Enrico Gasparotto
A Swiss-Italian road captain whose tactical savvy and explosive finish netted two monumental victories in the Ardennes classics.
Born 1982 (age 44)·Italian-born Swiss road racing cyclist·Birthday: March 22·Millennials
Biography
Enrico Gasparotto carved out a distinctive niche in the peloton as a cunning and resilient one-day specialist. The Italian-born rider, who later switched his sporting nationality to Switzerland, possessed a sharp racing brain and a potent sprint from a reduced group—a perfect combination for the hilly classics. His career reached its zenith in the Ardennes, where he twice conquered the Amstel Gold Race, a monument of cycling, in dramatic fashion. These wins were not flukes but the result of impeccable positioning and timing, hallmarks of a rider who maximized every ounce of his talent. After a long career spanning multiple teams, he transitioned seamlessly into a directeur sportif, using his hard-earned race craft to guide the next generation.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Enrico was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Enrico Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Enrico's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
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
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Amstel Gold Race classic twice, in 2012 and 2016, becoming one of few riders to win it multiple times.
- Secured a stage victory at the 2009 Giro d'Italia while riding for the Lampre-NGC team.
- Won the Swiss National Road Race Championships in 2015 after switching his sporting nationality.
- Achieved multiple top-ten finishes in other major one-day races like La Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
Did You Know?
He was born in Sacile, Italy, but represents Switzerland, the homeland of his mother.
His second Amstel Gold win in 2016 was a major surprise, beating a star-studded field in a four-up sprint.
He worked as a directeur sportif for the Bora-Hansgrohe WorldTour team after retiring.
His first Amstel win in 2012 came after he attacked from a select group in the final kilometers.
“I wait for the right moment, then I take my chance.”
