Danielson blazes back at Durango’s Fall Blaze ride

Cyclist’s fundraising tour brings in money for FLC scholarships

World-class cyclist and Fort Lewis College alum Tom Danielson returned to Durango on Saturday for the first time in four years to ride in the sixth annual Durango Fall Blaze Bicycle Tour.

“I’m a big fan. We were cheering for him over in Denver for the pro-cycling tour,” said Janis Smith of Denver, shown here getting an autograph from Tom Danielson. Smith, her husband, Robert Smith, and brother-in-law, Wade Smith, rode the 37-mile route of the sixth annual Durango Fall Blaze Bicycle Tour. Read More

Ride with Tom: Wayfarer Bicycle to host charity ride Oct 15th

SAVE THE DATE: Come to Wayfarer Bicycle on October 15th to ride the 25 mile or 50 mile loop with Tom in New London, Connecticut! Enjoy an all day event with a fun meet-and-greet following the ride. Proceeds benefit the CT Chapter of the American Heart Association.

This will be a great opportunity to meet Tom and discuss his top 10 result at this year’s Tour de France! More details here.

Contact Wayfarer Bicycle

Bicycling.com: USA Pro Cycling Challenge: Tom Danielson Stage 6

Tom 4th overall at inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Garmin-Cervélo wins team classification

HoneyMilk™ helping Tom recover during USAPCC and beyond

Athletes HoneyMilk™ is a delicious high-protein nutritional drink made from real milk and honey.

No powders, no mystery ingredients, no hocus pocus… HoneyMilk™ is a DESIGNER® milk product and is real fuel for real people.

Tom has his, now you need to Get Yours!

Tommy D Tee Shirt Now Available!

From Shop Slipstream Sports:

Tommy D has had a fantastic 2011 season. Finishing 9th overall in this year’s Tour de France, as well as third overall in the Tour of California are the highlights so far.

Can Tom take it the next level at the upcoming USA Pro Cycling Challenge in his home state of Colorado? We think so, and we’ll be sporting this great new tee to show our support for Tom during the race.

This tee is made from 50% cotton, 50% polyester, and in real life will appear slightly darker than shown in the images above.

Get Yours!

Tom rides with Denver 4 News

The Denver Post: Cyclist Danielson overcomes setbacks to fulfill role as Lance’s successor

By John Henderson
The Denver Post

BOULDER — It’s Tuesday and Tom Danielson is nine days removed from cycling around France faster than any other American. Now he’s cycling up Independence Pass as eager as any cyclist alive. He took his wife, Stephanie, and 16-month-old son Stevie to Aspen to recon one of the hardest and highest climbs in European and North American cycling. He was more hyper than a teenage mountain biker on Red Bull.

He checked every contour of the route. He gauged the lightheadedness of cycling at 12,095 feet. He even marveled at the mountain goat and beaver he saw by the roads.

Admire his Team Garmin-Cervelo’s first- place team medal in the Tour de France? Read the press clippings of his breakout top-10 finish? He’ll save that for when he’s riding a wheelchair instead of a racing bike.

Colorado’s inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge is Aug. 22-28, and Danielson is the favorite. The Fort Lewis College graduate and Boulder resident is coming home to a world stage.

“It’s funny, he has not relaxed a moment,” Stephanie said. “You think, OK, he can take a breath now, but it seems to have inspired him even more.”

Read More

Tom speaks with 9News about US Pro Challenge

Cyclingnews.com: Tom motivated for USA Pro Cycling Challenge

Focused Grand Tour contender outlines two key ascents.

“I’m very motivated for the race,” Danielson said. “Just finishing my first Tour de France, I couldn’t tell you exactly how I am going to feel in the race. I don’t know physiologically what will be going on with my body in August. Mentally, I am fired up and motivated. I love racing in Colorado and in the US. To be called one of the favourites is an honour and I hope that I can put that weight on my shoulders and perform highly in my home state.

“When I heard the announcement of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, immediately it was on the back of my head and I got so excited,” he continued. “Here I am in my cycling career and I always dreamed of doing a hometown race, a big race. The feeling that I get from competing on my home roads, on the terrain that I am built for, high-altitude climbing, I love it. When we started talking about it over the winter and fall I made it a target on my calendar. I didn’t know what path I would take to get to the race but I wanted to make sure that I arrived in the best possible condition.”

