Tom Danielson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tom Danielson

Danielson at the 2014 Tour of Alberta
Personal information
Full name	Thomas Danielson
Nickname	Tom or Tommy D
Born	(1978-03-13) March 13, 1978 (age 47) East Lyme, Connecticut, United States
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	62 kg (137 lb)
Team information
Current team	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	Climber
Major wins
Tour of Qinghai Lake (2002) Tour de Langkawi (2003) Cascade Cycling Classic (2003) Mount Evans Hill Climb (2004, 2007, 2009) Tour of Utah (2013, 2014)

Thomas Danielson (born March 13, 1978) is an American who used to be a professional road racing cyclist. He competed from 2002 to 2015 for several teams, including Mercury Cycling Team, Saturn Cycling Team, and Cannondale–Garmin. During his career, he faced suspensions for breaking rules about performance-enhancing substances.

Tom Danielson's Cycling Career

Early Days and Records

Tom Danielson is famous for setting speed records in tough uphill bike races. He holds the record for the fastest climb up Mount Washington in New Hampshire. This race is called the Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb. He also holds the record for the Mount Evans Hill Climb in Colorado. This race goes up the highest paved road in North America!

In 2004, Danielson joined an Italian team. Later, he raced for an American team called Discovery Channel. With this team, he won the 2005 Tour de Georgia and the 2006 Tour of Austria. When his team stopped in 2007, Danielson joined the Slipstream–Chipotle team.

Highlights of His Career

Danielson had many strong performances throughout his career. In 2010, he finished eighth in the 2010 Vuelta a España, which is a very important race. He was the highest-placed American rider in that event.

In 2011, Danielson made his first appearance in the 2011 Tour de France, one of the biggest cycling races in the world. He finished eighth overall, again as the top American rider. He also placed well in other races like the 2011 Tour of California and the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

The year 2012 saw Danielson perform well in the 2012 Tour of California, where he finished third overall. He even won a stage in the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge by riding alone up Independence Pass. This stage was called "the most exciting day of road racing on American soil" by Bicycling magazine.

In 2013, Danielson won the 2013 Tour of Utah, a major American stage race. He won it again in 2014, showing his strength in mountain stages.

Rules and Suspensions

In 2012, Tom Danielson admitted to breaking rules about performance-enhancing substances during his time with a previous team. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) suspended him for six months. This meant some of his past race results from 2005 and 2006 were removed. Danielson said he regretted his choices and apologized.

In 2015, Danielson had another issue when he tested positive for a banned substance. In 2016, he accepted a four-year suspension, stating he had accidentally consumed the substance.

About Tom Danielson

Tom Danielson was born in East Lyme, Connecticut. He now lives in Longmont, Colorado. He went to Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.

In May 2023, Danielson had surgery on his hand to remove a cancerous tumor. He shared on social media that he "Gave the middle finger to cancer!"

Sponsorships

Throughout his career, Danielson had many sponsors. In 2013, he signed with Icon Lasik, a company that helps with eye care. They also organize the Tour of the Moon bike event.

In 2014, he signed a sponsorship deal with Cannondale Bicycle Corporation, a well-known bicycle maker. He also had agreements with companies like Mavic (for bike parts), Smith Optics (for eyewear), and others.

Major Achievements

Sources:

Grand Tour Race Results

Grand Tour	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Giro d'Italia	DNF	DNF	—	—	78	—	—	—	49	—	DNF
Tour de France	—	—	—	—	—	—	8	DNF	60	—	—
/ Vuelta a España	7	6	DNF	—	DNF	8	—	—	—	—	—

See also

In Spanish: Tom Danielson para niños

• List of doping cases in cycling