David Zabriskie
An eccentric American time trial specialist who conquered Grand Tour stages with a unique, laid-back style that defied cycling's intense norms.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Road bicycle racer·Birthday: January 12·Generation X
Biography
David Zabriskie carved out a singular niche in professional cycling, not just with his results but with his personality. In a sport of grimaces, his was a face of calm, often seen singing to himself on the start line. His slender frame was built for slicing through the air against the clock, a talent that earned him seven U.S. national time trial titles and stage wins in the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España—a rare trifecta. His career, spanning teams like U.S. Postal and Garmin, was marked by near-misses and hard luck, including a devastating crash while wearing the Tour de France's yellow jersey. Off the bike, he hosted quirky video interviews with other riders, showcasing a peloton's worth of characters. His post-retirement advocacy for cleaner cycling, stemming from his own admission of doping early in his career, added a complex, candid chapter to his story.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
David was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won stages in all three Grand Tours: the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España.
- Captured the U.S. National Time Trial Championship seven times.
- Wore the yellow jersey as leader of the Tour de France for two days in 2005.
Did You Know?
He was known for singing songs, often by indie bands like The Shins, to calm his nerves before race stages.
He hosted a popular online video series called 'The Feed' where he interviewed fellow cyclists in informal, often humorous settings.
He founded a line of nut butter called 'DZ Nuts', originally a chamois cream for cyclists.
“I just remember singing a lot. It was my way of dealing with the pressure.”
