The Giro d'Italia- Dave Campbell's Race Trivia

Ryder Hesjedal during the 2012 Giro d'Italia- Photo via Castelli

May 2013

In a few short days, The Giro d’Italia will commence for the 100^th time.

This months Dave Campbell's Trivia Column celebrates the historic accomplishments

Of North American Riders in the Race for the Maglia Rosa (Pink Jersey)

Q1. Canadian Ryder Hesjedal re-wrote the history books with his historic Giro d’Italia victory last year. Prior to the Garmin-Sharp rider’s triumph, what was the highest ever finish for a Canadian in Italy’s grand tour?

Q2. The only American to win the Giro was Andrew Hampsten (7-Eleven/Hoonved) in 1988. Much has been written, including pieces by Bob Roll and Bicyclinghub.com’s own Doug Duguay, about his exploits on the Gavia. Despite putting over 5 minutes into all the main contenders except Erik Breukink (Panasonic), he did not win the stage, losing by 7 seconds to Breukink. Did Hampsten win any stages enroute to this historic achievement?

Q3. Other than Andy’s Pink jersey, have any other Giro leaders' jerseys been won by American riders?

Davis Phinney Foundation to Auction Off Signed 7-Eleven Jersey

By Sarah Esterman

Last week, while doing a little bit of spring cleaning here at BicyclingHub.com HQ, we found an old gem: a 7-Eleven cycling jersey. While we weren't sure what to do with it at first, our founder and boss, Doug, worked up a good idea and we just got word it's a go.

And so without further ado, we're very excited to announce that legendary 7-Eleven racer Davis Phinney will be signing the jersey and then auctioning it off for the Davis Phinney Foundation. We don't have all the details yet—like when this will be happening—but we just had to share. We'll let you know when we know more.

Dave Campbell's Race Trivia- Famous Italian Jerseys & The Men That Wore Them.

March 2013

With the Majority of the World’s Elite riders

Taking part in the Tirreno-Adriatico Italian Stage Race

This month to prepare for the Classics

This Months European Professional Cycling Trivia asks

"Famous Italian Jerseys & The Men

That Wore Them!”

Q1. Castelli has long supplied the leader’s jersey to the Giro d’Italia. Due to the late spring/early summer nature of this race, those jerseys were wool for many years, well beyond in fact the point that the other Grand Tours went to Synthetics. What year was the LAST year of the Maglia Rosa in Lana? And more importantly, who was the last Race Leader to rock the wool!

Q2. Who was the first American ever to wear a Leader’s Jersey in the Tour of Italy? Warning: This is a bit of a trick question due to the minor nature of the category he led!

Q3. Luxembourger Andy Schleck famously won the White Rookie Jersey in the 2008 Giro in his first ever Grand Tour en route to second overall. This marked the return of the Maglia Bianca after a prolonged absence. Who was the last wearer of this prestigious jersey and when?

Answers Below

A1. 1988 and of course, the man was American Andy Hampsten of 7-Eleven. That wool jersey was very practical with several stages raced in snow that epic year!

A2. Greg Saunders, of the Linea MD-Gianna Motta Team who wore the BLACK JERSEY in 1984 for most of the race as Last Man on GC. The Black Jersey was eliminated after this year and in 1985, Davis Phinney of 7-Eleven became the first American to wear a “major” Leader’s Jersey by donning the Ciclamino (Purple Points) Jersey after Stage 4. Despite a string of top 10 stage placings, Phinney’s lead was short-lived, only about an hour in fact, and after a re-calculation the jersey went to Swiss Urs Freuler. Nonetheless, Phinney wore it on the podium!

A3. Russian Evgeni Berzin back in 1994, when he also won the Overall.

Team Garmin Trivia For December

“America’s Team”…this once meant 7-Eleven, then US Postal/Discovery but now “our” team truly is Jonathan Vaughters band of merry men complete with argyle! Their approach to clean cycling has especially appealed in this era of tainted (and tarnished and banished) sporting events! Their head mechanic is an Oregonian (Daimeon Shanks) by the way, who built his first two bikes in my basement back in the mid 90’s!

TEAM GARMIN-CHIPOTLE-SLIPSTREAM

Q1: There are TWO key staff members at Team Garmin that still remain from the “original” US Postal Service squad of 1997-98. Name them:

Q2: How many members of the current Garmin formation are past teammates of that oh-so-famous team captain, Lance Armstrong, of the previous incarnation of “America’s Team” US Postal/Discovery Channel. Can you name them?

Q3: Making the podium in a Tour stage is a career-defining moment for any rider. In the 2008 Tour de France, Team Garmin had FOUR different riders make the podium in daily stages, although no wins-a situation they hope to address in 2009. Can you name the four top-three finishers?