Gran Fondo races gaining in popularity

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By BLAIR ANTHONY ROBERTSON
McClatchy Newspapers

Published: Wednesday, May. 2, 2012 - 3:01 am

You don’t have to be a pro cyclist with 5 percent body fat, a $10,000 race bike and million-dollar lungs to enjoy the feeling of riding like a pro.

All you have to do these days is enter something called a gran fondo, decide how much or how little you’re willing to suffer, and pedal your way to your own kind of glory.

A mass-start bike event with origins in Italy, gran fondos, or big rides, are a booming new style of cycling activity in the U.S. The rides are timed, unlike most traditional century rides, and they introduce an element of friendly competition that straddles the line between recreational riding and racing.

That means you can go hard from the gun and push yourself all the way to the finish, or you can pull over at every rest stop, sit back and enjoy the gourmet spreads, making new friends along the way.

There may be professional photographers on course, plenty of mechanical support via motorcycles, major sections of roads closed to vehicles, a chance to pull up alongside three-time Tour de France champ Greg Lemond, and pretty much a dream-come-true cycling experience for someone with a day job and all-too-mortal cycling abilities.

Long a hotbed for cycling of all kinds, the Sacramento area is getting its first taste of the gran fondo bonanza with the inaugural Legends Gran Fondo on May 6 in Davis, Calif., sponsored by the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame. There will be two course options a faster-paced and more challenging 90 miles, or the more user-friendly 63-mile route.

Both rides start and finish at Central Park in Davis. This gran fondo, unlike several others throughout the country, is starting conservatively, limiting the number of participants to 1,000 and opting for courses that are less severely challenging and lack the pro-caliber climbs. Levi’s Gran Fondo (hosted by world-class pro cyclist and Santa Rosa, Calif., resident Levi Leiphheimer) in Sonoma County, for instance, cuts off registration at 7,500 riders and features a significantly hillier route.

While century rides remain popular, gran fondos are winning converts who say they are more challenging than centuries but less snooty than organized amateur road racing.

“You’re seeing gran fondos pop up all over the place,” said Joe Herget, executive director of the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame. “I don’t want to say it’s a craze, but it’s an exciting evolution of the sport.”

Some of the more serious cyclists might be disappointed that the course won’t be harder, even though the open roads around Davis can be notoriously windy and, especially with blustery crosswinds, will give stronger and savvier riders an advantage.

“We elected to keep the course moderate and stay away from some of the significant climbs. It’s rolling countryside,” Herget said. “Being the first year, we wanted to maximize participation and we didn’t want to scare people away. For the people who want to go fast, they can go fast. For people who aren’t into pain and suffering, they won’t have to do that.”

These rides aren’t cheap, but participants are pampered with on-course mechanical and medical assistance, premium food, a police escort through town at the start and a premium meal after the ride. Both distances have the same two entry fee options $95 or $135, which includes a souvenir cycling jersey.

Greg Fisher, who has helped organize Levi’s Gran Fondo since it began four years ago, said “The spirit of it is intended to evoke more of a professional cycling event than a regular club century ride. It’s supposed to be, while not necessarily competitive, have a strong sense of personal challenge.”

Rob Schott, who has raced in the amateur cycling ranks, says he can’t get enough of gran fondos ever since he tackled his first one in Tuscany in 1999. Back then, the events were all but unknown outside Italy. Now they’re taking off throughout the U.S. and he says for good reason.

“The highlight is it’s welcoming to cyclists of all skill levels. It lacks some of the snobbery you see in the race scene,” said Schott, a cardiologist who lived for eight years in Sacramento but now resides in San Diego. “Some riders take off at 27 mph at the start line and race, and for them it’s a ‘suffer-fest.’

“Then there are those who take their time at all of the stops and enjoy the food and aren’t in a hurry. There’s this sense of a shared adventure with lots of other people.”

Schott has ridden in eight gran fondos and counting and believes more than anything that they make a powerful statement about physical fitness and well-being.

“I think it’s one of the most enjoyable cycling experiences,” he said. “That’s why I keep going back to them.”

