did you know trump organized the tour de trump bike race
As everyone knows, besides being the current President of the United States, Donald Trump is also a highly successful entrepreneur. By the late 20th century, Trump was already immensely wealthy.
Like most men, Trump is also a car enthusiast. With his strong financial background, he naturally owns a variety of luxury cars, including several specially customized high-end cars and motorcycles, showcasing his passion for vehicles.
Trump and his beloved custom motorcycle
In fact, besides playing with 'gas guzzlers,' Trump also dabbled in bicycles in the late 1980s. However, his approach was different from typical bicycle enthusiasts who buy a good bike, ride it, and post about it on social media. Instead, he used his substantial financial resources to organize the 'Tour de Trump' bicycle race!
Trump at his own bicycle race
Due to the impressive performance of American cyclist Greg LeMond in the Tour de France, Trump seemed to have fallen in love with cycling at that time.
Trump talking with cyclists during the race
On May 5, 1989, with Trump's funding and the support of the U.S. government, the first Tour de Trump bicycle race kicked off in Albany, the capital of New York State. The race covered 10 stages, totaling 1,347 kilometers, crossing five states in the eastern U.S., and ending at the Trump-owned hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the second-largest gambling city in the U.S. A total of 114 cyclists from 8 professional teams and 11 amateur teams participated in the race. Trump provided $250,000 as a reward for the top cyclists, with $50,000 going to the overall winner.
The first Tour de Trump was extremely popular.
The finish line of the first race was at Trump's own hotel.
Norwegian cyclist Dag Otto Lauritzen from the 7-Eleven team won the first Tour de Trump.
A photo of Lauritzen, the first Tour de Trump champion, with Trump
The Tour de Trump was held for two consecutive years. After the second race concluded in Boston on May 4-13, 1990, Trump transferred the event to the famous American research company DuPont, and the race was renamed the Tour DuPont.
Trump only organized two editions of the Tour de Trump.
Trump probably did not anticipate that the bicycle race he founded would contribute to the glory of American road cycling from the 1990s to the early 21st century. After the race was renamed the Tour DuPont, an 'unknown' cyclist began to emerge. He was Lance Armstrong, who later won the Tour de France seven times (though his titles were stripped due to a doping scandal).
Armstrong began to shine in the bicycle race founded by Trump.
Armstrong won the overall championship in the 1995 and 1996 Tour DuPont. After 1996, the Tour DuPont was discontinued, but three years later, Armstrong began his seven-year 'glorious' campaign in the Tour de France. Although his seven consecutive Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005 were all stripped due to a doping scandal, it cannot be denied that the Tour de France during the turn of the century was as thrilling and spectacular as the NBA after Jordan's second retirement.
Armstrong in the 1996 Tour DuPont
Today, Trump has 'upgraded' from an entrepreneur to the latest President of the United States. The bicycle race he organized 28 years ago is just one of the many stories of this highly individualistic 'big-mouthed president.'
Trump actually loves cycling too.
Lastly, I hope Trump has a great time during his visit to China these days.