Read More

Tom claims 9th overall at first Tour de France, and is the top American. Garmin-Cervélo wins team classification

“We’ve had a great Tour but we’re most satisfied in the way that we did it,” said Garmin-Cervélo manager Jonathan Vaughters.

“This team is about teamwork, sacrifice, working as a unit, and that’s exactly how we rode this Tour. We came in with high goals and I think we’ve reached all those and more. We did it by working together and staying focused.”

Vaughters carried a cut-out, life-sized photo of Dave Zabriskie when the squad appeared on the podium for finish-line ceremony in honor for the American, who crashed out in stage 9.

Tyler Farrar kicked to fourth in the final-stage sprint Sunday as the Tour roared into Paris after completing 3,430km during 21 hard days of racing. Mark Cavendish won the final stage and Cadel Evans claimed the yellow jersey.

Tom Danielson was happy to arrive in Paris with a solid overall performance that saw him in ninth place at 8:15 in what was an excellent Tour debut.

“I was able to avoid the crashes that took out some of the other GC contenders and I came to this Tour with great legs,” Danielson said.

Read more at SlipstreamSports.com

Tom secures top-ten with solid time trial

“It’s a dream come true. To be in the top 10 at my first Tour de France, I can’t believe it,” said Danielson.

“The team has been so great, we have had an amazing Tour. I have to thank the guys, and Jonathan and Robby Ketchell for everything they’ve done for me here. And if we’re lucky enough to end up as the best team, that shows what a team effort the Tour de France is and how beautiful our sport is. I couldn’t be happier.

Read more

Gutsy performance on Alpe d’Huez keeps Tom in 9th overall

Tom puts in a solid ride on stage 18 to solidify his top-ten in the overall.

Consistent riding and smart tactics have benefited Garmin-Cervelo and Tom in particular this entire Tour de France. This continued on the final climb up Alpe d’Huez as Tom rode within himself to secure his position on the general classification.

Ryder Hesjedal rode well as did Christian Vande Velde to gain even more time for Garmin-Cervelo as the top squad for the Team Classification.

Next up is the individual time trial which should suit Tom well. Currently in 9th place overall, a top-ten placing heading into Paris on Sunday would be fantastic result for the Tour rookie.

Let Tom know you’re pulling for him and wish him well as he heads towards a great result and the Champs-Élysées!

Race report: Tom carries top-10 hopes into Alps

Tom Danielson rides into two decisive stages in the French Alps with hopes of defending his spot in the top-10 overall at the Tour de France.

Garmin-Cervélo defended its lead in the team ranking in Wednesday’s 179km 17th stage from Gap, France to Pinerolo, Italy. Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen won the stage out of a big breakaway and Thomas Voeckler defended yellow.

Danielson crossed the line 30th at 4:53 back and ceded 27 seconds to some of the top GC rivals, but was able to defend his grip on ninth place overall.

“If I can get through this Tour in ninth or 10th, or whatever it is, I just want to give my all,” Danielson said. “I am excited about the Alps and the final time trial. I just have to recover from today and move forward.”

Garmin-Cervélo rode to protect Danielson leading up to a short but steep second-category in the closing kilometers. Danielson survived the harrowing descent to the finish line without major mishaps.

“I took it cautious on the downhill. Basso stacked it on a corner and I went into him. That opened a gap between us and the others, then Voeckler crashed ahead of us, and that opened up more time,” Danielson said. “We all worked together and we just lost a handful of seconds at the finish. I got down it in one piece, that was my goal today.” Read More

Velonews video: Tom excited for the Alps to begin

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Video: Tom on the second rest day at the Tour de France


Tom moves up to 9th overall after first day in the Pyrénées

The Tour rookie stayed with the GC favorites until the final, late-stage attacks with just a few kilometers to go in the grueling, three-climb 211km stage from Cugnaux to Luz-Ardiden. Samuel Sanchez won the stage and Danielson crossed the line 11th at 1:03 back.

“I felt good, stayed steady and listened to my body, I rode the best I could and I was pretty close in the end, so I am satisfied,” Danielson said.

“I cannot complain.I was a little empty at the end, with those guys’ accelerations came in the end. For me, the key is to be steady every single day, and when I have an opportunity, take it.”

The result was an important confirmation for Danielson, who is riding the Tour de France for the first time after shining in the Giro d’Italia and winning a stage and finishing in the top-10 overall at the Vuelta a España.