For more information or to register, visit www.usbhof.org/gran-fondo-home.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/02/4458893/gran-fondo-races-gaining-in-popularity.html#storylink=cpy

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NEWS & PEOPLE: RIDERS

The Company Man

If Wayne Stetina is your best friend, who the hell is he?

By Joe Lindsey

Michael Darter

Quick,name any significant Shimano mountain bike part from the past 15 years: the first clipless pedal, the first ramped shifting system, the first trigger-style shifters. Go ahead, name any of ‘em. There’s one guy who’s been there for it all, been in it since the beginning to help make this stuff work, to make mountain biking more fun. He is the last person in the world you would suspect, and the last to take credit for it. Wayne Stetina is Vice President of the bicycle division of Shimano American, the most influential product guy of the most powerful bicycle company in the world. He is hyper-competitive. His friends describe him as anal. He is shy yet intense. He is a roadie who has hardly touched his mountain bike in the past six months, yet he arguably has more effect on the riding lives of mountain bikers in North America than any other single person.

Wayne will be the first to tell you that he wasn’t the prime, much less sole, mover in all this innovation. He’s an exec, not an engineer. The carefully parsed words: “I played a key role in bringing people together,” have to be almost pulled out of him. But as he warms to his subject, you begin to see the drive that some people perceive (not without merit) as Wayne’s obsessiveness, his Type A perfectionist side that must win. He badgered the company so hard about making lightweight parts that, he says with pride, “Japan (Shimano’s Osaka-based headquarters) said in the 1990s it was my fault every engineer had to have a gram scale at his desk.”

And then he’s off and running. Shy Wayne, the guy who couldn’t, or wouldn’t, approach other industry folks at trade shows to introduce himself, is gone, and in his place is Shimano Wayne, who talks a bit faster and denounces as “hypocrites” the press and public whose initial wariness of Shimano inventions like STI shift/brake levers eventually turned to praise. He slams male pro mountain bikers as rigidly traditionalist pedaling machines incapable of the simple mental leap needed to operate Rapid Rise shifting-“Duh, I dunno which way to push the lever,” he says, in a faux-moronic tone, mocking their inability to adjust to what he says is unquestionably a superior style of shifting (see sidebar).

And he dismisses the opinion that Shimano is a monolithic, soulless, faceless corporation bent on stamping out choice in the market, imposing its “systems” view of cycling on the sport to the detriment of its participants.

“I laugh, because people want to see conspiracies in what we do,” he says. “If they were in on our meetings and saw our limitations, they’d know that dominating everyone is not what’s driving the discussion.”

In the next breath, Shy Wayne is back, gracious and polite. He compliments Shimano’s competitors on their products, saying that Shimano has to work as hard as it can just to stay even with them. He deflects praise to every member of Shimano’s considerable product development team. He is the ultimate team player at a company with deep roots in the Japanese business philosophy that personnel are secondary to the product. The goal is not honor and glory for oneself, or even, really, to seek glory on the company’s behalf.

This is not something Shimano taught Wayne, although it’s very much a Japanese ideal and makes him a good fit in a Japanese company. The Japanese term for it is makoto: utter sincerity and truthfulness. Wayne does not—cannot, really—lie. When asked difficult questions, he will pause, then answer straightforward and truthfully, without caveats or attempts at spin. He is systematic in his approach to problems, doggedly learning everything he can to better himself. Knowledge, to Wayne, is more than power; it is a means to apply it and get results.

1 of 4 

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Jeanne Golay at Olympic Trials, 1992.

