I find it interesting that one of the points missed by the press in general
is Armstrong's ability to inspire his teammates to perform past their
expectations.
Does anyone have a list of the American riders who started with Lance and
went to other European teams?
Biker's story as great as glory
Lance Armstrong's personal feats inspire local cyclists as much as his wins
Monday, July 25, 2005
ABBY HAIGHT
The Oregonian
Portland cyclist John Forbes believes Lance Armstrong has changed
professional bicycle racing.
Armstrong, who ended his competitive career with an unprecedented seventh
consecutive Tour de France victory on Sunday, redefined the concept of a
cycling team with his Discovery Channel squad, Forbes said. His riding style
-- the quick cadence in time trials and climbing -- is copied by young
riders everywhere.
But Armstrong's legacy is much more, said Forbes, a 60-year-old Portlander
who has raced for more than 20 years.
"What's affected me is the story," Forbes said.
Armstrong's story -- beating cancer, beating the Alps, beating every rival
who has tried to rise against him -- has given greater awareness to their
sport, local riders say. So much so, they add, that motorists are more
courteous during the Tour's midsummer run because of Armstrong-inspired
publicity.
Cyclists come to racing for many different reasons, but racers on a recent
evening of racing at the Alpenrose Velodrome said they appreciated Armstrong
for his competitive record, his remarkable recovery from cancer and for the
attention he has brought to a sport that is hugely popular in Europe -- but
usually ignored in the United States.
Carl Hoefer took up bicycle racing just as Lance Armstrong was pedaling
American cycling into the limelight.
"It became cool to ride your bike," said Hoefer, a 25-year-old Portlander
who started racing five years ago while a student at Oregon State.
More recently, Hoefer's mother-in-law was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Suddenly, Armstrong took on a different importance in Hoefer's life.
The lanky redhead wears a yellow rubber LiveStrong bracelet. He races for
Team Rubicon, which is sponsored by the Lance Armstrong Foundation and does
regular fundraisers for cancer awareness and research.
Like many Portland-area bike racers, Hoefer is awed by Armstrong as much --
perhaps more -- for his battle with cancer and his tireless effort to raise
awareness and money for cancer research as for Armstrong's amazing run of
Tour de France victories.
Cycling already was a passion for Hoefer. Now it is a cause, as well.
Last year, Team Rubicon raised $24,000 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation --
through Monday night coffee shop rides, clinics at the Alpenrose Velodrome
and other events.
"Really, it's giving back to the community," Hoefer said.
Cameron Sparr said he believed Armstrong helped open the door to European
racing for U.S. cyclists.
"In the Tour before, it seemed that if you were an American who wanted to be
on a European team, you had to be a winner," said Sparr, a 16-year-old from
Beaverton who began racing two years ago. "But now it seems like there are
more American domestiques, like Freddy Rodriguez and Chris Horner."
Certainly, this year's Tour saw great performances by U.S. riders beyond
Armstrong's victory.
Dave Zabriskie was scintillating as he became only the third American to
wear the yellow leader's jersey, beating Armstrong at his own game in the
opening time trial. But the 26-year-old from Salt Lake City crashed in the
team time trial and was forced to withdraw.
Horner, 33, lived his own fairy tale, joining a European team -- Spain's
Saunier Duval-Prodir -- after years of laboring domestically. The Bend rider
finished 33rd. U.S. cyclists Levi Leipheimer was sixth, Floyd Landis was
ninth and Bobby Julich and George Hincapie were in the top 20.
Whether another American rider can step forward and capture the public
imagination the way Armstrong did is unknown. Olympic champion Tyler
Hamilton might have been that rider, but he is fighting a two-year-ban for
blood doping.
"It's not like we haven't had good racers since Greg LeMond, but America
loves a winner," said Jen Featheringill, a Portlander who has raced for six
years. "And they love a good story." LeMond won the last of his three Tours
in 1990, Armstrong's first was in 1999.
The Oregon Bicycle Racing Association has 2,703 annual members -- compared
with 700 less than a decade ago, said OBRA official Candi Murray. There will
be 354 days of racing this year, including some overlapping events. More
than 20,000 had raced through July 6.
"It's growing," Murray said. "I don't know what's caused it, but I can't
help but think that it's making it more accessible, being inclusive and not
exclusive."
Race promoter Jim Anderson said he doesn't expect interest in racing to fade
when Armstrong retires.
"He's such a strong figure, a strong personality," said Anderson, who stages
Monday night races for women and masters' men at Portland International
Raceway. "His ability to continue to inspire people to race and get involved
in a sport that doesn't get a lot of recognition -- he's a great marketer of
the sport."
Armstrong, who has close ties with Nike, will participate in the LiveStrong
Ride Sept. 25 in Beaverton. The ride raises money for the Lance Armstrong
Foundation.
That role may be Armstrong's greatest legacy, many said.
When Ward Knable was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1997, Armstrong
was fighting cancer. Knable started riding his bike in 1998, found
medication that has kept him symptom-free and took inspiration from
Armstrong's recovery.
Knable is a regular in road and track races.
"He had something to overcome that is far more than I've had to deal with,
and he's done it with grace and skill," said Knable, 42, of Washougal. "So
when I'm out (at the Alpenrose Velodrome) and having a bad day, I know I'm
still the fastest guy with MS."
And riders say they see Armstrong's influence everywhere.
"I was already inspired to race before (Armstrong) really came on the
scene," said Drew Nelson, who juggles studies at Portland State and a new
baby with training and racing. "But there's no question he's motivated the
whole field, especially the younger riders."
Even the very young.
Nelson was on a training ride recently at the popular Fairmont loop in
Southwest Portland when he saw a man and his son -- about 7-years-old --
pedaling the road. The boy wore a yellow Tour de France jersey.
"That's our next Tour winner," Nelson said to the man.
The father replied, "He's our next Lance Armstrong."
Abby Haight: 503-221-8198; abha-@aol.com
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