With the solid ride, Danielson climbed into ninth overall at 4:35 behind race leader Thomas Voeckler.

The first mountain stage of the 2011 Tour was hard on everyone and the peloton split on the first of three climbs. By the hors-categorie Tourmalet climb midway through the stage, only the strongest riders were able to maintain contact. Read More

Garmin wins Tour Team Time Trial

Hushovd takes over yellow jersey

Garmin-Cervelo won the team time trial, putting world champion Thor Hushovd in the yellow jersey. The US-based team covered the 23km in a time of 24:48. Second place went to BMC Racing Team at 24:52, with Sky third in the same time. Surprisingly, it was Garmin’s first stage win ever at the Tour de France.

Read more

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Cyclingnews.com: Tom ready for his Tour de France debut

Garmin-Cervelo climber taking it day by day

Tom Danielson (Garmin-Cervelo) has had to wait a long time but on Saturday he will line up on the Passage du Gois for the start of his maiden Tour de France. The 33-year-old turned professional nearly a decade ago and despite competing in several other grand tours, has always been overlooked when it came to the biggest race of all.

Read more

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Tom selected for the Tour de France team

Tom was named to the Tour de France roster for the first time, team CEO Jonathan Vaughters said Monday.

“I honestly don’t know what it means to me,” Danielson said Monday from his other training base in Girona, Spain. “I’m a pro. I focused a lot on being at a high level. I just want to continue doing my job and reach the highest level possible.

“On the last day of the Tour, I’ll tell you what it means to me.”

Danielson, 33, earned the berth by finishing third in the Tour of California last month, and ninth in the Tour de Suisse yesterday, including a fifth-place in Sunday’s time trial.

“We seem to produce a suprise in the Tour de France every year,” Vaughters said. “I hope this year that’s Danielson.”

The Tour de France begins July 2 in the Brittany town of Passage du Gois.

The Denver Post

Tom’s Tour de Suisse Race Report – 5th in ITT, 9th Overall

This week was a nice builder for us. Both Christian and I did a nice training block in Boulder for two weeks before Tour de Suisse.

We came in quite fresh and rested and just built our form over the challenging nine day race. My work on my TT bike really is paying off as I finished sixth in the prologue and fifth in the TT.

As far as the mountains went my confidence turned into form as the race progressed. I started a bit slow bonking on stage 1, then being one of the strongest on Stage 2. The third mountain stage I was very strong, but had a mechanical in the last 2 km while with the leaders. The final mountain stage I was very strong and spent the whole climb repeatedly attacking.

All in all ninth is a nice result, but I am most happy with what my body was telling me in the last days of this race. That is, I am coming into some nice form with some nice confidence to back it for the next month. I am very excited!!!!!

I also have to say the team as a group as well as the staff was a really nice mix and worked awesomely together. We even had my friend chef Sean here keeping us fed and healthy!

I can safely say this edition of Tour de Suisse has been Garmin’s most successful to date. – Tom

VeloNews: Retooling for the Tour: Inside Tom Danielson’s new bike fit

Tom Danielson has a good shot at making Garmin-Cervelo’s Tour de France squad after his performance at the Tour of California. He recently brought his time trial bike into fit specialists Retul to get it dialed in for the rest of the season.

Read more…

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Tom talks about US Pro Challenge

9News TV spot for USA Pro Cycling Challenge featuring Tom

Bobke talks to Tom after Amgen Tour of California podium

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Tom finishes on podium at Amgen Tour of California

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“It was an honour to stand on the podium with Chris and Levi,” Danielson said. “I started my career with Chris on Saturn and with Levi on Discovery Channel and I learned a lot from both. I wouldn’t be half the rider that I am today without having raced with these guys. I enjoyed racing for third place and being able to celebrate it with them. That being said, Garmin-Cervelo did a great job this week and we definitely gave RadioShack a run for their money.”

Results

Tom now 3rd on GC after Sierra Road stage @AToC

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Read Velonews Interview

Tom Aggressive During Tour of Romandie Team Success

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Read the race report at slipstreamsports.com

Video: Tom targeting Tour of California, hopes for Tour de France start

VIDEO: Tom talks with VeloNews

Watch the video

LASIK Eye Surgery Helps Tom Correct Vision

Tom Danielson, a professional cyclist for the American Garmin-Cervelo team, recently had eye surgery at Icon LASIK in Denver, Colorado. Tom suffered from extremely dry eyes throughout his career and was forced to wear contact lenses during his long training rides and during races. Tom’s Rx went from a -4.75 to 20/20 one day post op and 20/10 two weeks post op!

