Djamolidine Abdoujaparov

Who is Djamolidine Abdoujaparov?

Djamolidine Abdoujaparov is a former professional road racing cyclist from Uzbekistan. Because of the oppression practiced by the Soviet government, crimean tatar Dschamolidin was forced to call himself an Uzbek. Abdoujaparov was a sprinter, nicknamed "The Tashkent Terror" as he was so ferocious in the sprints. His unorthodox and often erratic sprinting caused a number of crashes.

Abdoujaparov was born in Tashkent. A graduate of the Soviet sports programme, he came into his prime just as his country gained independence; after initial difficulties he signed for a Western professional team and became one of the world's top sprinters.

Abdoujaparov had numerous tussles with Laurent Jalabert in the Tour de France's green sprinters jersey competition in the early 1990s. In 1991 Abdoujaparov won the competition despite a spectacular crash during the final stage on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, where he collided with the barriers 100m before the finish and somersaulted into the air. Despite still holding enough points to win the sprinters' jersey, he had to cross the line unaided. Members of his team picked him up, put him back on the bike, and he rode slowly over the last few meters, medical staff walking alongside him.