Trump’s Two-Wheeled Triumph: The Rise and Fall of the Tour de Trump

Donald Trump’s relationship with cycling is indeed tied to his creation of the Tour de Trump, a professional cycling race he launched in 1989. This event was his attempt to bring a high-profile, Tour de France-style competition to the United States, reflecting his flair for spectacle and branding.

The Tour de Trump was a multi-stage race that spanned several East Coast states, starting with a prologue in New York City and covering hundreds of miles over ten days. Trump saw it as a way to boost his public image, leveraging his wealth and persona to draw attention. He reportedly invested around $2 million to get it off the ground, partnering with sports promoter Billy Packer and securing NBC coverage to give it legitimacy.

Greg Lemond among the participants

The inaugural race in May 1989 featured top international cyclists, including Greg LeMond, who’d go on to win the Tour de France later that year. It kicked off with a dramatic flair—Trump arrived via helicopter at the Trump Plaza Hotel in Atlantic City for the finish, where Dutch cyclist Henk Lubberding took the win. The event drew decent crowds and media buzz, partly because of Trump’s larger-than-life presence. He even handed out “Trump Cards” instead of jerseys to winners, stamping his personal mark on it.

2 years later and it’s already over…

However, the race only lasted two years. By 1990, financial troubles loomed—Trump’s casino business was faltering, and sponsorship shifted to DuPont, renaming it the Tour DuPont. His direct involvement faded, and the event eventually fizzled out by 1996 under new management. Cyclists and organizers later reflected that Trump’s interest seemed more about self-promotion than a genuine passion for the sport. John Tesh, who composed the theme music, quipped that Trump probably didn’t even own a bike.

Did Trump really like cycling?

Beyond the Tour de Trump, there’s little evidence of Trump engaging with cycling personally or politically. No stories of him riding bikes or championing cycling infrastructure during his presidency stand out. It seems his connection was a brief, flashy business venture rather than a deep tie to the sport. The Tour de Trump remains a quirky footnote in his 1980s portfolio—ambitious, glitzy, and short-lived, much like some of his other endeavors from that era.