Read more from PRNewswire…

Tom helps raiser over $125,000 for Fort Lauderdale-based Kids in Distress (KID)

In its ninth year, the KIDS Inlet Challenge Bicycle Ride raised more than $125,000 for Fort Lauderdale-based Kids in Distress (KID) exceeding last year’s fundraising efforts.

For the second year in a row, the event was led by pro cyclist Tom Danielson and presented by Zimmerman Advertising’s zMotion cycling group. Also riding this year was local cycling hero turned pro, Andrew Talansky, who signed with Garmin-Cervelo this summer.

Read Full Story

Join Tom in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the Zmotion Inlet Challenge on December 5th

Sunday, December 5th 2010
Bahia Mar – 801 Seabreeze Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
Free Parking for the first 300 cars
Ride alongside Pro Cyclist Tom Danielson of Garmin-Cervelo

  • 7:00am start – 100 miles
  • 7:15am start – 62.5 miles
  • 7:30am start – 31 miles
  • 7:45am start – 15 miles

Beach celebration with food, drinks and music after!

Download the flyer

Tom on hand to present the Quiznos Pro Challenge route

“The altitude is going to be tough,” said Garmin’s Tom Danielson, who was joined by teammate Tim Duggan and United Health Care’s Rory Sutherland as the pro riders in attendance. “It will compete with the Vuelta some, but I still think most of the top GC guys in the world will come over. It’s definitely not going to be a sprinter’s race.”

Read Full Story

Join Tom for the “Everyone Rides” event December 12th in Lehigh Acres, FL

Ride with Tom and hundreds of other riders for this great cause!

All proceeds go to purchasing helmets and bicycles for the children of The Boys and Girls Clubs of Lee County!

Visit www.everyonerides.org for more information or download the PDF.

Tom secures his top-ten overall at the Vuelta

from Johnny Weltz:

The grand finale of the Vuelta this year happened on an exceptionally hard mountaintop finish outside Madrid.

In the end nobody was able to make a big difference on the GC as all the riders with whom they have fought for three weeks all stayed around each other.

So the podium stayed the same and the top ten was mixed up again but with only a few seconds in between them.

Tommy D confirmed his return to cycling on the high level. He ended the stage among the strongest and ended in the ninth spot, only six seconds from seventh.

But in the end a very solid performance after three weeks of very hard racing.

No one could imagine that the whole top ten on GC was a game of only a very few seconds!

Race report: Vuelta a España, stage 17 Time Trial

Tom had a solid time trial, crossing 14th at 1:53. He now sits seventh overall at 3:55 but just 11 seconds from 4th on GC. Read Report

Danielson hopes for strong Vuelta time trial

Tom Danielson (Garmin-Transitions) will look to cement his place in the top ten of the Vuelta with a strong performance in today’s 46km individual time trial in Peñafiel.

The American currently sits seventh overall, 4:29 down on race leader Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) and with five stages remaining could beat his best ever finish in a grand tour – 8th overall in the 2005 Vuelta.

Danielson is perhaps not one of the stronger riders against the clock in the top ten at the Vuelta but he is motivated and apparently fresher than many of his rivals.

“We’ll see what happens. It’s the last few days of a difficult grand tour so it’s hard to say how things will play out. Of course on paper it might look one way but it’s up to an individual to put it all together. I won’t lie though, I’m excited about the time trial,” Danielson told Cyclingnews.

Read Full Cyclingnews.com Article

Tom now 7th overall after “queen stage” of the Vuelta

…from Velonews.com: Danielson came to life on the final climb, attacking off the front of the GC group on the lower ramps of the Cotobello summit finish with about 8km to go. Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank) and Carlos Sastre (Cervélo) each bridged out before Danielson overcooked it and crossed the line 11th at 2:07 back. Despite losing time to the GC leaders, he actually improved his placing to seventh overall at 4:29 back.

“Tom said he would attack today and he did. It’s good that he tried instead of just sitting in the bunch. Schleck was the strongest of the GC group today and Tom tried to equal his pace and he blew up a little bit in the end,” Fernández explained. “Maybe he lost a little bit of time, but it was great to see him attack. He was in the action of the race. That’s more important. We think Tom can recover well and have a good time trial. The course is good for him. We still think he can finish in the top 5.”

