American Cycling Teams In The Tour De France
The Tour de France is a prestigious cycling race that has been held annually since 1903. It is considered one of the toughest and most grueling races in the cycling world, with cyclists covering over 3,500 kilometers in 21 stages over the course of three weeks. The race attracts the world's top cyclists and teams, and American cycling teams have proven themselves to be a formidable force in the race.
The Rise of American Cycling Teams
It was not until the late 1970s that American cycling teams began to make an impact in the Tour de France. American cyclist Greg LeMond became the first American to win the Tour de France in 1986. This victory paved the way for other American cyclists and teams to enter the race.
In 1991, the Motorola Cycling Team became the first American team to compete in the Tour de France. The team included legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong, who would go on to win the race a record-breaking seven times. The success of the Motorola team spurred other American teams to enter the race, including the US Postal Service team and Team Garmin-Sharp.
American Teams in the Tour de France Today
Today, there are several American cycling teams that compete in the Tour de France. These teams include Team Cannondale-Drapac, BMC Racing Team, and Trek-Segafredo.
Team Cannondale-Drapac was established in 2003 and has competed in the Tour de France every year since 2007. The team has had several successful seasons, including finishing in third place overall in the 2012 race.
The BMC Racing Team was founded in 2007 and has competed in the Tour de France since 2010. The team won the team time trial stage in the 2015 race and has had several riders finish in the top 10 overall.
Trek-Segafredo is a relatively new team, having been established in 2011. The team has had several successful seasons, including winning the team classification in the 2016 race.
The Challenges Faced by American Teams
Despite the success of American cycling teams in the Tour de France, they face several challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the dominance of European teams in the race. European teams have a long history in the race and are often better funded and have more experienced riders.
Another challenge is the strength of individual riders such as Chris Froome, who has won the race four times. American teams must work hard to strategize around these strong riders to remain competitive in the race.
The Future of American Cycling Teams in the Tour de France
As the popularity of cycling continues to grow in the United States, it is likely that American cycling teams will continue to compete in the Tour de France. While the dominance of European teams and strong individual riders remains a challenge, American teams have proven themselves to be competitive in the race.
There are several promising young American cyclists, such as Lawson Craddock and Sepp Kuss, who have the potential to become future stars in the race. With the right funding and support, American cycling teams have the potential to be a dominant force in the Tour de France for years to come.