Highlights

1988 - 1st place in National Rankings, USA.
1989 - 1st place in National Time Trial Championships, USA.
1990 - 1st place in National Time Trial Championships - (TTT), USA.
1991 - 1st place in Tour of the Alpine Banks, USA.
1991 - 1st place in National Time Trial Championships - (TTT), USA.
1991 - 1st place in Pan American Games (TTT), Cuba.
1991 - 1st place in Pan American Games (RR), Cuba.
1991 - 1st place in Brick Criterium, USA.
1992 - 1st place in Westfriese Tweedaagse, Holland.
1992 - 1st place in Brecht, Belgium.
1992 - 1st place in Omloop Van Het Molenheike, Holland.
1992 - 1st place in National Time Trial Championships, USA.
1992 - 1st place in National Time Trial Championships (TTT), USA.
1992 - 1st place in National Road Championships, USA.
1992 - 1st place in World Time Trial Championships (TTT), Spain.
1992 - USCF Athlete of the Year Award.
1993 - 1st place in Mike Nields Memorial, USA.
1993 - 1st place in International Idaho Women’s Challenge, USA.
1993 - 1st place in Athens Zanesville, USA.
1994 - 1st place in Redlands Bicycle Classic, USA.
1994 - 1st place in Dole Cycling Classic, USA.
1994 - 1st place in Electricity City Challenge, USA.
1994 - 1st place in Tour of Somerville, USA.
1994 - 1st place in National Road Championships, USA.
1994 - 1st place in Korbel Champagne Cup Series, USA.
1994 - 1st place in National Rankings.
1995 - 1st place in Pan American Games, (RR), Argentina.
1995 - 1st place in Sequoia Cycling Classic, USA.
1995 - 1st place in National Road Championships, USA.
1995 - 1st place in Frigidaire Cycling Classic, USA.
1995 - 1st place in Colorado Cycling Classic, USA.
1995 - 1st place in Fresca Cup, USA.
1995 - 1st place in National Rankings.
1996 - 1st place in Valley of the Sun, USA.
1996 - 1st place in National Criterium Championships, USA.

Writings to come!

Palmares
Country: USA

Jeanne Golay
Barcelona Spain
Olympic Road Race - 1992

Teams

1986 - Fula Sun Tour
1987 - Arizona-Fuji-Sundance
Team Lycra
1988 - Team Lycra
1989 - Team Lycra
1990 - Coolmax-KHS
1991 - Jacksonville Racing
1992 - Skittles
1993 - TGI Friday’s
1994 - Saturn
1995 - Saturn
1996 - Saturn
1997 - ?
1998 - Schwinn Paramount

Palmares
1st - 3rd
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1987

March 21, 1987 - Branders Tour of Texas, stage race in USA - 2nd place in Texas Coast Point Series, Padre Island.

June 27, 1987 - Ore-Ida Challenge, stage race in USA - 2nd place in stage 1, Boise Idaho.

1988

June 12, 1988 - Subaru Classic, USA - 2nd place, San Rafael, California.

June 28, 1988 - Ore-Ida Challenge, stage race in USA - 3rd place in stage 4, Round the Horn.

July 24, 1988 - National Championships, USA - 2nd place in the time trial (TT), Cheney Washington.

August 27, 1988 - World Championships, Belgium - 3rd place in the team time trial (TTT), Renaix.

1988 - National Rankings, 1st place.

1989

March 5, 1989 - Florida Gold Women, USA - 1st place, San Antonio Florida.

April 4, 1989 - Branders Tour of Texas, stage race in USA - 2nd place in stage 4, at Inn on Lake Travis.

April 9, 1989 - Branders Tour of Texas, stage race in USA - 3rd place on the final GC.

June 2, 1989 - Tour of Norway, stage race in Norway - 2nd place in stage 6, circuit at Kongsberg.

June 23-July 2, 1989 - Ore-Ida Challenge, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 2, St. Luke’s Criterium, Boise Idaho.

July 12, 1989 - National Championships, USA - 1st place in the time trial (TT), Park City, Utah.

1990

May 18, 1990 - Omloop Van Het Molenheike, stage race in Holland - 1st place in the stage 1 team time trial (TTT), Diessen.

May 31, 1990 - Tour of Norway, stage race in Norway - 1st place in the stage 5 team time trial (TTT), Tjome-Tonsberg.

July 29, 1990 - National Championships, USA - 2nd place in the time trial (TT), Glenville New York.

July 29, 1990 - National Championships, USA - 1st place in the team time trial (TTT), Glenville New York.

