The generation who grew up watching 7-Eleven and Lemond has made their mark on the professional cycling scene. From Lance Armstrong’s seven tours to George Hincapie’s presence as a spring classics contender. Americans have not only become a force on the world cycling scene they have generated a strong American fan base as well. When guys like Lance or Levi Leipheimer were growing up they like myself watched short highlight shows with cheesy inspirational music and family Olympic style commentating.
Today not only are there two American networks buying the rights to major races you can view entire races on demand streaming to your computer. Some of that has to do with new technology, but much of it has to do with the success of Lance Armstrong and company. Without these guys cycling would still just be a cultural fascination and not a nationally televised sporting event. As this generation of American cyclist are winding down their professional careers who will command the interest of the growing base of American cycling fans?
Today American cycling fields multiple teams such as Lance’s Team RadioShack each grooming their own young American talent waiting for a chance to be included on a Tour de France roster. In the wake of Lance Armstrong’s last Tour de France we will see a transition to a younger crop of riders who grew up watching him live on television every July. With the announcement of young Taylor Phinney’s inclusion as a stagiaire on the Team RadioShack roster and guys like Craig Lewis and Brent Brookwalter already getting some results on other U.S. licensed teams the cycling scene appears poised for a new era of American cycling. The buzz around Taylor’s progression will only escalate as Lance laces up his running shoes and Tyler slips into Johan’s preparations.
By Vince Hovis, staff writer
Look, I know you are Shack fans. Maybe you’re being paid by The Shack. Who knows? But to mention a new era of American cycling without mentioning Vande Velde, Farrar, Zabriskie, etc. is just criminal. Just because they don’t ride for The Shack? C’mon.
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There has been so much said about Phinney, I can’t wait to see what the kid is made of.
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No, we are not being paid by anybody. We are an independent fan site.
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Matt, granted it would have been more thorough to have mentioned Zbriskie, Farrar, and VDV, but certainly Le Mond doesn’t ride for TRS. And while I wish Big George was on the team, he isn’t. So your criticism seems a bit vehement in its sentiment. Perhaps it’s a bit of pro-Garmin rallying on your part.
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So the article was not totally inclusive. But get the point of it.
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I think Lance “teed it up” for the next generation of American Cyclists. Levi, Tyler, Dave, Big George, etc have helped expand the fan base. The Tour of California was well attended. I just wish we could have something comparable east of the Mississippi.
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About 1/2 way through you know who’s 7-straight TDF run, my brother asked me what I thought of Lance Armstrong. I said “who” and “who cares”, blah, blah blah,
… but of course, within a year or so of watching my first stage, than race (which I snuck away from work to watch), I probably corrected somebody in every conversation about Lance and cycling since then.
Yep, he and his team orchestrated an international epic, and it happened in the midst of a multitude of other exceptional riders, so it’s easy to think it’s all over cuz Lance is over TDF hill. It was a fabulous time to get into biking. In fact when I first started riding hard, I saw only one or two cyclists each year where I ride everyday. Now you can’t go a day without passing several. It’s better, it’s not over. Hey maybe someday you’ll meet him on the road, and share a beer in a bar watching a bike race.
We have lots to look forward to.
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