Thomas Danielson (born March 13, 1978) is an American retired professional road racing cyclist who competed professionally between 2002 and 2015 for the Mercury Cycling Team (2002), the Saturn Cycling Team (2003), Fassa Bortolo (2004), Discovery Channel (2005–2007) and Cannondale–Garmin (2008–2015).[2] He had been suspended twice for doping in his career.

Tom Danielson
Danielson at the 2014 Tour of Alberta
Personal information
Full nameThomas Danielson
NicknameTom or Tommy D[1]
Born (1978-03-13) March 13, 1978 (age 46)
East Lyme, Connecticut, United States
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight62 kg (137 lb)
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeClimber
Amateur team
1999–2001SoBe/Headshok
Professional teams
2002Mercury Cycling Team
2003Saturn Cycling Team
2004Fassa Bortolo
2005–2007Discovery Channel
2008–2015Slipstream–Chipotle
Major wins
Tour of Qinghai Lake (2002)
Tour de Langkawi (2003)
Cascade Cycling Classic (2003)
Mount Evans Hill Climb (2004, 2007, 2009)
Tour of Utah (2013, 2014)

Career

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Early years

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Danielson holds the record for the fastest ascent of Mount Washington, New Hampshire, in the Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb.[3][4] The previous record holder was professional cyclist Tyler Hamilton. He also holds the record for the Mount Evans Hill Climb in Colorado, which traverses the highest paved road in North America.[5][6] The previous record holder was Jonathan Vaughters, who was Danielson's manager on his last professional team.[5][7]

In 2004, Danielson had an uneventful stint on the Italian UCI ProTeam Fassa Bortolo, missing the early spring campaign because of visa problems.[8] Subsequently, he raced for the American UCI ProTour team Discovery Channel, with which he won the 2005 Tour de Georgia and the 2006 Tour of Austria.[9][10] After Discovery Channel disbanded at the end of 2007, Danielson became part of the Slipstream–Chipotle team.[11]

2010

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Danielson started the season by finishing twelfth at both the Tour Méditerranéen and the Tour du Haut Var. Following his two twelfth-place finishes, Danielson, however, struggled through Paris–Nice, finishing only fifty-second overall. Following, Paris–Nice, Danielson regained his form at the Tour of the Gila, placing second to Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack). A couple of weeks later, Danielson rode the Tour of California, but was unable to complete the race. After California, Danielson returned to form at the Tour de Suisse, finishing twenty-fifth overall. Following Suisse, Danielson finished in eighth place at both the Tour de Pologne and the Trofeo Melinda. A month later, Danielson rode his fifth Vuelta a España. He completed the race as the highest placed American, in eighth place. Danielson concluded the season with a thirty-ninth place at the Giro dell'Emilia.

2011

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Danielson started the season with the Vuelta a Mallorca, and finished thirty-sixth in the third classic, the Trofeo Deia. Danielson, however, was unable to complete the fourth and fifth classics, the Trofeo Magaluf-Palmanova and the Trofeo Inca. Following the Spanish races, Danielson finished thirty-first overall at the Volta ao Algarve, and a preseason best of twentieth overall at the Vuelta a Murcia. However, after Murcia, Danielson's form deteriorated, finishing fifty-fifth overall at the Volta a Catalunya, forty-seventh at the GP Miguel Induráin, and eightieth overall at the Tour of the Basque Country. Danielson withdrew from racing after these races, and focused on rebuilding his form. A few weeks later, Danielson returned to racing, and finished twentieth overall at the Tour de Romandie. Danielson finished third overall at the Tour of California, and ninth overall at the Tour de Suisse, which ultimately led him to a Tour de France debut. At the Tour, Danielson rode well, and finished as the highest placed American, in eighth place.[12][13][14] After the Tour, Danielson finished fifth overall at the Tour of Utah, and fourth overall at the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Following the two American stage races, Danielson concluded the season with an eighty-sixth place at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal.

