Tony Rominger : biography
Tony Rominger (born 27 March 1961 in Vejle, Denmark) is a Swiss former professional road racing cyclist who won the Vuelta a España in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and the Giro d’Italia in 1995.
He began cycling late, allegedly spurred by competition with his brother. Rominger’s strengths were time-trialling, climbing and recuperation.
He was a challenger to Miguel Indurain in the Tour de France, placing second in 1993 and winning the polka dot jersey. His three wins in the Vuelta is a record. In 2005 Roberto Heras broke that record but two months later tested positive for the blood-boosting drug EPO and was disqualified.
In 1994 Rominger broke the world hour record twice in a few days. He used Bordeaux velodrome to ride 53.832 km and then 55.291 km, although a track novice.
He retired in 1997 after breaking his collarbone at that year’s Tour de France.
Major achievements
- UCI Road World Cup Series Champion (1994)
- Tour of the Basque Country (1992, 1993, 1994)
- Giro di Lombardia (1989, 1992)
- Tour de Romandie (1991, 1995)
- Tirreno–Adriatico (1989, 1990)
- Paris–Nice (1991, 1994)
- Grand Prix des Nations (1991 (edition also counted as the Trofeo Baracchi), 1994)
- Subida a Urkiola (1993)
- GP Eddy Merckx (1994)
- Giro dell’Emilia (1988)
- Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme (1993)
- Hour Record: 22 Oct 1994 – Velodrome du Lac, Bordeaux,
- Hour Record: 05 Nov 1994 – Velodrome du Lac, Bordeaux,
Vuelta a España record
- General classification (gold jersey): 20px1992, 20px1993, 20px1994; 3rd 1996
- mountains classification: 1993, 1996
- Points classification: 1993
- 13 Vuelta career stage wins: 1992 (2 stages); 1993 (3 stages); 1994 (6 stages); 1996 (2 stages)
Giro d’Italia record
- General classification: 20px1995
- Points classification: 20px1995
- Intermediate Sprints classification (maglia azzurra): 1995
- 5 Giro career stage wins: 1988 (1 stage); 1995 (4 stages)
Tour de France record
- 1988: 68th overall
- 1990: 57th overall
- 1993: 2nd overall; 1st mountains classification (maillot à pois rouges) 20px; Stage 10, 11 and 19 wins
- 1995: 8th overall
- 1996: 10th overall
Grand Tours overall classification results timeline
Grand Tour | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
alt=gold jersey Vuelta | – | – | – | – | 16 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 3 | 38 |
alt=Pink jersey Giro | 97 | WD | 44 | WD | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – |
alt=Yellow jersey Tour | – | – | 68 | – | 57 | – | – | 2 | WD | 8 | 10 | WD |
WD = Withdrew