Samuel Abt

Samuel Raphael Abt (March 20, 1934 – July 11, 2025) was an American sports journalist and author who covered professional cycling for 31 years,^[1] publishing articles in the New York Times and International Herald Tribune, among others. He devoted much time to chronicling the careers of English-speaking riders, especially Lance Armstrong and Greg LeMond.^[2][3]

Samuel Abt
Born	Samuel Raphael Abt (1934-03-20)March 20, 1934 New York City, U.S.
Died	July 11, 2025(2025-07-11) (aged 91) Suresnes, France
Alma mater	Brown University
Occupation(s)	Journalist, author

Abt wrote 10 books on professional cycling, including In High Gear: The World of Professional Bicycle Racing, Lemond: The Incredible Comeback of an American Hero, and the acclaimed Breakaway: On the Road with the Tour de France. According to VeloPress, "He is the only American to have been awarded the medal of the Tour de France for distinguished service to the race."^[4]

In 1971, while working at the New York Times, Abt helped edit the Pentagon Papers.^[5]

Abt was born in Brooklyn on March 20, 1934, and grew up in Queens. He graduated from Brown University in 1956.^[6] He lived in a suburb of Paris after his retirement.^[7]

Abt died at a hospital in Suresnes, on July 11, 2025, at the age of 91.^[6]