Davis Phinney

Davis Phinney

Davis Phinney (born 1959 in Boulder, Colorado) is known as the win-ingest rider in US cycling history. From the late 1970's until his retirement from professional cycling in 1993, Davis is credited with 328 victories. Using his incredible sprinting abilities to win races earned Davis Phinney the nickname of "Cash Register".   Davis Phinney won a Gold Medal at the 1983 Pan-American Games in Team Time Trial. At the 1984 Summer Olympics Davis won a Bronze Medal competing in the Team Time Trial event.  In 1986, while racing as a member of the USA based 7-Eleven Cycling Team, he became the second American to win a stage at the Tour de France.  He won another stage of the Tour de France the next year in 1987. At the Coors Classic (successor to Colorado's Red Zinger Classic) Davis won many stages from years 1981 through 1988.

After retiring in 1993 Davis worked as a sportscaster for ABC, CBS, NBC and OLN. For years he had been battling constant fatiue, mental fogginess, muscle cramping and bouts of sudden numbing weakness. In 2000 at the age of 40, after many rounds of tests, he was diagnosed with Young-onset Parkinson's disease. The Davis Phinney Foundation, established in 2004, is dedicated to improving the lives of people with Parkinson's disease. Click here for more information on The Davis Phinney Foundation.

Davis Phinney is married to champion cyclist Connie Carpenter-Phinney, with whom he has two children, Taylor and Kelsey. His son, Taylor Phinney, is following in Davis's footsteps and is already a champion cyclist.

Davis Phinney finished in first place overall in the Coors Classic in 1988.

Davis Phinney crashed into the back of a car during the 1988 edition of Liege-Basogne-Liege. There had been a large crash during the race and Davis was working his way through the support vehicles to regain the main field. The Isoglass team car stopped suddenly to help a rider with a mechanical problem. Davis didn't realize the car had stopped until it was to late . He suffered a broken nose and had cuts on his arms and face that required over 100 stitches to close.

1988 Coors International Cycling Classic