1991

May 18, 1991 - Tour of the Alpine Banks, USA - 1st place, Glenwood Springs Colorado.

June 22, 1991 - Ore-Ida Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 3rd place in stage 2, Tenmile-Mores Creek-Idaho City.

July 7, 1991 - National Championships, USA - 1st place in the team time trial (TTT), Salt Lake City, Utah.

August 8, 1991 - Pan American Games, Cuba - 1st place in the team time trial (TTT), Havana Cuba.

August 13, 1991 - Pan American Games, Cuba - 1st place in the road race, Santiago de Las Vegas.

August 23-25, 1991 - Tour De Toona, stage race in USA - 1st place in the prologue, team time trial (TTT), Altoona Pennsylvania.

August 23, 1991 - Tour De Toona, stage race in USA - 3rd place in stage 1 time trial (TT).

August 24, 1991 - Tour De Toona, stage race in USA - 2nd place in stage 2.

August 25, 1991 - Tour De Toona, stage race in USA - 2nd place on the final GC.

September 21, 1991 - Brick Criterium, 1st place, Athens Ohio.

1992

March 8, 1992 - La Primvera, stage race in USA - 3rd place in stage 3, San Marcos Texas.

April 25, 1992 - La Vuelta De Bisbee, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 3, Bisbee Arizona.

May 3, 1992 - Westfriese Tweedaagse, stage race in Holland - 1st place, Westfriese Dorpenomloop.

May 10, 1992 - Brecht, Belgium - 1st place.

May 14, 1992 - Omloop Van Het Molenheike, stage race in Holland - 1st place in the stage 1 team time trial (TTT), Diessen.

May 15, 1992 - Omloop Van Het Molenheike, stage race in Holland - 2nd place in stage 2.

May 16, 1992 - Omloop Van Het Molenheike, stage race in Holland - 1st place in stage 3.

May 17, 1992 - Omloop Van Het Molenheike, stage race in Holland - 1st place in stage 5.

May 17, 1992 - Omloop Van Het Molenheike, stage race in Holland - 1st place on the final GC.

May 17, 1992 - Omloop Van Het Molenheike, stage race in Holland - 1st place in the points classification on the final GC.

June 12, 1992 - National Championships, USA - 1st place in the time trial (TT), Altoona Pennsylvania.

June 14, 1992 - National Championships, USA - 1st place in the team time trial (TTT), Imler Pennsylvania.

June 17, 1992 - National Championships, USA - 1st place in the road race, Altoona Pennsylvania.

June 19, 1992 - Olympic Trials, USA - 2nd place in the road race, Altoona Pennsylvania.

June 30, 1992 - Idaho Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 3rd place in stage 6, Salmon-Galena-Big Wood.

July 2, 1992 - Idaho Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 9, Portneuf River-Arbon Valley.

July 3, 1992 - Idaho Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 2nd place in stage 10, Emigrant Trails.

July 5, 1992 - Idaho Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 3rd place on the final GC.

August 20-23, 1992 - Celestial Seasonings Bicycle Classic, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 4.

August 20-23, 1992 - Celestial Seasonings Bicycle Classic, stage race in USA - 3rd place in stage 5.

August 20-23, 1992 - Celestial Seasonings Bicycle Classic, stage race in USA - 2nd place on the final GC.

September 5, 1992 - World Championships, Spain - 1st place in the team time trial (TTT), Benidorm Spain.

1992 - National Rankings, 2nd place.

1992 - Winning Rider of the Year, 3rd place.

1992 - USCF Athlete of the Year Award.

1993

August 25, 1993 - World Championships, Norway - 2nd place in the team time trial (TTT), Oslo-Asker, Norway.

March 21, 1993 - Movie Superstore, Tempe Grand Prix, USA - 2nd place, Tempe Arizona.

April 23, 1993 - Vuelta De Bisbee, stage race in USA - 3rd place in stage 3, Sulphur Valley.

May 1-2, 1993 - Norman Stage Race, USA - 2nd place in stage 2, Norman Oklahoma.

