Tony Rominger

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Tony Rominger bigraphy, stories - Swiss racing cyclist

Tony Rominger : biography

27 March 1961 –

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