FCG International Sports Award 2004: MIGUEL INDURÁIN

 “For his outstanding career of repeated sport and Olympic achievements as well as his exemplary human and natural  character”.

 According to the jury that met in Valladolid on July 2, 2004, chaired by, Ms. Mª del Carmen Izquierdo Vergara, Executive Director of Production of Sports of TVE and President of the Spanish Association of Sport Press, and made up by the following members: Mr. Conrado Durántez Corral, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee Pierre de Coubertin; Mr. Amalio Moratalla Anguas, Director of the area of Sports of the Recoletos Group; Mr. Juan María Gastaca Sobrado, Sub-director of the daily publication ABC and Mr. José Miguel Ortega Bariego, Chief of Sports of RNE in Castile and Leon.

Miguel Induráin - Biography

 Miguel Induráin was born in Villava (Navarra) on July 16, 1964. He is the second of five children of a family of farmers. He is 188 cm tall and his weight, during the tour was around 78 kilos in top shape.

 During his childhood he played various sports like European football, basketball and above all, track and field. His first bicycle was given to him on his tenth birthday, so that he could ride alone the 20 kilometers between Villava and Alzorriz. Alzorriz is the village where his mother’s family has a farm.

 This bicycle, worth 10,000 pesetas, was from the brand Olmo, second hand and painted green. His first competition took place in 1975 in Luqui. Miguel placed second and received a sandwich and soda as an award. He liked this and the following week, in Eliozondo won. The first monetary award that he won was spent in furnishing his room.

 He entered the world of cycling by accident. Miguel Induráin has said more than once that he did not have idols and he didn’t know anything about the history of cycling.

 In July 1983, at the age of 18, he was named that champion of Spain in the amateur category. He turned professional in 1984 and won the time trial. The following year, in 1985, he became the leader for a day in the Tour of Spain, being the youngest leader in history. His stage known as the “cyclist of the future” came to an end with the victory in the European Community Tour and the Volta de Cataluña in 1987.

 Miguel is a calm person that has gained the respect of his colleagues and even his rivals. He got married in 1992.

 His evolution as a cyclist progressed year after year until he reached his definitive peak in 1991 at the age of 27. As time has passed, he has been a cyclist that has been able to maintain his strength and at the same time, lose some weight to be able to be more competitive in the mountains. The fact that he won five consecutive Tours is unprecedented. His brother, Prudencio, was also a professional cyclist with the Banesto team.

 He retired from professional cycling in January 1997, once his contract with Banesto finished. His departure meant the goodbye to the best Spanish sportsman, and for many, the best cyclist.

 Award list of Miguel Induráin

 Miguel Induráin centered his sports career with the Reynolds team from 1984 to 1990 when the team changed their sponsor and became known as the Banesto team.

 The list consists of the following:

-1984: Stage of the European Community Tour.

-1985: Two stages of the European Tour, 84^th in the general Tour of Spain (leader for one day).

-1986: European Community Tour, 92^nd in the Tour of Spain.

-1987: Tour of Valles Mineros (he won three stages), the Great Award of Navarra, stage of Semana Catalana, stage of the Tour of Murcia, stage of the Tour of Galicia, 97^th Tour of Spain.

-1988: Volta a Cataluña (he won a stage), stage Tour of Galicia; stage Tour of Cantabria, 47^th in the Tour of France.

-1989: Paris-Nice, International Criterium (he won a stage), 16^th in the Tour of France (he won a stage).

-1990: Paris-Nice (he won a stage), Classic of San Sebastian, stage of the Tour of the Basque Country, stage of the Tour of Burgos, stage of the Tour of the Community of Valencia, 7^th Tour of Spain, 10^th Tour of France (he won one stage).

-1991: Tour of France (he won two stages), Volta a Cataluña (he won one stage), Tour of Vaucluse, two stages of the Eibarresa Bicycle, 2^nd Tour of Spain, 3^rd World Champion.

-1992: Tour of France (he won three stages), Giro de Italia (he won two stages and inter –tour), Championship of Spain, stage Trophy of Castile and Leon, 2^nd in the Tour of Romandia (he won a stage), 1^st Classification FICP.

-1993: stage Tour of Murcia, Giro de Italia (he won two stages), two stages in the Tour of Valles Mineros, Tour of France (he won two stages), Trophy of Castile and Leon (he won one stage), Tour of the Mountain Pass, 2^nd World Champion.

-1994: stage of the Tour of Valencia, Tour de L`Oise (he won a stage), Tour of France (he won a stage), stage Trophy of Castile and Leon, Time record, 3^rd Giro de Italia.

-1995: stage Tour of Aragon, stage Valles Mineros, Tour of the Rioja (he won one stage), Tour of Asturias (he won two stages), Midi Libre, Dauphiné Liberé (he won one stage), Tour of France (he won two stages), Tour of Galicia (he won one stage), World Champion in Time Record, 2^nd World Champion.

-1996: Tour of Alentejo (he won two stages), Tour of Asturias (he won one stage), Buciclesta Vasca (he won one stage) Dauphiné Liberé (he won two stages), Olympic Gold Metal in Atlanta Time Record.

The total of professional victories are 97, 40 of which are time records.