May 21-23, 1993 - Mike Nields Memorial, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 1 time trial (TT), Wellington, Fort Collins Colorado.

May 21-23, 1993 - Mike Nields Memorial, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 2, Rawhide.

May 23, 1993 - Mike Nields Memorial, stage race in USA - 1st place on the final GC.

July 23-27, 1993 - International Idaho Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 1, Boise-Payette.

July 23-27, 1993 - International Idaho Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 7, Cafe Ole-Cellular.

July 27, 1993 - International Idaho Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 1st place on the final GC.

July 27, 1993 - International Idaho Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 1st place in the points competition on the final GC.

July 27, 1993 - International Idaho Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 2nd place in the sprints competition on the final GC.

July 27, 1993 - International Idaho Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 3rd place in the mountains competition on the final GC.

July 2-5, 1993 - Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, stage race in USA - 2nd place in stage 1 time trial (TT), Fitchburg Massachusetts.

July 2-5, 1993 - Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 2, John Fitch Circuit.

July 5, 1993 - Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, stage race in USA - 3rd place on the final GC.

August 12-15, 1993 - Tour De Toona, stage race in USA - 2nd place stage 2 time trial (TT), Keystone-Pontiac, Altoona Pennsylvania.

September 6-9, 1993 - Killington Stage Race, 3rd place in Saab Prologue, Killington Vermont.

September 6-9, 1993 - Killington Stage Race, 2nd place in Stage 3.

September 6-9, 1993 - Killington Stage Race, 3rd place in Stage 4, Pepsi Rutland Critérium.

September 9, 1993 - Killington Stage Race, 3rd place on the final GC.

September 26, 1993 - Athens Zanesville, USA - 1st place, Ohio.

1994

March 10-13, 1994 - Redlands Bicycle Classic, stage race in USA - 2nd place in stage 1, Redlands California.

March 10-13, 1994 - Redlands Bicycle Classic, stage race in USA - 2nd place in stage 3.

March 10-13, 1994 - Redlands Bicycle Classic, stage race in USA - 3rd place in stage 4.

March 13, 1994 - Redlands Bicycle Classic, stage race in USA - 1st place on the final GC.

March 19, 1994 - Dole Cycling Classic, USA - 3rd place in the Exeter Road Race, Exeter California.

March 20, 1994 - Dole Cycling Classic, USA - 1st place in the Visalia Criterium, Visalia California.

April 29-May 1, 1994 - Etoile Vosgienne, stage race in France - 2nd place in the sprints competition on the final GC.

May 6, 1994 - Tour De l’Aude, stage race in France - 1st place in stage 1, Leucate Village to Port-Barcarès.

May 9, 1994 - Tour De l’Aude, stage race in France - 1st place in stage 4, Ouvelllan.

May 12, 1994 - Tour De l’Aude, stage race in France - 1st place in stage 6, Port-Lauragais.

May 13, 1994 - Tour De l’Aude, stage race in France - 1st place in stage 7b, Cuxac-Cabardès to Bram.

May 15, 1994 - Tour De l’Aude, stage race in France - 2nd place in the points competition on the final GC.

May 15, 1994 - Tour De l’Aude, stage race in France - 1st place in the sprints competition on the final GC.

May 21, 1994 - Mike Nields Memorial Stage Race, USA - 1st place in the Wellington Road Race, Fort Collins Colorado.

May 22, 1994 - Mike Nields Memorial Stage Race, USA - 1st place in the Poudre Canyon Road Race.

May 28-29, 1994 - Electricity City Challenge, USA - 2nd place in the road race, Albany New York.

May 28-29, 1994 - Electricity City Challenge, USA - 1st place in the criterium.

May 29, 1994 - Electricity City Challenge, USA - 1st place in the final GC.

May 30, 1994 - Tour of Somerville, USA - 1st place, New Jersey.

June 19, 1994 - National Championships, USA - 1st place in the road race, Seattle Washington.

June 22-26, 1994 - Power Bar International, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 1, Albertsons - Boise - Emmet Road Race.

