Cycling

There are an estimated 33 million adult cyclists in the United States, and the popularity of the sport at the recreational level continues to grow. This popularity has resulted from the country's ongoing interest in physical fitness and the international success of such American cyclists as Greg LeMond (winner of the Tour de France in 1986, 1989, and 1990) and Lance Armstrong, who won the Tour a record seven times from 1999 to 2005. The search for more efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly modes of transportation has also contributed to an increase in the popularity of cycling. Road riding and touring were especially popular in the United States during the 1970s and the mid- to late 1980s, but mountain biking superseded them in popularity during the 1990s.