Doug Shapiro
Encyclopedia
As of 2010, Doug Shapiro has 35 years of cycling
experience that includes being a member of two American
Olympic
Teams, the third American to ever compete and finish the Tour de France
. For the last twenty years, he has served as a consultant
and expert witness
to attorneys
who represent parties involved in bicycle accident litigation.
Shapiro began his competitive cycling career at the age of thirteen. During his seventeen career as both a top amateur and professional racer, Shapiro competed in many countries throughout the world. Doug was a member of the American Olympic Team in 1980, but was not able to participate due to United States participation in the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. Doug was a member of the 1984 American Olympic
team. In 1980, he received a Congressional Gold Medal at the White House
due to the 1980 Olympic Boycott.
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress
and this corrective measure was long overdue given the sacrifice by the American Olympic team. The U.S. Mint
produced 650 medals to be awarded to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, but because of the considerable cost of producing so many medals, financial constraints dictated that they be gold-plated rather than solid gold. As a result, because of this technical difference, the official listing of Gold Medal recipients maintained by the Clerk of the House of Representatives
did not carry the ones awarded to the 1980 Team even though Congress intended that they be fully recognized Congressional Gold Medals. Now with the recent designation, the medals awarded to the 1980 Team hold the same standing as the ones that have been awarded during the last 231 years to such luminaries as George Washington
, who was so honored on March 25, 1776.
In 1985 Shapiro was the third American to ever compete and finish the Tour de France in 74th place. In 1984, Shapiro won American's version of the Tour de France, which was then called the Coors Classic
. In 1997 Shapiro was inducted into the Cycling Hall of Fame as part of the 7-Eleven Cycling Team
that competed in the 1986 Tour de France
. In 1999 Doug was inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
From 1985 to 1989, Shapiro competed on professional cycling teams. In 1985, Shapiro rode with Jan Raas
and Joop Zoetemelk
on the Kwantum Hallen Team.
Shapiro built his reputation as a hill climber
and sprinter
and earned the nickname "Bullet.” After breaking his hip and being advised to retire, Shapiro had an additional successful season before retiring in 1989.
In 1990, Shapiro acted as the technical advisor
and technical writer
for the video "Cycling for Success,” produced by the 7-Eleven Bike team. The video was the first of its kind to offer cycling safety tips and techniques. It was created for all levels of cyclists, from the serious racer to amateur enthusiast.
Today, in addition to his consulting work, Shapiro is known for his public speaking and hosting of cycling training camps and educational seminars for cycling enthusiasts of all levels. He resides in Marin County, California
.
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
experience that includes being a member of two American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Teams, the third American to ever compete and finish the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
. For the last twenty years, he has served as a consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
and expert witness
Expert witness
An expert witness, professional witness or judicial expert is a witness, who by virtue of education, training, skill, or experience, is believed to have expertise and specialised knowledge in a particular subject beyond that of the average person, sufficient that others may officially and legally...
to attorneys
Attorney at law
An attorney at law in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on the retainer of clients. Alternative terms include counselor and lawyer...
who represent parties involved in bicycle accident litigation.
Shapiro began his competitive cycling career at the age of thirteen. During his seventeen career as both a top amateur and professional racer, Shapiro competed in many countries throughout the world. Doug was a member of the American Olympic Team in 1980, but was not able to participate due to United States participation in the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. Doug was a member of the 1984 American Olympic
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
team. In 1980, he received a Congressional Gold Medal at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
due to the 1980 Olympic Boycott.
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and this corrective measure was long overdue given the sacrifice by the American Olympic team. The U.S. Mint
United States Mint
The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint was created by Congress with the Coinage Act of 1792, and placed within the Department of State...
produced 650 medals to be awarded to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, but because of the considerable cost of producing so many medals, financial constraints dictated that they be gold-plated rather than solid gold. As a result, because of this technical difference, the official listing of Gold Medal recipients maintained by the Clerk of the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
did not carry the ones awarded to the 1980 Team even though Congress intended that they be fully recognized Congressional Gold Medals. Now with the recent designation, the medals awarded to the 1980 Team hold the same standing as the ones that have been awarded during the last 231 years to such luminaries as George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, who was so honored on March 25, 1776.
In 1985 Shapiro was the third American to ever compete and finish the Tour de France in 74th place. In 1984, Shapiro won American's version of the Tour de France, which was then called 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...
. In 1997 Shapiro was inducted into the Cycling Hall of Fame as part of the 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 competed in the 1986 Tour de France
1986 Tour de France
The 1986 Tour de France was the 73rd Tour de France, taking place July 4 to July 27, 1986. The total race distance was 4094 km, distributed over 23 stages and a prologue. It was won by Greg LeMond, the first American to win the Tour...
. In 1999 Doug was inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
From 1985 to 1989, Shapiro competed on professional cycling teams. In 1985, Shapiro rode with Jan Raas
Jan Raas
Jan Raas is a Dutch former professional cyclist whose 115 wins include the 1979 World Road Race Championship in Valkenburg, he also won the Ronde van Vlaanderen in 1979 and 1983, Paris–Roubaix in 1982 and Milan – San Remo in 1977. He won ten stages in the Tour de France...
and Joop Zoetemelk
Joop Zoetemelk
Hendrik Gerardus Jozef "Joop" Zoetemelk is a retired professional racing cyclist from the Netherlands who has emigrated to France. He started the Tour de France 16 times and finished every time, a record. He won the race in 1980 and also came eighth, fifth, fourth and second...
on the Kwantum Hallen Team.
Shapiro built his reputation as a hill climber
Hillclimbing
Hillclimbing is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course....
and 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:...
and earned the nickname "Bullet.” After breaking his hip and being advised to retire, Shapiro had an additional successful season before retiring in 1989.
In 1990, Shapiro acted as the technical advisor
Technical advisor
A technical advisor is an individual who is expert in a particular field of knowledge, hired to provide detailed information and advice to people working in that field...
and technical writer
Technical writer
A technical writer is a professional writer who designs, creates, and maintains technical documentation...
for the video "Cycling for Success,” produced by the 7-Eleven Bike team. The video was the first of its kind to offer cycling safety tips and techniques. It was created for all levels of cyclists, from the serious racer to amateur enthusiast.
Today, in addition to his consulting work, Shapiro is known for his public speaking and hosting of cycling training camps and educational seminars for cycling enthusiasts of all levels. He resides in Marin County, California
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
.