Djamolidine Abdoujaparov
Encyclopedia
Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (born 28 February 1964 in Tashkent
) is a former professional road racing cyclist from Uzbekistan
. Abdoujaparov was a sprinter
, nicknamed "The Tashkent Terror" as he was so ferocious in the sprints. His unorthodox and often erratic sprinting caused a number of crashes.
A graduate of the Soviet
sports programme, Abdoujaparov came into his prime just as his country gained independence; after initial difficulties (including Uzbekistan's not being affiliated to the UCI
, which caused problems with the Cycling World Championship
) he signed for a Western professional team and became one of the world's top sprinters.
Abdoujaparov remains most famous for tussles with Laurent Jalabert
in the Tour de France's green sprinters jersey
competition in the early 1990s. In 1991 "Abdou" won the competition despite a spectacular crash during the final stage on the Champs-Élysées
in Paris, where - with 100 metres to the finish - he hit a giant promotional drinks can and somersaulted into the air. Despite still holding enough points to win the sprinters' jersey, he had to cross the line unaided. Members of his team picked him up, put him back on the bike, and he rode slowly over the last few meters, medical staff walking alongside him.
In his last complete tour in 1996, Abdoujaparov achieved a mountain breakaway for his last stage win, unusual for a sprinter. By this stage, though, results were not as good, and after failing anti-doping
tests during the 1997 Tour de France
’s second stage, he retired from cycling. He failed the tests screening for the presence in his body of, among others, the anti-asthma drug Clenbuterol
.
According to the 2003 book The Yellow Jersey Companion to the Tour de France: "His name is correctly pronounced "jah-mohl-ih-deen ahb-doo-ja-pahr-awf"."
Eddy Merckx
, Abdoujaparov, Alessandro Petacchi
, and Laurent Jalabert
are the only riders to have won the points competition in all three Grand Tours
.
Abdoujaparov has a band named after him
consisting of ex-Carter USM
member Les Carter (AKA Fruitbat).
1988 Soviet national team
1989 Soviet national team
1990 Alfa Lum
1991 Carrera
1992 Carrera
1993 Lampre
1994 Polti
1995 Novell
1996 Refin
1997 Lotto
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
) is a former professional road racing cyclist from Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
. Abdoujaparov was a sprinter
Cycling sprinter
A cycling sprinter is a road bicycle racer or track racer who can finish a race very explosively by accelerating quickly to a high speed, often using the slipstream of another cyclist or group of cyclists tactically to conserve energy.-The road sprinter:...
, nicknamed "The Tashkent Terror" as he was so ferocious in the sprints. His unorthodox and often erratic sprinting caused a number of crashes.
A graduate of the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
sports programme, Abdoujaparov came into his prime just as his country gained independence; after initial difficulties (including Uzbekistan's not being affiliated to the UCI
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
, which caused problems with the Cycling World Championship
UCI Road World Championships
The UCI Road World Championships are the annual world championships for bicycle road racing organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale...
) he signed for a Western professional team and became one of the world's top sprinters.
Abdoujaparov remains most famous for tussles with Laurent Jalabert
Laurent Jalabert
Laurent Jalabert is a French former professional road racing cyclist, from 1989 to 2002. Affectionately known as "Jaja" , he won many one-day and stage races and was ranked number 1 in the 1990s...
in the Tour de France's green sprinters jersey
Green jersey
The green jersey is a term used in road bicycle racing and Grand Tour stage races in particular. The green jersey is a distinctive racing jersey worn by the leader in a subsidiary competition....
competition in the early 1990s. In 1991 "Abdou" won the competition despite a spectacular crash during the final stage on the Champs-Élysées
Champs-Élysées stage in Tour de France
The Tour de France has finished on the Champs-Élysées every year since 1975. In the first edition of 1903, the finish was at Ville d'Avray; from 1904 to 1967 in Parc des Princes track and from 1968 to 1974 at the Vélodrome de Vincennes track.-History:...
in Paris, where - with 100 metres to the finish - he hit a giant promotional drinks can and somersaulted into the air. Despite still holding enough points to win the sprinters' jersey, he had to cross the line unaided. Members of his team picked him up, put him back on the bike, and he rode slowly over the last few meters, medical staff walking alongside him.
In his last complete tour in 1996, Abdoujaparov achieved a mountain breakaway for his last stage win, unusual for a sprinter. By this stage, though, results were not as good, and after failing anti-doping
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...
tests during the 1997 Tour de France
1997 Tour de France
The 1997 Tour de France was the 84th Tour de France, it took place July 5–27, 1997. Jan Ullrich's victory margin, of 9' 09" was the largest margin of victory since Laurent Fignon won the 1984 Tour de France by 10' 32"...