June 22-26, 1994 - Power Bar International, stage race in USA - 3rd place in stage 4, Ore-Ida Oregon Trial Circuit Race.

August 13, 1994 - International Thuringen Rundfahrt Der Frauen, stage race in Germany - 1st place in stage 2, Schleiz - Greiz.

August 11-14, 1994 - International Thuringen Rundfahrt Der Frauen, stage race in Germany - 1st place in stage 3, Greiz to Altenburg.

August 11-14, 1994 - International Thuringen Rundfahrt Der Frauen, stage race in Germany - 2nd place in stage 4, Altenberg - Zeulenroda.

August 14, 1994 - International Thuringen Rundfahrt Der Frauen, stage race in Germany - 2nd place on the final GC.

August 14, 1994 - International Thuringen Rundfahrt Der Frauen, stage race in Germany - 2nd place in the sprints competition on the final GC.

August 23, 1994 - World Road Championships, Italy - 3rd place, Capo d’Orlando, Agrigento Italy.

September 23, 1994 - Athens, USA - 3rd place, Streets Sprint Under the Light, Ohio.

September 24, 1994 - Athens, USA - 3rd place, Athens Brick Critérium, Ohio.

September 25, 1994 - A to Z Road Race, USA - 2nd place.

1994 - National Prestige Classic, USA - 1st place.

1994 - Korbel Champagne Cup Series, 1st place.

1994 - National Rankings, 1st place.

1995

March 8-12, 1995 - Redlands Bicycle Classic, stage race in USA - 2nd place in the prologue, Redlands California.

March 8-12, 1995 - Redlands Bicycle Classic, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 2, Perris-Yucaipa.

March 8-12, 1995 - Redlands Bicycle Classic, stage race in USA - 3rd place in stage 4, Redland Criterium.

March 19, 1995 - Pan American Games, Argentina - 1st place in the road race, Mar Del Plata.

March 26, 1995 - Sequoia Cycling Classic, USA - 1st place in the Visalia Criterium, Visalia California.

April 20-23, 1995 - Norman Stage Race, USA - 2nd place on the final GC, Norman Oklahoma.

April 29, 1995 - Etoile Vosienne, stage race in France - 2nd place in stage 2, Remiremont.

April 30, 1995 - Etoile Vosienne, stage race in France - 2nd place in stage 4, Epinal.

April 30, 1995 - Etoile Vosienne, stage race in France - 2nd place in the points competition on the final GC.

May 7, 1995 - Tour De l’Aude, stage race in France - 1st place in stage 3, Ouveillan - Bize-Minervois.

May 8, 1995 - Tour De l’Aude, stage race in France - 1st place in stage 4b, Pradelles Cabardès - Conques-sur-Orbiel.

May 14, 1995 - Tour De l’Aude, stage race in France - 1st place in the points competition on the final GC.

May 14, 1995 - Tour De l’Aude, stage race in France - 2nd place in the sprints competition on the final GC.

June 4, 1995 - Corestate Liberty Classic, USA - 2nd place, Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

June 6, 1995 - National Championships, USA - 2nd place in the time trial (TT), Stanwood Washington.

June 9, 1995 - National Championships, USA - 2nd place in the criterium, Alki Point, Washington.

June 11, 1995 - National Championships, USA - 1st place in the road race, Seattle Washington.

June 15, 1995 - Powerbar International Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 3rd place in the prologue, Albertsons Bogus Bassin, Boise Idaho.

June 16, 1995 - Powerbar International Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 2nd place in stage 1, Tennysons’s Transfer & Storage Emmett-Middleton-Horseshoe Bend.

June 17, 1995 - Powerbar International Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 3rd place in stage 2, Elasto - Gel Boise - Idaho City.

June 19, 1995 - Powerbar International Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 2nd place in stage 4, Salmon - Galena - Big Wood.

June 20, 1995 - Powerbar International Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 2nd place in stage 5 time trial (TT), Sun Valley.

June 20, 1995 - Powerbar International Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 2nd place in stage 6, GT Bicycles Elkhorn, circuit à Sun Valley.

