Americans in the Tour Quiz | Cycling

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The White Jersey is awarded each year to the best rider under the age of 25. Which American won that award in 1986?

Answer: Andy Hampsten

The first American to wear the White Jersey at the end of the Tour de France was Greg Lemond in 1984. Andy placed 4th in 1986, helping Greg win his first Tour.

2. Though several American cyclists have done well at the Tour, only a few have actually finished on the podium. Greg Lemond was the first. Who was the second?

Answer: Bobby Julich

Bobby Julich was slated to ride in a supporting role for Francesco Casagrande. After Julich finished fourth in the prologue and Casagrande crashed out, he became team leader and finished third overall behind Marco Pantani and Jan Ullrich. Andy Hampsten and Tyler Hamilton both came close with fourth place finishes. Lance was the third American to make the podium.

3. The Tour is a century old, but it was only in the past few decades that Americans have begun to race in it. Which rider began the "American invasion"?

Answer: Jonathan Boyers

Jonathan Boyer first raced in 1981, three years before Greg Lemond. His best finish was 12th in 1983. Greg Lemond rode for the first time in 1984, finishing 3rd. It was the only time they rode the tour together. Doug Shapiro joined the Tour in 1985, and Davis Phinney in 1986.

4. Only a handful of Americans have won a stage in the Tour de France. Which person was the first to win a road stage?

Answer: Davis Phinney

Greg Lemond was actually the first to win a stage. The 21st stage of the 1985 tour was a time trial. Phinney was the first to win a road stage, taking one in 1986 and another in 1987. His win in '86 justified the inclusion of the young American 7-Eleven team in the Tour.

5. Stage wins are hard to come by in the Tour. Which of the following American riders had the most stage wins?

Answer: Greg Lemond

Greg Lemond, had 5 stage wins, including 4 wins over the course of his 3 Tour triumphs. Davis Phinney had 2 wins, while Tyler Hamilton and Andrew Hampsten both posted a single win.

6. Greg LeMond rode for one of the strongest teams in tour history. This team placed three riders in the top four in the same year, and won the tour two consecutive years. What was that team?

Answer: La Vie Claire

La Vie Claire was perhaps the stongest team to ever ride the tour, with three-time winner Greg Lemond and 5-time winner Bernard Hinault. It support riders were impressive as well, with Canadian great Steve Bauer and Andy Hampsten, who went on to lead to powerful 7-Eleven and Motorola teams and win the Giro D'Italia.

In 1986, it was strong enough to take the two top spots on the podium despite supporting two team leaders - Lemond and Hinault. Hampsten finished fourth and won best young rider.

7. The race of truth factors into almost every edition of the Tour. Which American set a record for the fastest time trial in Tour history?

Answer: Greg Lemond

In 1989, Lemond trailed Fignon by 50 seconds entering the final stage of the race, a 24.5km time trial. It appeared Fignon had an insurmountable lead, but Lemond beat him by 58 seconds, averaging a spectacular 54.545 kph (about 32.7 mph). Just how fast is that? The prologue record, set by Chris Boardman over 7 km, is only 0.6 kph faster.

8. Which American rider was never very successful in the Tour, but went on to coach one of the most successful riders in Tour history?

Answer: Chris Carmichael

Chris Carmichael did not finish his one Tour attempt in 1986. He went on to become a cycling coach, and Lance Armstrong has become his most well known client.

9. Only a few U.S. based teams have gained entry into the Tour. Which team was the first?

Answer: 7-Eleven

7-Eleven was allowed entry into the 1986 Tour de France. Coors Light never raced in the Tour as an American-based team, though Greg Lemond rode for them domestically one year through a co-sponsorship agreement. Saturn has also never ridden in the Tour. Motorola carried on the tradition of 7-Eleven in Europe, using many of the same riders.

10. Crashes happen, and numerous racers have had their Tour ended because of one. One gutsy American rider rode nearly the entire race with a broken collar bone, winning a stage and nearly making the final podium. Who was he?

Answer: Tyler Hamilton

Tyler crashed in the final kilometer of the first stage of the 2003 Tour, breaking his collar bone. Not willing to quit, he continued to race, eventually winning a stage and finishing fourth. Lance did his best in 2003 to crash out, but escaped unharmed each time. Bobby Julich crashed out of the 1999 Tour with a broken wrist.

11. Riders change from team to team frequently. Only one rider has been with Lance for each of his Tour wins. Who is he?

Answer: George Hincapie

All of these men rode with Lance at one time or another. Tyler in particular has been instrumental in several of Lance's wins. Only George, though, has been there for all of them. Hincapie is a powerful rider who helps control the race on the flats and sets the tempo early in the climbs, sacrificing his chances at a stage victory to give Lance a better chance at the overall prize.

12. There are numerous climbs each year in the Tour, but few are as famous as L'Alpe d'Huez. Who was the first American rider to win a stage that finished there?

Answer: Andy Hampsten

Andy Hampsten won this stage in 1992, on the way to his second 4th place finish. Greg Lemond nearly won this stage in 1986.

13. A handful of Tour riders have also made an impact in Mountain Biking. Who was the first American to compete in the Tour de France and a World Cup Mountain Biking Event?

Answer: Bob Roll

Bob Roll rode as a domestique in '86, '87, and '90. He retired from the road and became a somewhat successful mountain biker, riding professionally for several more years. He later became a commentator for OLN. John Tomac would have been a good choice, but was passed up for the Tour team during his years on the road. Rishi Grewal also never raced in the tour, though he was a strong racer on the road in the late '80s, and an impressive mountain biker as well, with several top finishes in World Cup events.

14. Which American Tour rider was a five-time Olympic gold medal winner and held multiple world championships?

Answer: Eric Heiden

Eric Heiden raced in the Tour in 1986 with 7-Eleven, but won his Olympic medals and World Championships in Speed Skating. Lance is the only other Olympic medalist in this group, with a bronze in the time trial. The U.S. boycotted the Olympics the year Greg might have competed.

15. Which American Olympian won gold in the Olympic Road Race before riding his first Tour?

Answer: Alexi Grewal

Alexi Grewal edged out Canadian Steve Bauer for Olympic Gold in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Alexi raced for 7-Eleven in the Tour, but had the most success racing in the states. Steve Bauer also rode in the Tour, and was crucial to Lemonds success in 1986.

Source: Author 3thornes

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Americans in the Tour Trivia Quiz

Americans are relatively new to the Tour de France, but over the decades have made a significant impact on its history. This quiz deals with those riders. Let's see how well you know them.

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