splin-@aol.com
In a message dated 02/16/2000 9:06:42 AM Pacific Standard Time,
Walp-@cse.ogi.edu writes:
One idea I have about this is for OBRA to field a team at national
calendar events (either USAC or FIAC). This way the best riders in
this region can represent OBRA in bigger races. If those bigger races
are part of the feeder system and selection process for the pro teams
then everyone can see the whole pipeline... the pro teams can take
it from there.
I couldn't agree more with Jon!!
Even if USAC were recognizing OBRA races, our riders would need to be
traveling a lot more than most do now to ever attract the attention of the
big teams. The riders from Oregon who have had success at the elite levels of
the sport have not gotten there racing in Oregon. Todd Littlehales and Stacy
Peters are the current Oregon riders willing to go out on the road to become
successful at the next level and both have results to show for it.
In thirty years of involvement in bicycle racing the only riders I have ever
seen get to the National team or professional ranks by racing primarily at
home were the Colorado class of the late 70s and early 80s (Davis Phinney,
Ron Kiefel, Alexi Grewal, Bob Cook and Tom Sain) who benefited from the
showcase provided by the Red Zinger/Coors Classic and the new Olympic
Training Center that focused all of the country's cycling attention on
Colorado. A unique time and place that will never be recreated.
For several years I have traveled to officiate at the Redlands SR every March
and have been dismayed at the lack of riders from Oregon & Washington who
make the relatively short trip to race there.
Redlands, because it is the first big race on the calendar, is an ideal stage
for up and coming riders to show themselves to the elite national amateur and
professional teams that are at Redlands as part of their early season
training.
Many of the riders I have seen at Redlands riding for regionally based teams
one year have found their way onto the big teams in following years. People
like Trent Klasna and Ernie Lechuga who came to Redlands every year and
always rode aggressively, joining the suicide early breaks, not to win the
races, but to show their strength and willingness to give it all in hopes of
attracting the attention of the bigger teams. They didn't ride safely (and
anonymously) in the pack hoping to pick up some scraps of prizes at the end
of the stage. They chose to attract attention to themselves by attacking at
every opportunity, making people notice their presence.
Much of the genesis of John Wordin's team came from regional composite teams
that he put together to race at Redlands in the early and mid 90s.
Last year's surprise rider of the year, Antonio Cruz was racing all year on a
small Northern Cal regional team. But, he wasn't staying in California hoping
to get good enough to race with the big boys. No, he was at the races --
Redlands, Sea Otter, Cascade, Red Zinger, and finally Downers Grove. Most of
those races he was a team of one, or if he had a team, it was one or two
others from L'Equipe Cheval. At several of the races requiring team entry
they wound up with composite riders added from the local area to give them a
complete team. Antonio was going for all the primes in the crits and forcing
people to notice him in the final sprints, all the time getting better
because he was not quite beating the best... Until he became a National
Champion.
I guess what I am saying is that USAC/OBRA sanctioning wars are largely
irrelevant for riders wanting to race at elite levels. They need to travel if
they really want to race at that level, not just have a number on their
license for the ego value.
While I am making everyone angry, I should also say that there is nothing in
Oregon stopping a promoter from sanctioning their race through USAC if they
are truly concerned about having opportunities for riders to upgrade through
the USAC system. (Bonnie)
Splinter