cold and wet. He finished 11th overall, which was unusual for him.

Even though he didn't win the Tour, Miguel won the gold medal in the individual time trial at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. This was the first time professional cyclists could compete in the Olympics. He said that winning the Tour de France was the most important thing for a professional cyclist, but the Olympic gold medal was very special.

Retirement from Cycling

After the 1996 season, Miguel took two months to decide his future. He had been offered a lot of money to join another team. But on January 1, 1997, he announced that he would not race again. He said it was a difficult decision, but he felt it was time to stop. He wanted to spend more time with his family.

Today, Miguel lives in Pamplona and Palma de Mallorca. He is married to Marisa and they have three children. In 1998, he started the Miguel Induráin Foundation to help promote sports in his home region of Navarre. He still rides his bike a few times a week and attends cycling events.

How Miguel's Body Helped Him Win

Scientists at the University of Ferrara studied Miguel Induráin. They found that his body was naturally built for cycling.

• His blood could carry 7 liters of oxygen per minute. Most people carry 3-4 liters, and other top cyclists carry 5-6 liters. This meant his muscles got more oxygen.
• His heart could pump 50 liters of blood per minute. A fit amateur cyclist's heart pumps about 25 liters.
• His lung capacity was 7.8 liters, which is larger than the average of 6 liters.
• His resting heart rate was very low, only 28 beats per minute. This meant his heart was very efficient and didn't get tired easily during tough mountain climbs.
• His VO2 max (how much oxygen his body can use during exercise) was 88 ml/kg/min. This is a very high number, showing his incredible fitness.

These special physical abilities helped Miguel become one of the greatest cyclists of all time.

Miguel's Personality

Miguel Induráin was known for being a very modest and quiet person. He never acted like he was better than anyone else. He didn't enjoy being in the spotlight, even when he wore the famous yellow jersey.

A Spanish journalist once wondered, "I wonder if his wife knows who this man is who sleeps beside her." This shows how private and calm Miguel was. A teammate said, "When he comes down for his meal, you don't even hear him move his chair."

Miguel's five Tour de France wins happened as Spain was becoming a more modern country. His face became a symbol of a new, confident Spain. He was described as "humble and sublime, silent on some days."

Cycling Weekly magazine wrote that he seemed to do everything slowly, even off the bike, as if saving energy. But his steady gaze showed he was a great rider.

Miguel said the person who impressed him most was Pope John Paul II. He even gave the Pope his yellow jersey from the Tour de France and a pink jersey from the Giro d'Italia. This was a very special gift because Miguel rarely gives away his cycling items.

Miguel is also a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, which honors great athletes.

Awards and Honors

• Prince of Asturias Award for Sports
• Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit
• Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit
• French Legion of Honour
• Olympic Order

Career Achievements

Major Results

General Classification Results Timeline

Grand Tour General Classification Results
Grand Tour	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
Giro d'Italia	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	3	—	—
Tour de France	DNF	DNF	97	47	17	10	1	1	1	1	1	11
Vuelta a España	84	92	DNF	DNF	DNF	7	2	—	—	—	—	DNF
Major Stage Race General Classification Results
Race	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
Paris–Nice	—	—	—	42	1	1	—	3	—	35	—	—
/ Tirreno–Adriatico	—	—	—	—	—	—	43	—	—	—	—	—
Tour of the Basque Country	—	22	—	—	—	3	—	—	54	—	—	—
Tour de Romandie	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	15	35	—	—
Critérium du Dauphiné	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1
Tour de Suisse	—	—	—	—	10	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Volta a Catalunya	—	—	DNF	1	10	—	1	1	4	—	—	—

See Also

In Spanish: Miguel Induráin para niños