2012

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After being unable to complete the Tour de Langkawi, Danielson returned to form during the Volta a Catalunya, where he finished twelfth overall, and second in the mountains classification. Following Catalunya, Danielson finished twentieth at the Tour of the Basque Country, and offered a good showing at the Tour of California, where he took fifth place in the "queen stage" of the race, a finish at altitude at the winter ski station of Mount Baldy.[15] He also came in ninth place in stage five's individual time trial, therefore keeping a high placing in the overall classification.[16] These performances helped him climb to third overall.[17] After California, Danielson finished eleventh at the United States National Road Race Championships, seventh at the Tour de Suisse, and was selected to start his second Tour de France. However, due to injuries sustained from crashes, Danielson abandoned the Tour during stage six. The following month, Danielson returned to competition at the Tour of Utah, where he finished eleventh overall, and assisted with stage two's team time trial win. After Utah, Danielson competed in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, where he finished seventh overall, and by soloing up and over Independence Pass, won stage three. Bicycling subsequently named the stage, "the most exciting day of road racing on American soil".[18]

2013

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Following his six-month ban, Danielson returned to racing at the Volta a Catalunya, where he finished tenth overall. After Catalunya, Danielson, however, was unable to complete the GP Miguel Induráin, but returned to form during the Tour of the Basque Country, where he finished eleventh overall. Danielson continued to ride strong, and finished fourth overall at the Tour de Romandie. Danielson started the Giro d'Italia hoping to assist teammate Ryder Hesjedal in a repeat victory, however, Hesjedal withdrew following stage twelve. After Hesjedal's departure, Danielson was able to ride for himself, but fell ill during the latter weeks, and finished only 49th overall.[19] In June, Danielson was selected to start his third Tour de France as a domestique; he finished the Tour in 60th place.[19] Following the Tour, Danielson competed in, and won the Tour of Utah.[20][21][22] Danielson concluded the season by finishing third overall at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.[23][24]

2014

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In August, Danielson returned to racing at the Tour of Utah and won the general classification for the second consecutive year.[25] He also finished second at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in August. The following month, Danielson confirmed his participation in the Icon LASIK Tour of the Moon.[26]

2015

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For 2015 cycling events, Danielson was sponsored by Cannondale, Full Speed Ahead (FSA), Icon Lasik, Mavic, Smith Optics, Prestige Imports, Vega Sport and Biotta.[27][28]

On January 20, 2015, actor Patrick Dempsey and Tom Danielson hosted a cycling event in Arizona called "Ride On, Tucson!" featuring a 2.5-mile (4.0-kilometre) downtown circuit that was completely closed to traffic for three hours.[29]

In March, Danielson won the mountains classification at the Volta a Catalunya. In May, Danielson abandoned the Giro d'Italia because of a knee injury.[30]

Doping

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In a September 2012 online-forum post, Garmin–Sharp team manager and owner Jonathan Vaughters stated that Danielson had used blood doping products to increase oxygen delivery to his muscles.[31] On October 10, 2012, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced that Danielson would be suspended for six months after admitting to doping during his time with Discovery Channel.[32][33] Later that day, the organization issued a statement confirming his acceptance to a six-month ban from September 1, 2012, to March 1, 2013. The action included the stripping of all race results between March 1, 2005, and September 23, 2006.[34] Danielson released his own statement a day later that expressed regret at his decision to "cross the line." "I accept responsibility for my choices and apologize to everyone in my life for them – in and out of the sport", he said.[33]

In August 2015, Danielson revealed he tested positive for synthetic testosterone.[35] In October 2016, he accepted a four-year suspension for "unintentionally consuming" dehydroepiandrosterone.[36][37]

Personal

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Born in East Lyme, Connecticut, Danielson currently resides in Longmont, Colorado.[2][38][39] After spending his childhood years in Connecticut, Danielson attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.[39]

In May of 2023, Danielson had a finger amputation and left hand reconstruction to remove a cancerous tumor. Danielson's X post said "Gave the middle finger to cancer!".[40]

Sponsorships

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In 2013, Danielson signed a sponsoring agreement with Icon Lasik, a Colorado-based provider of cataract, LASIK, as well as the organizer of Tour of the Moon. The contract was signed after he had won 2013 Tour of Utah.[41]

In August 2014, he signed a sponsorship contract with Cannondale Bicycle Corporation for 2015, together with 13 other riders, as a part of the new relationship between Cannondale Bicycle Corporation, the American bicycle manufacturer, and Slipstream Sports, the sports management group behind the Garmin–Sharp UCI ProTeam.[42]

He also has sponsorship agreements with Mavic,[43] Smith Optics, Prestige Imports, Vega Sport[44] and Biotta.

