Ron Hayman
Encyclopedia
Ron Hayman was one of the first Canadian
cyclists to turn professional in the late 1970s, inspiring those following like fellow Canadian Alex Stieda
. Hayman later became a Canadian cycling coach and entrepreneur, and was runner-up on the list of the 10 most important Canadian cyclists of the twentieth century.
Hayman competed on the Canadian Olympic cycling team in Munich
in the 1972 Summer Olympics
in the pursuit and again in 1976 Summer Olympics
in the team pursuit
. He was seven times Canadian national champion on the road and track. In 1979, still an amateur on an English team 'London Australia' (Archer Road Club
), he won the 1979 Tour of Ireland
. Phil Anderson
, Stephen Roche
and Robert Millar
finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th behind Hayman, and all subsequently became successful professionals. Hayman was ranked top amateur in Belgium
(1979).
He raced as a professional from 1979 through 1988. His best-known team, of which he was one of seven founding members, was the Schwinn 7-Eleven Cycling Team
that also featured Eric Heiden
, Davis Phinney
and later Alex Stieda.
Hayman won the $71,000 pro-am Great Mohawk Bicycle Race in 1981, the richest purse for a professional race in North America at the time, a stage win and second at the Redlands Bicycle Classic in 1985. He also won three straight Gastown Grand Prix (1981,1982,1983), a criterium race in Vancouver, won by riders like Stieda (1980), Chris Carmichael (1985) and Lance Armstrong
(1991). Hayman is credited with 4 stage wins in the Coors Classic
, (for many years, the largest stage race in North America).
Hayman's most dramatic win was his sprint victory over the Italian sprinter, Silvestro Milani of Bottecchia, in Washington D.C in the final stage of the 1983 Tour of America, the only stage not won by a European. Hayman was 7-11 team captain. Later that summer, Davis Phinney narrowly beat Steve Bauer
at the USPRO criterium championship racing against European professional teams. These wins foreshadowed the end of the European dominance of professional cycle racing.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
cyclists to turn professional in the late 1970s, inspiring those following like fellow Canadian Alex Stieda
Alex Stieda
Alexander Nicholas Ernst "Alex" Stieda is a former professional road bicycle racer from Canada. Stieda captured all five jerseys of the Tour de France, the yellow jersey, the polka dot, the green, and the white, on the second day of the 1986 Tour de France, becoming the first North American to...
. Hayman later became a Canadian cycling coach and entrepreneur, and was runner-up on the list of the 10 most important Canadian cyclists of the twentieth century.
Hayman competed on the Canadian Olympic cycling team in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in the pursuit and again in 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in the team pursuit
Cycling at the 1976 Summer Olympics - Men's team pursuit
These are the official results of the Men's 4.000m Team Pursuit at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, held on July 23 and July 24, 1976. There were 64 participant from 16 nations. In the first round each team raced alone, with the first eight teams qualifying for the quarterfinals.-Final...
. He was seven times Canadian national champion on the road and track. In 1979, still an amateur on an English team 'London Australia' (Archer Road Club
Archer Road Club
The Archer Road Club is a cycling club in London, England. The club has produced national, world and Olympic champions.-Formation and early history:...
), he won the 1979 Tour of Ireland
Tour of Ireland
The Tour of Ireland is a bicycle stage race held in August. The first race debuted in 1953 and ran until 1957. It was revived in 1965 and ran until 1985. In 1985 the 5 day Nissan International Classic took over as the Tour of Ireland. This lasted for 8 years until 1992...
. Phil Anderson
Phil Anderson
Philip Grant Anderson OAM is an Australian former professional racing cyclist who was the first non-European to wear the yellow jersey of the Tour de France.-Origins:...
, Stephen Roche
Stephen Roche
Stephen Roche is a retired professional road racing cyclist. In a 13-year professional career, he peaked in 1987, becoming only the second cyclist to win the Triple Crown of victories in the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia stage races, plus the World road race championship...
and Robert Millar
Robert Millar
Robert Millar is a former Scottish professional cyclist who won the “King of the Mountains” competition in the 1984 Tour de France and finished fourth overall – sharing the highest Tour position for a British cyclist with Bradley Wiggins, and the first time a Briton had won a major Tour...
finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th behind Hayman, and all subsequently became successful professionals. Hayman was ranked top amateur in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(1979).
He raced as a professional from 1979 through 1988. His best-known team, of which he was one of seven founding members, was the Schwinn 7-Eleven Cycling Team
7-Eleven Cycling Team
The 7-Eleven Cycling Team, later the Motorola Cycling Team, was a professional cycling team founded in the U.S. in 1981 by Jim Ochowicz, a former U.S. Olympic cyclist...
that also featured Eric Heiden
Eric Heiden
Eric Arthur Heiden, M.D. is an American former long track speed skater and road cyclist who won all the men's speed skating races, and thus an unprecedented five individual gold medals, and set four Olympic records and one world record at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York,...
, Davis Phinney
Davis Phinney
Davis Phinney is a former professional road bicycle racer from the United States. He was known as a fast sprinter, and claims to have won the most races in American history. In 1986, he became the first American to win a stage at the Tour de France, while riding on the American-based team 7-Eleven...
and later Alex Stieda.
Hayman won the $71,000 pro-am Great Mohawk Bicycle Race in 1981, the richest purse for a professional race in North America at the time, a stage win and second at the Redlands Bicycle Classic in 1985. He also won three straight Gastown Grand Prix (1981,1982,1983), a criterium race in Vancouver, won by riders like Stieda (1980), Chris Carmichael (1985) and Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
(1991). Hayman is credited with 4 stage wins in the Coors Classic
Coors Classic
The Coors International Bicycle Classic was a stage race sponsored by the Coors Brewing Company. Coors was the race's second sponsor, the first, Celestial Seasonings, named the race after its premium tea Red Zinger, which began in 1975...
, (for many years, the largest stage race in North America).
Hayman's most dramatic win was his sprint victory over the Italian sprinter, Silvestro Milani of Bottecchia, in Washington D.C in the final stage of the 1983 Tour of America, the only stage not won by a European. Hayman was 7-11 team captain. Later that summer, Davis Phinney narrowly beat Steve Bauer
Steve Bauer
Steven Todd Bauer, MSM is a former professional road bicycle racer from Canada. He is an Olympic medallist and winner of several professional races.-Cycling career:...
at the USPRO criterium championship racing against European professional teams. These wins foreshadowed the end of the European dominance of professional cycle racing.
Professional teams
- 1979 - Safir-Ludo-St Louis (Belgium)
- 1980 - Panasonic-Shimano (Canada)
- 1981 - 7 Eleven (USA)
- 1981 - Safir-Gali-Ludo (Belgium)
- 1982 - 7 Eleven-Descente (USA)
- 1983 - 7-11 [Individual sponsor]
- 1984 - Mengoni (USA)
- 1984 - Gianni Motta-Linea (USA)
- 1985 - 7 Eleven [Levis-Raleigh]
- 1986 - Levi's-Look
- 1987 - Varsity Cycles
- 1988 - Individual sponsor