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Tell us about your background in cycling.
Started racing in 1970 (rode the Nationals in Central Park as an Intermediate) was a strong Junior, went to Europe as a 19 year old, got 3rd right away in a big Italian race. Severely hurt in a cyclocross race in Germany, spent many years bouncing back and forth between Europe and the States trying to break into the pro circuit. Left for a four year period, turned pro on a French team with Sean Kelly, became the first National Champ of the resurgent US Pro Class. Severely hurt again in '83, retained the pro title 3 months later. Used the pro title to create the first US Pro team to do a major Euro stage race in '84 (Giro d'Italia) and kept creating US pro teams that rode races such as the Vuelta, Dauphine Libere, Midi Libre, Tour of Luxembourg. Went back to Italy in '87 and created the Pepsi/Fanini team (and discovered a young rider named Roberto Gaggioli). We won lots of races in '87 & '88 including the CoreStates USPRO Championship with Roberto and the team prize. Finished off with a team of young riders and we won 25-30 races in the US and Canada. Went into event production and TV afterwards, did 8 Tour de Frances with ABC and ESPN and did on-camera with them in '99 and 2000. Have done 8 US Pro Championships as a live TV commentator plus varied cycling shows. Organized the Tour of West Virginia (KMart Classic) and the Olympic Trials in '96, then started Sparta Cycling my own event company with the Univest GP as our first big production.
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In the States or Europe? In the US things are not that much changed, we have some better riders of course and more money for certain teams—but don't forget that in '82 George Mount was 6th in the Olympics and 25th in the Giro (after working for Vinsentini the whole time) Jonathon Boyer 11th in the Tour and 4th in Fleche Wallone, Greg LeMond was well on the way to being a Tour winner, and so on. There have always been good riders from the States. From my perspective, we still don't have a strong amateur series of development races and that is a real problem What is good is that the pro circuit is developing and we have great competition between Prime Alliance, Mercury and Saturn, etc. In Europe the level of the riders is much more matched and their are no "bosses" in the peleton—no one like Hinault or Raas. Armstrong is certainly super strong, but he cannot control the races as they could in the old days. And the UCI points system have made many of the riders more individualistic in their racing approach. They all go very fast now—scientific training, aero equipment, diet, all have made the riders very, very, good. It's also much more international with the Kazahks and Uzbecks as well as the Yanks—English has replaced French as the dominant language.
You have earned the reputation of putting on the hardest, most "euro" one-day races in the country. What sets your races apart from other races?
Well, I just try and recreate what I raced in Europe, I feel that "classic" sports work and cycling is a great example. Involving the community in a variety of ways is the key to our approach. And road racing, if properly presented, captures the imagination of the public in the US as it does in Europe. You need TV and its affordable today.
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Begin with a city or town that is looking for some excitement and has some sense of community. It should have access to a rural area, preferably a hilly and beautiful one. I look for hard hills, and scenic shots that will look great on TV. I basically design from the TV lens out.
Last year was the debut of the Housatonic Cycling Classic and by all accounts it was a smashing success. Were you surprised?
No, not at all from the regional reception to the event. We have already experienced that with Univest and the Olympic Trials in WV. What did surprise me was how effective the presence of the US Pro Class was and how the cycling media picked up on the event because of them.
The Housatonic Cycling Classic is next month. How is the race shaping up? Anything new for the 2002 edition?
Great race. Women have equal billing this year, with a real road race called the Saturn Timex Women's Classic, 110K point to point with finishing circuits. In the men's race we have US Postal Service and top amateur teams from Belgium, Holland Brazil and France. TV shows for each race on OLN. Womens' field looks to be huge, 140 to 150 according to the registrations. Anna Millward, World Cup winner in 01 will be there.
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Yes, with reservations. The Univest is a UCI race now, a 1.6. It's the natural progression of the event. US Division 3 teams are considered "amateur" by the UCI. We are restricting the D3 teams entries to under 26 or first-year pros. The selection process for domestic amateurs will be tougher of course, and that is part of the overall plan of the Univest: to make it one of the best international races of its kind in the world. We are not ignoring the US amateurs however, and are currently working on a series of "selection races" for them called the Sparta Cup. We are now running the Bear Mountain races for example, and they will serve to help us identify the deserving teams. Anyone reading this who knows a community that might support a Univest style event—but at a reduced budget—should contact us.
No American has ever won the Univest Grand Prix and the race seems to be dominated by the Holland, French and Belgian National Teams. Why do you think American riders can't seem to pull off a win at Univest?
We bring over top European teams, ones that have a similar structure and budgets to our D3 teams. The US amateur riders have very little in the way of experience in Euro style race—that's why its a priority to create races that have smaller production value but high technical levels. We feel that the D3's will make a fine competitive match for the Euros—and out of that fight can come the top US amateurs who, if savvy enough, can "surf" the fight between the D3's and the Euros and emerge.
What advice would you give to other race promoters?
Think big, not small. Close roads, don't do the yellow line if at all possible. Find the value in the event and sell it to sponsors. Court the media, they love the sport once they are properly introduced—it's new, interesting, international and not stick and ball. They are so, so bored of covering high school basketball.
Finally, what are your picks for first, second and third at this year's Tour de France?
Bad knee for Ullrich, 2nd in the Criterium International for Armstrong—that one seems set. 1) Armstrong,2) Vinokourov, 3) Beloki watch for Lepheimer (my fav US rider) and Virenque to cause trouble