June 21, 1995 - Powerbar International Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 7, Cassia County, Burley.

June 22, 1995 - Powerbar International Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 1st place in the team time trial (TTT), Massacre Rocks.

June 22, 1995 - Powerbar International Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 3rd place in stage 10, Oregon California Trail.

June 25, 1995 - Powerbar International Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 3rd place in stage 12 time trial (TT), Boise-Kuna.

June 25, 1995 - Powerbar International Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 2nd place on the final GC.

June 25, 1995 - Powerbar International Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 1st place in the points competition on the final GC.

June 25, 1995 - Powerbar International Women’s Challenge, stage race in USA - 3rd place in the sprints competition on the final GC.

July 30, 1995 - Tour De Feminin, Stage race in France - 2nd place in stage 1, Luxeuil-les-Bains - Dole (Jura).

July 31, 1995 - Tour De Feminin, Stage race in France - 2nd place in stage 2, Poligny (Jura) - Le Sentier Vallée de Joux (Suisse).

July 30, 1995 - Tour De Feminin, Stage race in France - 2nd place in the points competition on the final GC.

July 30, 1995 - Tour De Feminin, Stage race in France - 1st place in the sprints competition on the final GC.

August 19, 1995 - Frigidaire Cycling Classic, USA - 1st place, Columbus Ohio.

Septmember 22-24, 1995 - Colorado Cycling Classic, stage race in USA - 2nd place in stage 2, USAFA circuit road race.

Septmember 22-24, 1995 - Colorado Cycling Classic, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 3, Norwest bank, garden of the gods road race.

Septmember 22-24, 1995 - Colorado Cycling Classic, stage race in USA - 1st place on the final GC.

1995 - National Prestige Classic, USA - 1st place.

1995 - Fresca Cup, 1st place.

National Rankings, 1st place.

1996

February 24-25, 1996 - Valley of the Sun, stage race in the USA - 1st place in stage 1, Phoenix Arizona.

February 24-25, 1996 - Valley of the Sun, stage race in the USA - 3rd place in stage 2 time trial (TT).

February 24-25, 1996 - Valley of the Sun, stage race in the USA - 1st place on the final GC.

March 7-10, 1996 - Redlands Bicycle Classic, stage race in USA - 2nd place in stage 1 time trial (TT), Reservoir, Redlands California.

March 7-10, 1996 - Redlands Bicycle Classic, stage race in USA - 3rd place in stage 2, Oak Glen.

March 7-10, 1996 - Redlands Bicycle Classic, stage race in USA - 3rd place on the final GC.

March 26-30, 1996 - Street-Skills Women’s Classic, stage race in New Zealand, 2nd place in the prologue.

March 26-30, 1996 - Street-Skills Women’s Classic, stage race in New Zealand, 1st place in stage 5, Awamutu-Otorohanga.

March 26-30, 1996 - Street-Skills Women’s Classic, stage race in New Zealand, 2nd place in stage 6.

April 18-21, Norman Stage Race, USA - 3rd place in stage 3 criterium, Norman Oklahoma.

April 27, 1996 - International Etoile Vosgienne, stage race in France - 1st place in stage 1, Remiremont.

May 2, 1996 - Tour De l’Aude, stage race in France - 2nd place in the prologue, Gruissan.

May 12, 1996 - Tour De l’Aude, stage race in France - 2nd place in the points competition on the final GC.

May 23, 1996 - Olympic Selections, USA - 2nd place in the road race, Wheeling West Virginia.

June 1, 1996 - National Championships, USA - 1st place in the criterium, Boiling Springs, North Carolina.

June 9, 1996 - Corestates Liberty Classic, USA - 2nd place, Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

September 6-8, 1996 - Can Pro Cycling Series, stage race in Canada - 1st place in stage 3, Thames Valley Grand Prix.

September 8, 1996 - Can Pro Cycling Series, stage race in Canada - 3rd place in the points competition on the final GC.