Major results

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Sources:[2][45][46]

2001
1st   Collegiate Mountain Bike Championships
2002
1st   Collegiate Mountain Bike Championships
1st   Overall Tour of Qinghai Lake
1st Stages 5 & 8
1st Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb
2003
1st   Overall Tour de Langkawi
1st   Overall Cascade Cycling Classic
1st   Overall International Tour de Toona
1st Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb[a]
2nd Time trial, National Road Championships
2nd Sea Otter Classic
3rd Overall Redlands Bicycle Classic
5th Overall Tour de Georgia
5th Overall Nature Valley Grand Prix
1st Stage 2
2004
1st Mount Evans Hill Climb[a]
Voided between March 1, 2005 and September 23, 2006.[34]
2005
1st   Overall Tour de Georgia
1st Stage 5
4th Overall Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme
5th Overall Tour de Langkawi
7th Overall Tour of Austria
7th Overall Vuelta a España
2006
1st   Overall Tour of Austria
2nd Overall Tour de Georgia
1st Stage 5
6th Overall Vuelta a España
1st Stage 17
8th Overall Tour of California
9th Overall Tour de l'Ain
10th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
2007
1st Mount Evans Hill Climb
2008
1st Stage 4 (TTT) Tour de Georgia
5th Time trial, National Road Championships
5th Overall Tour of Missouri
2009
1st Mount Evans Hill Climb
3rd Overall Vuelta a Burgos
1st Stage 4 (ITT)
9th Overall Tour of California
2010
2nd Overall Tour of the Gila
8th Overall Vuelta a España
8th Trofeo Melinda
9th Overall Tour de Pologne
2011
3rd Overall Tour of California
4th Overall USA Pro Cycling Challenge
5th Overall Tour of Utah
8th Overall Tour de France
1st Stage 2 (TTT)
9th Overall Tour de Suisse
2012
1st Stage 2 (TTT) Tour of Utah
3rd Overall Tour of California
7th Overall Tour de Suisse
7th Overall USA Pro Cycling Challenge
1st Stage 3
2013
1st   Overall Tour of Utah
3rd Overall USA Pro Cycling Challenge
4th Overall Tour de Romandie
10th Overall Volta a Catalunya
2014
1st   Overall Tour of Utah
1st Stage 4
2nd Overall USA Pro Cycling Challenge
2015
1st   Mountains classification Volta a Catalunya

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

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Grand Tour 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
  Giro d'Italia DNF DNF 78 49 DNF
  Tour de France 8 DNF 60
 /  Vuelta a España 7 6 DNF DNF 8
Legend
DSQ Disqualified
DNF Did not finish
struck Voided

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b New course record.

