Robert Hunter (cyclist)
Encyclopedia
Robert Hunter is a South Africa
n professional road cyclist, for UCI ProTour
team . He became in 2001 the first South African to compete in the Tour de France
. In 2006 he rode for the Phonak Hearing Systems
team on the UCI ProTour
, but after their disbandment he signed for UCI Continental Circuits
side Barloworld for 2007. His achievements include winning stages at the 1999 and 2001 Vuelta a España
and the 2007 Tour de France
, the overall title at the 2004 Tour of Qatar
, and the sprint
classification at the 2004 Tour de Suisse
.
He has been awarded the Cyclist of the Year Award in South Africa five times between 2001 and 2007.
In 2007 he returned to the Tour de France
as leader of the Barloworld team (which received a wildcard entry). Hunter won Stage 11 of the 2007 Tour de France
, the first stage win by a rider from South Africa.
In 2008, Hunter was allowed by the Tour de France's doping controllers to fly to Switzerland
on 4 July, the day before the start, to be at his wife Claudia's side for the birth of his daughter, Mandy Inga Hunter.
2000
2001
2002
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n professional road cyclist, for UCI ProTour
UCI ProTour
The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI . Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, each of whom are required to compete in every round of the series...
team . He became in 2001 the first South African to compete in 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...
. In 2006 he rode for the Phonak Hearing Systems
Phonak (cycling team)
Phonak was a Swiss professional cycling team from 2000 until 2006. The team was one of 20 teams in the first UCI ProTour in 2005...
team on the UCI ProTour
UCI ProTour
The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI . Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, each of whom are required to compete in every round of the series...
, but after their disbandment he signed for UCI Continental Circuits
UCI Continental Circuits
The UCI Continental Circuits are road bicycle racing competitions contested under the auspices of the Union Cycliste Internationale . The five circuits are inferior to the UCI ProTour. Both the ProTour and the circuits comprise a series of races in which various cycling teams compete regularly...
side Barloworld for 2007. His achievements include winning stages at the 1999 and 2001 Vuelta a España
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
and the 2007 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...
, the overall title at the 2004 Tour of Qatar
Tour of Qatar
The Tour of Qatar is a road bicycle race race held in Qatar and is part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race consists of a men's competition over six stages...
, and the sprint
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:...
classification at the 2004 Tour de Suisse
Tour de Suisse
The Tour de Suisse is a UCI World Tour stage race held annually in June. The race debuted in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. With the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is a proving ground for the Tour de France, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
.
He has been awarded the Cyclist of the Year Award in South Africa five times between 2001 and 2007.
In 2007 he returned to 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...
as leader of the Barloworld team (which received a wildcard entry). Hunter won Stage 11 of the 2007 Tour de France
2007 Tour de France
The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...
, the first stage win by a rider from South Africa.
In 2008, Hunter was allowed by the Tour de France's doping controllers to fly to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
on 4 July, the day before the start, to be at his wife Claudia's side for the birth of his daughter, Mandy Inga Hunter.
Palmarès
1999- 1st Stage 1 Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
2000
- 2nd Overall Ronde van Nederland2000 Ronde van NederlandThese are the results for the 40th edition of the Ronde van Nederland cycling race, which was held from August 21 to August 26, 2000. The race started in Den Bosch and finished in Landgraaf.-Final classification:-External links:*...
2001
- 1st Stage 17 Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
2002
- 1st
Sprinters Classification Tour de Langkawi2002 Le Tour de LangkawiThe 2002 Le Tour de Langkawi is the 7th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi, taking place from February 1 to February 10, 2002.-Riders :-External links:*...
- 1st Stage 1
- 1st Stage 4
2004
- 1st Sprint Classification Tour de SuisseTour de SuisseThe Tour de Suisse is a UCI World Tour stage race held annually in June. The race debuted in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. With the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is a proving ground for the Tour de France, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
- 1st Stage 3
- 1st Stage 5
- 1st
Overall Tour of QatarTour of QatarThe Tour of Qatar is a road bicycle race race held in Qatar and is part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race consists of a men's competition over six stages...
- 1st Stage 3
- 1st Stage 5
- 1st Stage 1 Uniqua Classic
- 1st Stage 3 Uniqua Classic
- 1st Stage 4 Sachsen-Tour
2005
- 1st Doha International GP
- 1st Stage 5 Tour MéditerranéenTour MéditerranéenTour Méditerranéen is a professional road bicycle racing event held in southern France along the Mediterranean Sea. The Tour Méditerranéen is a five-day stage race that began in 1974 and since 2005 has been a part of the UCI Europe Tour as a 2.1 event...
- 1st Stage 4 Setmana CatalanaSetmana Catalana de CiclismeThe Catalan Cycling Week was an important multi-stage road bicycle race held in Catalonia, Spain. It was last organised in 2005 as a 2.HC race on the UCI Europe Tour...
- 1st Stage 1 Tour de Georgia
- 1st TTT Volta a CatalunyaVolta a Catalunya 2005The 85th edition of the Volta a Catalunya cycling race took place from May 16 to May 22, 2005, in Catalonia. It began in Salou with an individual time trial and ended in Barcelona. Yaroslav Popovych won the first major win of his career....
2006
- 1st African Continental Championship Time Trial
2007
- 1st Stage 11 Tour de France2007 Tour de FranceThe 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...
- 1st Overall Volta ao Distrito de Santarém
- 1st Stage 2
- 1st Overall Tour de Picardie
- 1st Stage 1
- 1st Stage 2 Clasica Alcobendas
- 1st Stage 5 Giro del Capo
2008
- 1st Worlds View Super Challenge Series
- 1st Cape Argus Cycle Tour
2009
- 1st Stage 4 Tour MéditerranéenTour MéditerranéenTour Méditerranéen is a professional road bicycle racing event held in southern France along the Mediterranean Sea. The Tour Méditerranéen is a five-day stage race that began in 1974 and since 2005 has been a part of the UCI Europe Tour as a 2.1 event...
2010
- 1st Stage 1 Tour of Murcia
- 1st Stage 2 Tour of Murcia
2011
- 1st Tour de MumbaiMumbai CyclothonThe Tour de Mumbai is an annual road cycling event held in Mumbai. In a similar vein to the Vuelta a Mallorca series of one-day races, it is listed as two Category 1.1 races as part of the UCI Asia Tour....
II - 1st Stage 1 Österreich Rundfahrt2011 Tour of AustriaThe 2011 Tour of Austria was the 63rd edition of the Tour of Austria, an annual bicycle race. Departing from Dornbirn on July 3, it concluded in Vienna on July 10. The 1136.9 km long stage race was part of the 2010–2011 UCI Europe Tour, and was rated as a 2.HC event...