’s second stage, he retired from cycling. He failed the tests screening for the presence in his body of, among others, the anti-asthma drug Clenbuterol
Clenbuterol
Clenbuterol is a sympathomimetic amine used by sufferers of breathing disorders as a decongestant and bronchodilator. People with chronic breathing disorders such as asthma use this as a bronchodilator to make breathing easier...
.
According to the 2003 book The Yellow Jersey Companion to the Tour de France: "His name is correctly pronounced "jah-mohl-ih-deen ahb-doo-ja-pahr-awf"."
Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
, Abdoujaparov, Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling...
, and Laurent Jalabert
Laurent Jalabert
Laurent Jalabert is a French former professional road racing cyclist, from 1989 to 2002. Affectionately known as "Jaja" , he won many one-day and stage races and was ranked number 1 in the 1990s...
are the only riders to have won the points competition in all three Grand Tours
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
.
Abdoujaparov has a band named after him
Abdoujaparov
Abdoujaparov are a punk band formed on 19 October 1998 by ex-Carter USM guitarist Les Carter . Abdoujaparov's musical foundations are the joyous and shambolic influences of 1977 punk rock. The music is raucous and fast but with country elements.So far four EPs, a single and two albums have been...
consisting of ex-Carter USM
Carter USM
Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine is a British indie rock band formed in 1988 by singer Jim "Jim Bob" Morrison and guitarist Les "Fruitbat" Carter. They made their name with a distinctive style of power pop, fusing samples, sequenced basses and drum machines with rock 'n' roll guitars and...
member Les Carter (AKA Fruitbat).
Victories
1987 Soviet national team
- Peace race
- 3 stages winner
1988 Soviet national team
- Peace race
-
Points ClassificationPoints classificationThe points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
winner (white jersey) - 2 stages winner
-
- Olympic games SeoulCycling at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's individual road raceThese are the official results of the Men's Individual Road Race at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, held on September 27, 1988...
- 5. place
1989 Soviet national team
- Peace race
- 1 stage winner
1990 Alfa Lum
-
- first year as professional
1991 Carrera
- Gent–Wevelgem
- Giro del PiemonteGiro del PiemonteThe Giro del Piemonte is a semi classic European bicycle race held in the Apennine Mountains, Italy. The race first took place in 1906. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour...
- Tour de France1991 Tour de FranceThe 1991 Tour de France was the 78th Tour de France, taking place July 6 to July 28, 1991. The total race distance was 22 stages over 3914 km, with riders averaging 38.747 km/h.-Stages:-General classification:-External links:* *...
-
Points ClassificationPoints classificationThe points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
winner (green jerseyGreen jerseyThe green jersey is a term used in road bicycle racing and Grand Tour stage races in particular. The green jersey is a distinctive racing jersey worn by the leader in a subsidiary competition....
) - Winner stages 1 and 4
-
- 1 stage winner Semana Siciliana
- 2 stages winner Vuelta a MurciaVuelta a MurciaThe Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia is a road bicycle race held in and around Murcia, Spain. The race consists of a men's competition over five stages and is part of the UCI Europe Tour as a 2.1 event. The first four editions were reserved to amateurs....
- 1 stage winner Volta a Catalunya
- G.P. Montreal
1992 Carrera
- Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
-
Points ClassificationPoints classificationThe points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
winner (blue jersey) - 4 stages winner
-
- 1 stage Tour of BritainTour of BritainThe Tour of Britain is a cycle race, conducted over several stages, in which participants race from place to place across parts of Great Britain....
1993 Lampre
- Tour de France1993 Tour de FranceThe 1993 Tour de France was the 80th Tour de France, taking place July 3 to July 25, 1993. It consisted of 20 stages, over 3714.3 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.709 km/h....
- Points ClassificationPoints classificationThe points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
winner (green jerseyGreen jerseyThe green jersey is a term used in road bicycle racing and Grand Tour stage races in particular. The green jersey is a distinctive racing jersey worn by the leader in a subsidiary competition....
) - Winner stages 3,18 and 20
-
- Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
- 3 stages winner
- Tour de SuisseTour de SuisseThe Tour de Suisse is a UCI World Tour stage race held annually in June. The race debuted in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. With the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is a proving ground for the Tour de France, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
- 1 stage
- Criterium Amiens
- Criterium Lisieux
- Criterium Hendaya
1994 Polti
- Giro d'Italia1994 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1994 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 77th edition of the race, was held from 22 May to 12 June 1994, consisting of 22 stages. It covered a total of 3,738 km, completed at an average speed of 37.124 km/h...
