Former pro cyclist Doug Shapiro has died at 65 after a climbing accident in California. The 65-year-old New York native raced for various teams, including the American pro team 7-Eleven and the 1985 Kwantum Hallen Team, now known as Visma-Lease a Bike.
One of the first Americans to tackle pro racing in Europe
In 1984, he won the biggest American stage race at the time, the Coors Classic. The following year, he became the third American to race the Tour de France, finishing 74th. He also competed in 1986 with 7-Eleven, marking the first year an American team raced the Tour. That year was notable for North Americans, with Canada’s Alex Stieda becoming the first to wear a yellow jersey and Greg LeMond winning the overall.
In 1980, he was selected to the U.S. Olympic team for Moscow but didn’t race due to the boycott (and was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal at the White House). He did, however, race in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Shapiro, who was known by peers as “the bullet” due to his sprinting prowess, was also a strong climber, which helped him win races like Coors Classic. Before turning pro, he also raced with one of the top American amateur teams, GS Mengoni, with Steve Bauer.
Shapiro, who was Jewish, was honored by being elected into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
According to media reports, on Tuesday, Shapiro’s body was discovered east of Portuguese Beach in Mendocino Headlands State Park, a rugged stretch of coastline with trails that wind along cliffs above the Pacific. A witness on Main Street in Mendocino spotted what seemed to be an unmoving person on the beach and called it in around 3:40 p.m.
After retiring, he worked for 7-Eleven as a technical advisor and later went on to own and operate Shapiro & Associates. The firm provides expert bicycle witness services and works with personal injury attorneys, municipalities, government agencies, manufacturers, and insurance companies involved in bicycle accident litigation.
Canadian Cycling Magazine extends its sincere condolences to Shapiro’s family and friends.
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