References

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  1. ^ "Home". wp.tomdanielson.com.
  2. ^ a b c "Tom Danielson". Garmin–Sharp. Boulder, Colorado: Slipstream Sports LLC. December 28, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  3. ^ "Results 2001". Tinmtn.org. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  4. ^ "Bicycle Hillclimb is Full – Newton's Revenge Registration Now Open". Mt. Washington Auto Road. 2012-02-25. Archived from the original on 2014-09-03. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  5. ^ a b "History of the Mt Evans Hill Climb". Bicyclerace.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-08-13. Retrieved 2012-06-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "Jonathan Vaughters | Bicycling Magazine". Bicycling.com. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  8. ^ "Tom Danielson Has Decided To Cut Short His Stay At Fassa Bortolo In Order To Take Advantage Of The C". BikeRadar. 2004-09-23. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  9. ^ "Tom Danielson – Core Power Athlete". Core Power. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  10. ^ "Tom Danielson". USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Archived from the original on 2011-12-19. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  11. ^ Laura Weislo (8 November 2008). "Garmin–Chipotle Roster Final". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  12. ^ "Tom Danielson, top 10 at the Tour, says he now plans to attack". Velonews. 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  13. ^ "Garmin–Cervélo selects Tom Danielson for first Tour de France". Velonation.com. 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  14. ^ "98ème Tour de France 2011". Memoire-du-cyclisme.net. 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  15. ^ Pelkey, Charles (May 19, 2012). "Complete live report (Stage 7)". Cycling News. Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  16. ^ "Tour of California: Dave Zabriskie blasts into race lead". Cycling News. May 18, 2012. Archived from the original on May 19, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  17. ^ "Standings and Results". AMGEN Tour of California. AEG. May 20, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  18. ^ "Tom Danielson Holds off the Chase in Colorado: 10 Best Pro Cycling Rides of 2012 | Bicycling Magazine". Archived from the original on 2013-03-10. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  19. ^ a b "Danielson completes difficult Tour, with dinosaur in tow". VeloNews.com. 2013-07-24.
  20. ^ "Tom Danielson wins 2013 Tour of Utah; Francisco Mancebo takes finale". VeloNews.com. 2013-08-11.
  21. ^ "Cycling: Tom Danielson surges to Tour of Utah victory".
  22. ^ "Tour of Utah: Danielson wins the overall with Empire Pass attack". velonation.com.
  23. ^ Lucas Euser (24 April 2013). "USA Pro Challenge 2013: Stage 7 Preview - Cyclingnews.com". Cyclingnews.com.
  24. ^ "Tejay van Garderen wins Pro Challenge; Peter Sagan takes finale". VeloNews.com. 2013-08-25.
  25. ^ "Twice as nice: Tom Danielson holds off all challengers to repeat as Tour of Utah champ". Aug 10, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  26. ^ Dave Edgecomb (Oct 4, 2014). "Cyclists gather for the Icon LASIK Tour of the Moon". Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  27. ^ Neal Rogers (Aug 20, 2014). "Slipstream Sports confirms Cannondale sponsorship". Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  28. ^ "Tom Danielson Professional Cyclist". Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  29. ^ Cross, Kim. "Patrick Dempsey and Tom Danielson Want to Ride With You". Bicycling. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  30. ^ Barry Ryan (May 24, 2015). "Hesjedal ploughs lone furrow at Giro d'Italia". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  31. ^ "Vaughters confirms past doping by Danielson, others at Garmin". Cyclingnews.com. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
  32. ^ "Tom Danielson Suspension". USADA. October 10, 2012.
  33. ^ a b "Leipheimer, Zabriskie, Vande Velde and Danielson all admit to doping". Cycling Weekly. October 11, 2012.
  34. ^ a b Daniel Benson (10 October 2012). "Six former Armstrong USPS teammates receive bans from USADA". Cyclingnews.com.
  35. ^ "Tom Danielson fails doping test". VeloNews. San Diego. August 3, 2015. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  36. ^ "Danielson says ban reduced to four years because of "unintentional ingestion"". Cyclingnews.com. Bath, England. October 6, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  37. ^ Neal Rogers (October 7, 2016). "Updated: Fourteen months later, USADA hands Tom Danielson four-year sanction". cyclingtips.com. South Melbourne, Victoria: BikeExchange Pty. Ltd. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  38. ^ Fields, Jenn (2011-08-02). "Boulder cyclist Tom Danielson rolls on – Boulder Daily Camera". Dailycamera.com. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  39. ^ a b "USA Pro Cycling Challenge Interview". USA Pro Challenge. Colorado: Medalist Sports LLC. August 15, 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  40. ^ https://x.com/tomdanielson/status/1655775798526377984 [bare URL]
  41. ^ "Icon Lasik is proud to sponsor pro athlete Tom Danielson". Icon Lasik. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  42. ^ Rogers, Neal (August 20, 2014). "Slipstream Sports confirms Cannondale sponsorship". Velo News. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  43. ^ "Mavic: Teams & Riders". Mavic. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  44. ^ "About Tom Danielson". Vega Sport. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  45. ^ "Tom Danielson". Cycling Base. Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  46. ^ "Tom Danielson". Cycling Archives. December 28, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
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