Read Full Velonews Article

Photo: Graham Watson

Danielson destined for Vuelta revival

Lying in 15th overall, less than two minutes behind new race leader Joaquin Rodriguez, Garmin-Transitions’ Tom Danielson is in a situation to repeat his top 10 performance at the 2006 Vuelta a España when he finished sixth.

But the American told Cyclingnews that he won’t be setting any clear objectives for overall ambitions until stage 17, a 46km individual time trial with the probability of a lot of wind in Peñafiel.

Read Full Cyclingnews Article

Tom looking for Vuelta podium trip with new son

Tom Danielson (Garmin-Transitions) made it through Tuesday’s potentially explosive 10th stage to maintain his options for a strong overall result at the Vuelta a España.

Danielson hit the midway point through the 2010 Vuelta is solid position, settling into 15th overall at 1:54 back.

“I’ve done the best I can. I am not real explosive on those short finishes. I’ve struggled a little bit, not quite (with the) fastest guys on the short finishes, but close to the GC guys,” Danielson said. “I hope to really come alive in the second part of this Vuelta.”

Read Full Velonews Interview

VeloNews catches up with Tom to talk about week one of the Vuelta.

Tom starts strong in first week of Vuelta

…from Velonews:
Tom Danielson did well in Tuesday’s battle to cross the line 17th at 36 seconds back and slotted into 16th at 1:21 back to keep alive his GC hopes.

“It’s been brutal these first few days of the Vuelta for us,” said Garmin-Transitions sport director Johnny Weltz. “Julian is really beat up, so he’s taking it day-to-day. Tyler had some stomach problems and Dave struggled with the heat. We’re still in there. Tom had a good ride today, because these short, explosive climbs are not his style. We want to keep him protected until we get to the Pyrénées and Asturias where he will do better on those longer climbs.”

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Photo: Graham Watson

Solid Ride for Tom at Trofeo Melinda

Tom was the top American at the tough Trofeo Melinda in Italy finishing 8th with the same time as winner Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Doimo). Next up for Tom is the Vuelta a Espana where he hopes to put in another good performance.

Tom 8th at the Tour of Poland while supporting Dan Martin to overall victory and capturing best team prize

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Garmin Race Report

Tom wins Mt. Washington Hill Climb

Tom won the 7.6-mile road in 49 minutes, 32 seconds to win the Newton’s Revenge race up Mt. Washington. Tom’s time was nearly 12 minutes faster than the second place finisher.

Read full story here

Tom to race Mt. Washington July 10

Pinkham Notch, NH—Tom Danielson, course record-holder for the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb, has just announced that he will return to the White Mountains on July 10 to compete in Newton’s Revenge, the other annual bike race up the Mt. Washington Auto Road. Following several years of major team competition in Europe and North America, and having mostly recovered from an accident in May that prevents his riding in the Tour de France, Danielson leads a field of nearly two hundred cyclists in this popular (and grueling ) ascent of the highest peak in the Northeast.

Read full article

Team Garmin: on the cutting edge with the Garmin Edge 500

6.19.10: Tom makes the break in Stage 8 at Tour de Suisse

With around 30 kilometres completed the day’s break took shape, comprised of Tom and 8 other riders. Tom rode strong and finished 7th on the stage. Tom said he felt good but his hip and back injuries sustained in a crash prior to the Tour of California are still hurting a bit and causing discomfort. However, each day he feels better and the form is coming along nicely. Look for a strong second half of the season!

Photos by Graham Watson

6.19.10: Cyclingnews.com: Danielson riding well in Tour de Suisse

Saturday’s penultimate stage of the Tour de Suisse saw a strong ride by Garmin Transitions’ Tom Danielson, who made it into the move of the day and was involved in the fight for the victory in Liestal.

The break went clear inside the first half hour of the 172.4 kilometre stage and, according to Danielson’s team manager Jonathan Vaughters, it was the first time that he had been in such a long move.

While Danielson was tailed off slightly on the run-in to the finish and was seventh across the line, he explained afterwards that because of injuries he suffered in the run-up to the Tour of California, he was unable to go as deep as he wished. As a result, he was pleased with his placing.

