Doug Shapiro

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.

See also

• List of Congressional Gold Medal recipients