Phillip Gaimon (born January 28, 1986) is an American former professional road racing cyclist, who rode professionally between 2009 and 2016. He is currently part of Jukebox Cycling, a multi-discipline team of six riders. He began his racing career while attending the University of Florida and competed in collegiate races as part of the University's Cycling Club. As a professional, Gaimon rode for , , , and . A noted blogger, Gaimon has written for VeloNews; he formerly posted at Bicycling, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated.
Career Gaimon was born in Columbus, Ohio, United States and spent his adolescence in Atlanta. , Gaimon resides in Los Angeles, United States.
After five seasons competing domestically with the , and teams, Gaimon signed with the squad for the 2014 season. Gaimon won his very first race with his new team, stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de San Luis, and managed to hold on throughout the race to finish second overall, behind Nairo Quintana, who claimed the leader's jersey during an individual time trial. Gaimon went back to the American scene in 2015, riding for on a one-year contract. After riding the 2015 season at UCI Continental level, Gaimon announced he would be returning to the World Tour with for 2016. Gaimon announced his retirement at the end of 2016. In June 2019, while training for the 2020 Olympics in the Team pursuit, Gaimon suffered a serious crash breaking his collarbone, scapula, 5 ribs, and partially collapsing a lung.
Gaimon began authoring books during his professional career, including Pro Cycling on $10 a Day: From Fat Kid to Euro Pro, which was released in 2014 by VeloPress. He continued writing in retirement, including 2017's Ask a Pro: Deep Thoughts and Unreliable Advice from America's Foremost Cycling Sage (also published by VeloPress) and Draft Animals: Living the Pro Cycling Dream (Once in a While) released by Penguin Books. Gaimon also hosts a weekly podcast called The Peloton Brief and an annual charity event ride in Simi Valley, California called Phil's Cookie Fondo.
Gaimon is vocal about performing without performance-enhancing drugs, and commissioned a tattoo of a bar of soap with the word "CLEAN" on his right bicep. Since retiring from participating in professional event brands, Gaimon has generated social media engagement by attempting to beat "king-of-the-mountain" (KOM) records on the digital app Strava. He also has created a video series called "Worst Retirement Ever" of his KOM attempts on YouTube.
In 2022 Gaimon became part of the newly formed Jukebox Cycling team.
Major results Sources:
2006 8th Overall Tour of the Bahamas 2007 7th Univest Grand Prix 1st Youth classification 2008 1st Mount Washington Hillclimb 2009 1st Mount Washington Hillclimb 2010 2nd Overall Tour de Taiwan 2011 6th Overall Tour de Beauce 8th Overall Cascade Cycling Classic 2012 1st Overall Redlands Bicycle Classic 1st Stage 1 (ITT) 4th Overall Cascade Cycling Classic 2013 2nd Overall Tour of the Gila 6th Overall Cascade Cycling Classic 1st Stage 1 2014 2nd Overall Tour de San Luis 1st Stage 1 2015 1st Overall Redlands Bicycle Classic 2017 1st USA Cycling Hill Climb National Championship 1st Mount Washington Hillclimb 2022 1st Overall (with new official record of 50:38) Mount Washington Hillclimb
Bibliography
References
External links
Phil Gaimon Diary: Florida takes grassroots steps against amateur and masters doping Phil Gaimon’s Strava KOM Cleansing Retired Gaimon goes to work toppling doping-tainted Strava KOMs KOM Hunter Phil Gaimon: The Worst Retirement Ever Team profile VeloPress profile Pro Cycling on $10 a Day Phil Gaimon's KOM-hunting YouTube makes for fascinating viewing Gaimon begins retirement by hunting banned riders cyclingtips.com December 2016 Video: Phil Gaimon's new hobby is collecting Strava KOMs (and he targets those held by a convicted doper)