In the world of cycling, there are a few names that stand out as being some of the greatest American cyclists of all time.
These athletes have achieved amazing things in their careers, and continue to inspire others to take up this particular sport, despite it not being quite as popular as other games such as American football, basketball, hockey, or even baseball.
In this post, we will discuss some of the most famous American cyclists and what makes them so great! Perhaps we will be able to see newer names added to this list in the future as they continue to compete in numerous events where they can showcase their skills?
Why are some American cyclists considered to be the best?
One of the reasons that American cyclists are considered to be some of the best in the world is because they have been able to achieve great results in major competitions. For example, Lance Armstrong is one of the most famous American cyclists, and this is perhaps because he managed to win the Tour de France seven times! This is an incredible achievement, and it really goes to show what American cyclists are capable of. However, at the same time, he might be considered one of the most famous for other reasons, too.
Lance Armstrong was on the verge of going bankrupt after his PED scandal.
But a clever $20M investment “saved” him.
Here’s the fascinating story: pic.twitter.com/e745gAcCRN
— Andrew Petcash (@AndrewPetcash) June 19, 2022
In addition to this, American cyclists have also been able to win other prestigious competitions such as the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana. These victories further cement their place as being some of the greatest cyclists in history.
Who are the greatest American cyclists in history?
So, who are some of the greatest American cyclists? Let’s take a look at a few of those that can be considered.
Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis is one of the greatest American cyclists to have ever competed. Landis is a former professional road racing cyclist who was the winner of the 2006 Tour de France. However, he was later stripped of his title after it was revealed that he had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Despite this setback, Landis has continued to be an active member of the cycling community.
In fact, some of the current American riders may have taken inspiration from Landis, with some of the crop that represents the United States perhaps having watched him race as they were growing up and looking to break into the sport.
However, will anyone be able to replicate his and Armstrong’s previous successes in the Tour de France this year? It would seem unlikely if you were to go by the available betting odds.
According to the PA online sportsbooks odds for the Tour de France in July, it would seem that Sepp Kuss – who currently rides for Team Jumbo-Visma – is best positioned to be the most successful in the event. However, his odds are not amazing in regard to winning the event.
The odds that have been provided by one of the top PA sportsbooks in the region have provided Kuss with odds of +10,000, whereas the favorite Tadej Pogacar has been listed at a price of -137. Clearly, the Americans will have their work cut out for them. However, this perhaps highlights just how significant the accomplishments of this next American rider were.
Lance Armstrong
One of the first names that come to mind when thinking about great American cyclists is Lance Armstrong. Armstrong is a former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven times.
He was also diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996 and made a remarkable recovery after undergoing treatment. Armstrong is an inspiration to many people, not just for his sporting accomplishments, but also for his courage in overcoming such a serious illness.
However, as mentioned, there were other reasons that have made the rider as famous as he is, with him having been disgraced because of the doping scandal that involved him. He eventually admitted that he had been using performance-enhancing drugs but only once he had been stripped of the seven consecutive tour wins and an Olympic medal.
Naturally, his reputation never managed to recover, but it would be impossible to deny that he is one of the greatest American cyclists ever.
George Hincapie
Another well-known American cyclist is George Hincapie. Hincapie is a retired professional road racing cyclist who competed in 17 Tour de France races over the course of his career. He is also notable for being one of Lance Armstrong’s closest friends and teammates during their time racing together. However, like Armstrong, he was also found to have fallen foul of doping.
Who else could be considered a great American cyclist?
It is also worth mentioning some of the other great American cyclists who have made a name for themselves in recent years. Riders like Tyler Hamilton, Levi Leipheimer, and Chris Horner have all had successful careers, and are considered to be some of the best American cyclists of their generation.
Tyler Hamilton is a former professional road racing cyclist who was a member of Lance Armstrong’s Team U.S. Postal Service squad. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the individual time trial at the 2004 Summer Olympics; again, a title that was stripped due to doping after he confessed.
Levi Leipheimer is a retired professional road racing cyclist who won stages in all three of the Grand Tours: the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a Espana. He is also a winner of the prestigious Criterium du Dauphine race; however as it happened in 2006, it was voided because of his involvement in doping.
Chris Horner is a former professional road racing cyclist who became the oldest rider to ever win the Vuelta a Espana when he did so at age 41 in 2013. He is the most recent American rider to win a Grand Tour, too.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! These are just some of the great American cyclists who have made a name for themselves over the years, although it might be up to you as to whether they are disgraced or not. They could be remembered for their ability on the road, or they will be remembered for cheating.
Image by Faris Hamza from Pixabay
