I n Belgium, the name Eddy Mercykx means
the same thing Muhammad Ali means to
American sports fans — The Greatest.
In Italy, it’s Giomonde. In France, it's
Ancquetil.
All names of former professonal bicycle
racers, they tower as monuments in Europe, a
continent where bicycle racing enjoys a
popularity similar to baseball in America.
If the recent surge of nationwide interest in
bicycling is an indication, the sport soon may
attract similar attention in the United States.
While the number of American amateur bike
racers has remained stable over the past five
years — about 10,000 — the number of
spectators has shown a dramatic increase,
especially on the East Coast and in Southern
California
At last year’s "Apple Lap," a closed circuit
lap-race in New York City, crowds rivaling most
pro football audiences jammed the 12-block
course to see some of the country’s best cycling
talent compete for $100,000 in prizes.
During the "Colorado Coors Classic” last
summer, race officials estimated nearly a million
people watched at least one of the 12 races
during the week-long event.
The Coors Classic, now the biggest bike
race in the United States and one of the largest
amateur races in the world, was started in 1975
as a promotional event by a Boulder, Colo., tea
company. Then called the “Red Zinger Bicycle
Classic," it expanded into an international event
with teams from Holland, Sweden, Spain and
Colombia competing
Last year, Coors Brewing Co. bought the
rights to the race and changed the name.
Crowds such as those at the Coors Classic
are not unusual on the European racing scene.
As many as 10 times that number annually
watch the Tour de France, the longest, richest
lllllHIIIIIIIIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllM
U of O Day at the Capitol
Stand up for your interests!
Drastic cuts in higher education affect you.
This is your chance to voice your opinions on the Capitol
steps.
Monday, April 13 Rally in Salem
Speak with:
Representatives Senators
Mary Burrows Ed Fadeley
Margie Hendriksen Ted Kulongoski
Grattan Kerans Jim Gardner
Governor Victor Atiyeh
Transportation and rally buttons provided
Buses leave from Mac Court at 8:30 a m., Monday, April 13
Sign up in Suite 4 EMU
It’s time to get involved now!
Sponsored by ASUO State Affairs and SURC
For more information contact Rich Wilkins 686-3724
EilllHI
■
and most grueling professional race in the
history of the sport.
Most European fans keep themselves glued
to the TV during this two-week stage race, much
like their American counterparts during the
World Series. But others numbering in the
hundreds of thousands either line the streets of
towns the racers pass through or camp out near
one of the several mountain passes the racers
climb.
Ironically, bicycle racing originated in the
United States. During the early 1900s it was the
country’s most popular sport.
The advent of the automobile, coupled with
a crackdown on illicit gambling that was the
sport’s mainstay in its waning years, caused
bicycle racing to fade quickly into obscurity in
the United States.
In Europe, however, the sport caught on and
continued to grow. Since then, only soccer has
garnered more fans.
Craft Center and Cultural Forum
Marc Gold ring
An Overview
of
Contemporary
Leather
Sculptural Form
Opus 2, No. 1
A slide lecture of Contemporary Leather
Wednesday April 8th, 7:30 pm, EMU Forum
Workshop with Marc Goldring
Thursday April 9th, 5:30-9:30 pm, EMU Craft Center
An exploration of the ancient water-forming leather technique.
FREE.
Pre-registration is encouraged as enrollment is limited.
Although Europeans still dominate
professional racing, a new breed of cyclists has
risen to the top of the amateur circuit.
These are the scientifically trained and
systematically developed products of East
Germany and the Soviet Union. According to an
article in Velo-News, an American bicycle racing
monthly, government-sponsored cyclists do little
else than train and compete in bicycle races.
Raised as athletes, each cyclist enters a
special sports school and devotes his time to
bicycle racing.
The program has obviously paid off.
During the 1980 Olympics, the top two
places of every cycling event was won by either
an East German or a Russian.
While the Soviet bloc countries have been
creating a stir, American amateurs rarely are
considered serious competition in international
cycling events.
After a particularly embarrassing
performance by the Americans during the
William Tell stage race in Switzerland, the race
promoter was asked by a local reporter why he
bothered to invite the U S. team to such a
prestigious race.
“They are not very good riders,” the
promoter conceded, "but they are blond and
handsome” and attract larger crowds.
Recently, however, Americans have been
attracting other than a cosmetic interest in
international bike racing, especially in women’s
events.
Beth Heiden, sister of five-time gold medalist
speed skater Eric Heiden and a bronze-medal
skater herself, won the 1980 women’s world
championships in Switzerland. Sue Novarra, a
track cyclist, won a gold medal in the sprint
championships.
The increased popularity of international
women’s cycling competition caused the
International Olympic Committee to create
MM | ■ Cultural Forum and
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women's cycling for the 1984 Olympics.
But while U S. athletes are beginning to
attract attention in cycling, American cycling was
dealt a severe setback when the United States
Olympic Committee voted to boycott the 1980
Olympics.
In 1979, 18-year-old Greg LaMonde, a cyclist
from Nevada, won a gold medal at the Junior
World Championships, the first for an American
LaMonde was favored to win a medal had he
competed in the 1980 Olympics. The closest an
American has come to an Olympic medal in
recent years was sixth place by Californian
George Mount in 1976.
Speculation abounded on the publicity an
Olympic medal might bring the sport. A victory by
LaMonde could have meant the same instant
popularity for bike racing as Frank Shorter’s
marathon victory did for running.
Instead of remaining an amateur to try for
another chance in 1984, however, LaMonde
signed a contract to race for a prestigious
French professional team, an opportunity that
few American cyclists have been offered.
Whatever lost publicity might be blamed on
the Olympic boycott was made up following the
success of the motion picture “Breaking Away.”
The movie, based on a story about a young
bicycle racer, showed several
well-photographed scenes of bike races, and
apparently has been the inspiration behind a
number of beginning bike racers.
Because of the category system designed by
the United States Cycling Federation which
controls American racing, people of any age, sex
and ability always compete against others in their
skill level.
The USCF has one message for anyone
attracted by the sport — enter a race.
By Harry Esteve
Photos by Tom Bingham
and Damon Phinney
Rally For Higher Education
FACTS
• We are facing a financial crisis
• Federal cut-off of Financial Aid
• Possible loss of 30 faculty members
• Possible loss of three schools and eight departments at UO
This is Serious!
Find out how this crisis affects you directly!
Attend a Political Rally
April 10th 11:30-1:30 EMU Courtyard
Speakers include:
1 Senator Ed Fadeley U.S. Congressman Jim Weaver
Senate President Fred Heard ASUO President Dave Eaton
Speaker of the House Hardy Myers
U of O Vice Pres. Curt Simic
It’s time to get involved now!
Sponsored by ASUO State Affairs and SURC
For more information contact Rich Wilkins 686-3724