Andy Hampsten Photo Gallery
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Major wins and high placings | Professional teams | Photos |
Andy Hampsten (born April 7, 1962) is the only American to have won the Giro d'Italia (though not the only North American: Ryder Hesjedal, winner in 2012, is Canadian). An extraordinary climber, Hampsten was without world-class time trialing skills, a lack that cost him a podium place in the 1992 Tour de France.
Hampsten's talent showed early in his professional career when he won the 1986 Tour of Switzerland while riding for La Vie Claire, Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond's team. Using Hampsten's Swiss victory in his psychological war against LeMond, Hinault said Hampsten was his true heir, not LeMond. That year Hampsten came in fourth in the Tour, also winning the Tour's young rider classification. This, while riding as a domestique.
His 1988 Giro d'Italia victory was a case of preparation and ability meeting opportunity. Going into stage 14 with its ascents of of the Aprica and Gavia passes, Hampsten was sitting in fifth place, 1 minute 18 seconds behind leader Franco Chioccioli.
The fourteenth stage was a horrific, freezing, dangerous day that was so cold, it was called "the day men cried." On the snowy, icy Gavia Pass, Hampsten's manager Mike Neel was waiting with warm drinks and dry, warm clothing. Fortified, Hampsten carefully descended the slippery pass, arriving a few seconds after stage winner Erik Breukink. Arriving in Bormio, Hampsten was now the Giro's leader by 15 seconds over Breukink. Chioccioli had been left to suffer without warm clothing and finished five minutes behind Hampsten.
The Giro still had a week to go and Hampsten and his exhausted 7-Eleven team had to withstand furious attacks on his race leadership. But Hampsten was able to enlarge his lead, showing he was a deserving winner.
His last memorable victory was his solo win at l'Alpe d'Huez in stage 14 of the 1992 Tour de France. He came in 1 minute 17 seconds ahead of Franco Vona, and elevated himself to third place behind Miguel Induráin and Claudio Chiappucci. Gianni Bugno's superb stage 19 time trial pushed Hampsten down to fourth overall.
Hampsten has long been an outspoken advocate of clean, dope-free racing. Surely he was robbed of more than a few wins by the steroid and EPO fueled peloton he raced against.
Major victories and high placings:
Amateur
1979:
- Member 3rd place team Junior World Championships team team trial
1980
- Member 2nd place team Junior World Championships team team trial
1984:
- 2nd place Coors Classic
Professional
1985
- 2nd place Coors Classic
- 1st place, stage 20 Giro d'Italia
1986:
- Tour of Switzerland
- 4th place Tour de France, 1st place young rider classification
- 2nd place Vuelta Baja California
1987:
- 2nd place Coors Classic
- Tour of Switzerland
1988:
- 2nd place Coors Classic
- Giro d'Italia general classification, also winning mountains classification, 3rd place points classification and 2 stages
1989:
- Subida Urkiola
- 3rd place Giro d'Italia
1990:
- Subida Urkiola
- 3rd place Tour of Switzerland
1991:
- 3rd place Tour of Switzerland
1992:
- Tour de Romandie
- 5th place Giro d'Italia
- 4th place Tour de France
1993:
- 2nd place Paris-Camembert
- Vuelta a Galicia
- 3rd place Tour de Romandie
1994:
- 3rd place Catalonian Week
- 3rd place Tour de Romandie
1985: Mengoni
1985 : SRC Levi's-Raleigh
1986: La Vie Claire
1987 - 1989: 7 Eleven
1990: 7 Eleven-Hoonved
1991 - 1994: Motorola
1995: Banesto
1996: US Postal Service
Andy Hampsten in stage 7 of the 1985 Giro d'Italia.
Andy Hampsten leads Greg LeMond n the road to Perugia in stage 15 of the 1985 Giro d'Italia.
Hampsten after winning the short stage 20 of the 1985 Giro d'Italia, a 58 km climb to Gran Paradiso (Valnontey).
Hampsten wasn't as successful at the 1985 Coppa Placci. He finished more than 13 minutes behind winner Silvano Contini.
Hampsten is wearing the white jersey of the best young rider as he climbs to Serre Chevalier in stage 16 of the 1986 Tour de France.
Hampsten rounds a corner in stage 6 of the 1987 Tirreno-Adriatico.
1987 Tour de France stage 18: Andy Hampsten climbs Mt. Ventoux.
Riding to La Plagne in stage 21 of the 1987 Tour.
Hampsten wins stage 12 in Selvino of the 1988 Giro d'Italia.
1988: Hampsten on the podium with race leader Franco Chioccioli and Ernesto Colnago after the stage 12 stage win.
That famous day in the 1988 Giro d'Italia. Andy Hampsten climbs the Gavia Pass.
They called it "the day men cried". Another shot of Hampsten on the Gavia.
Hampsten climbs through the sleet and snow and ice.
1988 Giro d'Italia: Andy Hampsten wins stage 18 at Valico del Vetriolo.
1988 Giro, start of stage 20.
Hampsten wins the 1988 Giro d'Italia.
Hampsten rides to Villard de Lans in stage 12 of the 1988 Tour de France.
1989 Giro d'Italia stage 13: Andy Hampsten rides to Tre Cime di Lavaredo in miserable weather.
Hampsten at the start of the 1990 Milano-San Remo.
1990 Tour de France stage 11: Hampsen time trials up to Villard de Lans.
Hampsten gets third in the 1990 stage 13 sprint. Eduardo Chozas is just beating Erik Breukink. The rider getting fifth in the white jersey is Greg LeMond who won the 1990 Tour. LeMond has has just killed Claudio Chiappucci's chances for winning the 1990 Tour in this stage by leaving him 4min 35sec behind.
Not doing what he does best: Hampsten finishes the stage 20 time trial of the 1991 Tour de France.
Hampsten is about to start the 1992 Giro prologue in Genoa.
Hampsten heads for the finish line on Monte Bondone in stage 13 of the 1992 Giro d'Italia.
Going big. Andy Hampsten on his way to victory at l'Alpe d'Huez in the 1992 Tour de France.
Riding to Corvara Alta Badia in stage 13 of the 1993 Giro d'Italia.
Hampsten riding to Andorra in stage 15 of the 1993 Tour de France.
Zoom! Andy Hampsten races to Follonica in the 1994 Giro d'Italia.
On the road to Aprica in stage 15 of the 1994 Giro d'Italia.
Andy Hampsten climbing to Les Deux Alpes in stage 20 of the 1994 Giro d'Italia.
Hampsten sporting his Banesto kit in stage 2 of the 1995 Giro d'Italia.
Andy Hampsten climbs to Il Ciocco in the 1995 Giro d'Italia.