CSC
2002 - 2003
At the end of 2001 Tyler left the U.S. Postal Service Team for the opportunity to co-lead the Danish based team CSC-Tiscali alongside legendary rider Laurent Jalabert of Switzerland. Tyler learned a great deal about leading a team under the tutelage of team owner and director sportif Bjarne Riis.
In 2002 Tyler started becoming known for his grit as much as his talent as a cyclist. During the 5th stage of the 2002 Giro d’Italia, Tyler crashed and fractured his shoulder. Even so, he went on to win the race’s Individual Time Trial 10 days later and managed to finish the three week race in 2nd place overall.
In 2003 Tyler became the first American to win the legendary one day Classic, Liège-Bastogne-Liège. A week later he won the Hors Categorie stage race the Tour of Romandie in Switzerland. In June he placed second overall in the HC stage race Dauphine Libere. For the first time in his career he was considered a serious contender to win the Tour de France in July.
For as much success Tyler enjoyed racing, he has also encountered more than his fair share of bad luck. During the finishing meters of stage 1 of the 2003 Tour de France there was a massive pile up taking down nearly sixty riders. Tyler suffered a “V” shaped fracture to his right clavicle. Many thought he would or should abandon the race. But the next morning with heavy tape around his shoulder and extra padding on his handle bars, he took the start of Stage 2. He courageously went on to complete the entire Tour de France and finish in Paris alongside his teammates. With great fortitude, he earned his first ever Tour de France Stage win that year with a 142 km solo breakaway in Stage 16. He finished the race in fourth place overall. Many credit this result as Tyler’s greatest and most inspiring accomplishment as a cyclist.