Tom Danielson a former professional road racing cyclist shares his story, business and the sport of cycling

Thomas "Tom" Danielson (born March 13, 1978) is an American former professional road racing cyclist who most recently rode for UCI ProTeam Cannondale–Drapac, until a positive test for synthetic testosterone in August, 2015 and Cannondale's decision not to renew his contract. He previously competed professionally for Discovery Channel (2005–2007), Fassa Bortolo (2004), Saturn (2003) and Mercury (2002).

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Career

Early years

Danielson holds the record for the fastest ascent of Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, in the Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb. The previous record holder was professional cyclist Tyler Hamilton. He also holds the record for the Mt. Evans Hill Climb in Colorado, which traverses the highest paved road in North America. The previous record holder was Jonathan Vaughters, who is currently Danielson's manager.

In 2004, Danielson had an uneventful stint on the Italian UCI ProTeam Fassa Bortolo, missing the early spring campaign because of visa problems. Subsequently, he raced for the American UCI ProTour team Discovery Channel, with which he won the 2005 Tour de Georgia and the 2006 Tour of Austria. Since Discovery Channel disbanded in 2008, Danielson has been part of the Garmin-Chipotle team.

2010

Danielson started the season by finishing twelfth at both the Tour Méditerranéen and the Tour du Haut Var. Following his two twelfth-place finishes, Danielson, however, struggled through Paris-Nice; finishing only fifty-second overall. Following, Paris-Nice, Danielson regained his form at the Tour of the Gila; placing second to Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack). A couple of weeks later, Danielson rode the Tour of California, but was unable to complete the race. After California, Danielson returned to form at the Tour de Suisse, finishing twenty-fifth overall. Following Suisse, Danielson finished in eighth place at both the Tour de Pologne and the Trofeo Melinda. A month later, Danielson rode his fifth Vuelta a España. He completed the race as the highest placed American, in eighth place. Danielson concluded the season with a thirty-ninth place at the Giro dell'Emilia.

2011

Danielson started the season with the Vuelta a Mallorca, and finished thirty-sixth in the third classic, the Trofeo Deia. Danielson, however, was unable to complete the fourth and fifth classics, the Trofeo Magaluf-Palmanova and the Trofeo Inca. Following the Spanish "Vuelta", Danielson finished thirty-first overall at the Volta ao Algarve, and a preseason best of twentieth overall at the Vuelta a Murcia. However, after Murcia, Danielson's form deteriorated, finishing fifty-fifth overall at the Volta a Catalunya, forty-seventh at the Gran Premio Miguel Indurain, and eightieth overall at the Tour of the Basque Country. Following Basque Country, Danielson withdrew from racing, and focused on rebuilding his form. A few weeks later, Danielson returned to racing, and finished twentieth overall at the Tour de Romandie. After Romandie, Danielson finished third overall at the Tour of California, and ninth overall at the Tour de Suisse, which ultimately led him to a Tour de France debut. At the Tour, Danielson rode well, and finished as the highest placed American, in eighth place. After the Tour, Danielson finished fifth overall at the Tour of Utah, and fourth overall at the first addition of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Following the two American stage races, Danielson concluded the season with an eighty-sixth place at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal.

2012

After being unable to complete the Tour de Langkawi, Danielson returne