“It was a really tough day and I am happy to be in the front,” he told Cyclingnews. “I never felt in difficulty, it is just for me overcoming a bad injury. I am happy with it…we were a really strong breakaway. Obviously you look at the peloton behind, there were only about 20 guys left in the front from that. So I am happy. “

Read full article

5.18.10: Garmin 500 How-To with Tom

5.14.10: Bicycle Village invites Tom to ride with the gang

Tom helped out the guys at Bicycle Village in Aurora, CO before heading out to the Tour of California.

Read full recap here.

5.11.10: Zabriskie joins Tom on Gila podium after all

Read story at Velonews.com

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4.29.10: Cyclingnews: Danielson on form for Tour of California

Tour of the Gila offers good prep

Tom Danielson showed that he is on target for next month’s Amgen Tour of California with a strong performance in the SRAM Tour of the Gila on Wednesday.

The Garmin-Transitions rider, taking part in the national event under the DZ Nuts team, claimed second place, a mere 10 seconds behind stage winner Levi Leipheimer on the notoriously steep finishing 10-kilometre long ascent to Mogollon.

Danielson hopes to put forth an equally strong performance is Friday’s stage three time trial and keep his place in the overall classification.

“For me it’s important to prove to myself, that I can be up there with those guys and I proved that today,” Tom Danielson told Cyclingnews. “I hope to have a really good time trial in a couple of days.”

Read full article on cyclingnews.com

4.22.10: CyclingReporter.com – 4 part interview with Tom

The 2009 season proved to be a pivotal one for Tom Danielson. After two difficult years, during which the Garmin-Transitions rider fought his way through some tough times and rough rides, including illness and crashes that left him with more than just minor injuries, the affable former collegiate mountain-bike sensation and Grand Tour stage winner was making a comeback to the top ranks of world cycling.

Having worked hard last winter in the States and all season long in Europe, racing both the Giro and the Vuelta—not to mention several Classics and stage races—Tommy D looked to be on his way to the Vuelta podium after riding strongly into the top 10, and as high as 4th on GC for several key stages. With his promising TT win and third place overall earlier at the Vuelta a Burgos, the Connecticut native looked poised to finally snatch a top 3 in Spain.

But with less than a week left in the tour Danielson was forced to pull out. Though he tried to race through it, he eventually succumbed to a nasty flu, and the 31-year-old had to abandon Spain’s Grand Tour, one of his favorite races and biggest goals of the year. Yet it didn’t stop him from finishing the season strong: He rode a respectable TT at the World Championships, was in the thick of the road race until the final selection was made on the last lap, and helped teammate Dan Martin to a top 10 at Lombardia.

I caught up with Danielson for a candid conversation. In this four-part interview, the easy-going, always optimistic rider talks about getting through a long season of ups and downs, learning to battle in one-day races, Evans and Vandenbroucke, and why he’ll be going into 2010 with the best form of his career.

Read complete interview at cyclingreporter.com

3.20.10: Video – 2 minutes with Tom

3.02.10: Tom Danielson: The Human Lottery Ticket

Can Garmin-Transitions’ enigma deliver before time runs out?

“He’s a lottery ticket. A one-in-a-million chance that could turn you into a millionaire but if don’t buy the ticket you don’t have a shot, right?” asks Jonathan Vaughters.

I respond with a nod and a reassuring smile. We’ve just had dinner in Calpe, Spain and the topic of discussion is the American cyclist Tom Danielson. The wine has been flowing, the company excellent and I can’t remember how we’ve ended up talking about Tom Danielson.

Read full article at cyclingnews.com

2.10.10: Tour of California’s Bonny Doon Climb Favors Tom

Stages 3, 4 offer more climbing but could fall to the sprinters

The Amgen Tour of California organisers continued their staged release of the details of this year’s race, today giving out information on the third and fourth stages of the 2010 Tour.

The third stage from San Francisco to Santa Cruz is a near repeat of the 2009 stage, minus the trip across the iconic Golden Gate bridge since the stage is no longer on a public holiday and shutting down the route on a workday would cause a traffic jam of epic proportions.

The 182.9km stage will still take in some of the most spectacular scenery that California has to offer as well as providing a potential launching pad for those riders seeking a high finish in the overall classification.

The riders will take in the wild beauty of Half Moon Bay before turning inland toward Kings Mountain toward the first difficulty of the day on Tunitas Creek Road.