-
Points ClassificationPoints classificationThe points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
winner (maglia ciclaminoMaglia ciclaminoThe points classification in the Giro d'Italia is one of the secondary classifications in the Giro d'Italia. It is determined by the placements in the daily stages, independent from time distances...
) - IntergiroIntergiroThe Intergiro was a competition in the annual Giro d'Italia bicycle race. It was a temporal classification based on midway points on every stage. The overall leader in this competition was awarded a blue jersey to wear on the following day's stage....
Classification winner (maglia azzurra) - 1 stage winner
-
- Tour de France1994 Tour de FranceThe 1994 Tour de France was the 81st Tour de France and included two stages in England , Stage 4, Dover to Brighton and Stage 5, around Portsmouth. It took place July 2 to July 24, 1994...
- Points ClassificationPoints classificationThe points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
winner (green jerseyGreen jerseyThe green jersey is a term used in road bicycle racing and Grand Tour stage races in particular. The green jersey is a distinctive racing jersey worn by the leader in a subsidiary competition....
) - winner stages 1 and 20
-
- 2 stages winner Paris–Nice
- 2 stages winner Three Days of De PanneThree Days of De PanneThe Three Days of De Panne is a mid-week, three-day stage race before the Ronde van Vlaanderen in De Panne in West Flanders, Belgium. It is rated 2.HC by the UCI and is part of the UCI Europe Tour.- Winners :...
- 1 stage Tour DuPontTour DuPontThe Tour DuPont was a cycling stage race in the United States held between 1991 and 1996. It was intended to become a North American cycling event similar in format and prestige to the Tour de France. The tour's name came from its sponsor, DuPont...
- Omnium Elsloo
- Profronde Roosendaal
- G.P. Rik van Steenbergen
- Poly Normande
- 2 stages winner Tour of Holland1994 Ronde van NederlandThese are the results for the 34th edition of the Ronde van Nederland cycling race, which was held from August 15 to August 19, 1994. The race started in Breda and finished in Valkenburg .-15-08-1994: Breda-Nieuwegein, 180 km:...
+ 2nd place in overall classification - Criterium Vayrac
- Criterium Bavikhove
1995 Novell
- Tour de France1995 Tour de FranceThe 1995 Tour de France was the 82nd Tour de France, taking place July 1 to July 23, 1995. It was Miguel Indurain's fifth and final victory in the Tour. On the fifteenth stage Italian rider Fabio Casartelli died after an accident on the Col de Portet d'Aspet....
- Winner stage 20
- 1 stage winner Tour DuPontTour DuPontThe Tour DuPont was a cycling stage race in the United States held between 1991 and 1996. It was intended to become a North American cycling event similar in format and prestige to the Tour de France. The tour's name came from its sponsor, DuPont...
- Criterium Quillan
1996 Refin
- Tour de France1996 Tour de FranceThe 1996 Tour de France was the 83rd Tour de France, starting on June 29 and ending on July 21, featuring 19 regular stages, 2 individual time trials, a prologue and a rest day ....
- Winner stage 14
- 1 stage winner Vuelta a MurciaVuelta a MurciaThe Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia is a road bicycle race held in and around Murcia, Spain. The race consists of a men's competition over five stages and is part of the UCI Europe Tour as a 2.1 event. The first four editions were reserved to amateurs....
- 1 stage winner Tirreno–Adriatico
- 1 stage winner Giro di SardegnaGiro di SardegnaGiro di Sardegna is a stage road bicycle race held on the island of Sardinia, an Italian region. The race returned in 2009 after 11 years. It is now rated 2.1 and is part of the UCI Europe Tour.-Winners:...
- Criterium Dijon
- Criterium Cauderan-Burdeos
1997 Lotto
- La Côte Picarde
- 1 stage Four Days of DunkirkFour Days of DunkirkThe Four Days of Dunkirk is road bicycle race around the Nord-Pas de Calais region of northern France. Confusingly, since the addition of an individual time trial in 1963, the race has usually been held over a 5 or 6 day period. Since 2005, the race is organised as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe...
- 2 stages Dauphiné LiberéDauphiné LibéréThe Critérium du Dauphiné is an annual cycling road race, run over eight stages in the Dauphiné region in France during the first half of June. The race was inaugurated by a local newspaper, the Dauphiné Libéré, which gave its name to the event...
See also
- List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences
- List of doping cases in cycling