Interview with former bike racer Andy Hampsten

[melissam]

http://nyvelocity.com/content/interviews/2009/andy-hampsten-interview

Andy Hampsten was one of the first US bicycle racers to race successfully in Europe. He won the Giro d'Italia in 1988 and won a stage in the Tour de France. He rode on the legendary 7-Eleven team, and was teammates with Greg Lemond and Lance Armstrong.

He's pretty candid in this interview, and covers some pretty interesting subjects:

how he got his start
riding in the controversial 1986 Tour de France with his teammates Lemond and Hinault competing for the win
what Lance Armstrong was like early in his career
how cycling changed with the advent of EPO
racing on the Gavia Pass in 2 degree Celsius :eek: weather


Enjoy!

- Melissa

[jobob]

Isn't that the website of the Tour Day Schmalz ? Great stuff.

Thor. Will. Smash. :cool:

[smilingcat]

those were the days... Greg LeMonde, Hinnault... Induran the train. He was just untouchable.

I remember when LeMonde got shot in the back from a shot gun. Heard it on the evening news while cooking dinner. And all the comments good and bad that flew around after the accident. Really a shame.

Thank you for the post. Looking at the equipment, I remember mine. I still have problems with the concept of "vintage components". I'm not vintage material :( :( Also remeber that odd ball thing called bio-pace chain ring.

Anyway, loved the read.
Smilingcat

[redrhodie]

Thanks for posting that! What a career! I never saw the Giro that he won, but the pic of him in the snow brings it to life. I'm going to see if my lbs has it on tape.

He sounds like a really nice guy.