The route then heads south again toward La Honda on highway 84, but rather than staying on this road for a flatter route to the coast, the route turns onto Pescadero Road to take in two climbs, then drops back to sea level on highway 1 before hitting the Bonny Doon Road climb which Levi Leipheimer used to catapult himself into the overall lead last year.

Garmin-Transitions’ manager Jonathan Vaughters predicted how this stage would play out. “That depends on what’s happened the day before. If the race has a real GC contender on a top team in the leader’s jersey, then we’ll see a defensive day, with perhaps a rider from a small, early, breakaway winning alone, and a group of 15 or so coming in together with all the contenders in it just behind.

“However, if the leader of the race is a more vulnerable rider, then I’d say all-out attacks from riders like Levi Leipheimer, Michael Rogers, and maybe our own Tom Danielson will split the race to pieces.”

Read full article at cyclingnews.com

12.01.09: Tom to lead this year’s “KIDS Inlet Challenge” ride on Dec. 6th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TEAM ZMOTION AND PRO CYCLIST TOM DANIELSON JOIN FORCES TO RAISE MONEY FOR KIDS IN DISTRESS
Event Producers Anticipate More than 1,200 Cyclists

Ft. Lauderdale, FL – November 23, 2009 – Kids in Distress (KID) has announced that this year’s KIDS Inlet Challenge will be led by pro cyclist Tom Danielson and presented by Zimmerman Advertising’s zMotion Foundation. It is anticipated that the ride, which will take place on December 6, 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, will draw more than 1,200 cyclists, making it KID’s largest cycling event yet.

Visit www.zmotion.com for more information.

11.22.10: Tom hosts a ride and dinner to benefit injured cyclist.

On July 14th, 2009, Stuart Culp of Fort Collins, Colorado was hit by an automobile while on a training ride. Stuart suffered a major head injury and other serious injuries. He has just recently returned home to continue his long road to recovery.

Tom was kind enough to host a benefit ride and dinner on November 21st that raised several hundred dollars for the Culp family. See photos HERE.

10.28.09: Tom talks with CyclingReporter.com

In part one of our interview, Garmin-Slipstream rider and Connecticut native Tom Danielson talks his Giro di Lombardia, the importance of training on days you don’t want to, fly-fishing, and why he’s riding better than ever.

Daniel McMahon: How are you? What’s new?

Tom Danielson: Good, thanks. I’m back at home just about a week now from Europe. It’s nice to be back in Colorado and back in the U.S. I’m really enjoying my down time.

DM: You did the Giro di Lombardia. How did it go?

TD: It went okay. It’s kind of a difficult race for me. I prefer stage racing, so one-day races are really challenging for me, mainly because I don’t have very much experience doing them. The years I was on Discovery, I focused primarily or solely on stage racing. It wasn’t until I came to this team, to Garmin, that I started dabbling with one-day races, so I’ve got a lot to learn.
I mean, I’m not quite there yet, but I had good form going into the race but I’m not 100 percent accustomed to one-day racing, so I didn’t really know where to be at the right times. I ended up getting caught behind a split toward the end of the race, and that kind of took me out of the final. But it worked out well. We had Dan [Martin; 8th place] in the breakaway early on.

Read the complete interview HERE.

8.21.09: BikeRadar.com Interview

It’s been a long road back for Tom Danielson, the rider once considered the next big thing. The American tells BikeRadar how he’s finally got his confidence back heading into the Vuelta a España.

Rise and fall
If you were in Granada on a balmy September afternoon in 2006, it was difficult to see anything other than a career on the rise for Tom Danielson.

The then-28-year-old had just won his first stage in the Vuelta a España, powering into the Andalucian city with new overall race leader Alexandre Vinokourov and thundering home, arms aloft.

Read complete interview HERE.

8.19.09: Video of Tom’s Time Trial Win at Vuelta a Burgos

8.13.09: Velonews talks with Tom about Vuelta a Burgos Success

Tom Danielson was back in the winner’s column last weekend with victory in the individual time trial at the five-day Vuelta a Burgos in Spain.

It marked Danielson’s first European victory since 2006 and the end of a long comeback from the injuries that nearly derailed his career.

The Garmin-Slipstream rider ended up third overall at Burgos, a promising result that indicates the worst is behind Danielson as he turns his attention next to the Vuelta a España, a race in which he’s already twice finished in the top 10.

VeloNews European correspondent Andrew Hood recently chatted with Danielson from his home in the Spanish Pyrenean town of Puigcerda.

Read the full interview HERE.