Articles are written in my own words, researched from a variety of sources from Europe and the United States, including seeing things first hand at races, researching race videos, books, magazines, libraries etc. Stats and career highlights, palmares were confirmed as much as possible from several sources worldwide so that they can be as accurate as possible. In some instances the riders have contributed to the quality of the articles, and photos were taken at various races worldwide. Photos provided by a number of sources, from the riders to professional journalists, and courtesy of donors. Thanks to Cyclingnews for the quality of their archives approximately since the year 2000 helps to validate other sources worldwide. Special thanks to Alfred North for his tremendous contribution to the women’s cycling over the last 30 years, which his archives dating from 1984 to the present day has been an overwhelming contribution to women’s cycling worldwide. This is the first time that in depth compilation of the women rider’s palmares have been well researched and posted to the Internet for the whole cycling world to see. They are comprehensive and cover several decades. If you use my work, please give credit.

Article Written by Procyclingwomen.com.

Mike McCarthy Inducted into US Bicycling Hall of Fame

November 13, 2010

Mike McCarthy who got his start in cycling with CRCA was inducted into the US Bicycling Hall of Fame on October 30. CRCA is very proud of Mike and congratulates him on this great achievement!

US Bicycling Hall of Fame – Mike McCarthy from Axiom on Vimeo.

Mike McCarthy is a seventeen time U.S. National Cycling Champion who earned numerous track citations such as five Jr. National Road and Track titles and the USA Cycling Athlete of the Year in 1990. McCarthy competed from 1982 to 1998 in various competitions including criterium, road, track and team pursuit races. He was a Pan American Games Champion (1987) as well as a two-time Olympic Games participant (1988 and 1996). McCarthy was also the 1992 world professional cycling pursuit champion.

John Tomlinson, one of the current club members who was around when Mike was in the club wrote the following tribute.

“How can you expect to do it in a race if you can’t even do in training?”

That was Mike McCarthy’s response to a question about why he was riding on a TT bike repeatedly going from the hooks to the aero bars and back every few seconds.

That focus on details is part of what made McCarthy such a special racer. He didn’t just have power and speed but the drive to work on the skills and little details that could make a difference between the winning and losing. And that focus paid off with 17 national titles, including a pro criterium championship, plus the professional championship of the world in the pursuit 1992.

Mike McCarthy and Liz Emery photo by Nara Garber

Mike started racing in CRCA club races as a kid, and over the years he rode for a number of important teams, including Suburu-Montgomery (which later become the US Postal pro team), Saturn, the U.S. National team, and the Olympic teams in Seoul and Atlanta.

He also rode for a Breakaway Courier Systems team in the middle of his career (alongside CRCA stalwarts Craig Cook, Ray Diaz and Kurt Gustafsson), and had a big influence on the rest of us locals with his attention to detail, calmness off the bike, and precision under pressure when on it. Watching him glide through a crowded field in big crits was a revelation for me. He showed that steely precision at the Killington Stage Race one year, while riding for the U.S. National team, taking the field sprint behind a small break on the first road stage. He’d ridden the last 200 yards in the saddle, near the edge of the road, with Malcolm Elliot of LA Sheriff’s pinned between him and the fence, pushing on McCarty with his shoulder trying to get by. “I’ve just got to hold my line. I’m under no obligation to let him by.”

Another revelation about the competition he was up against came when I saw him and Dave Jordan doing really explosive leg training at the gym. A friend pointed out to him that “the European pros don’t do weight training” to which he replied “They have other ways to maintain muscle mass.” Ouch.

Whenever he was back in town from racing around the country or internationally, local hotshots would have to take a backseat as Mike was just so much better. But he didn’t hesitate to share what he knew. And riders could learn lot just by watching him.

When you look at his results it’s obvious that Mike McCarthy had speed and power. For those lucky enough to see him up close or learn from him as he talked about the right ways to race and train (as a generation of CRCA racers did), it’s clear he put a lot more than that into his racing.

In the photos by Nara Garber, Mike is pictured with Liz Emery . Liz also started racing in CRCA and went on to have a good pro career which included a US National TT Championship.

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Mike McCarthy, World Class Bicyclist