Augusta, Ga. – When Lance Armstrong crosses the finish line July 24 in Paris and ends his career, win or lose he will take the torch he has held as America’s dominant international cycling force and hand it to … to … to …
Um, got a bike?
The candidates capable of filling that massive void – or even a small portion of it – could fit on a tricycle, which is the current mode of transportation for the next American who will have a major international impact. The gap between Armstrong and America’s young talent is huge.
The future of American cycling, experts say, is bleak. Armstrong, 33, came here Monday for the start of the Tour de Georgia and announced he will retire after this summer’s Tour de France. Boulder’s Tyler Hamilton, 33, just received a two-year suspension for doping.
America’s other top riders leading European teams are Levi Leipheimer, 31, Glenwood Springs’ Bobby Julich, 33, and Floyd Landis, 29. By the time they start next year’s Tour de France, none will be younger than 30. Gathered here for a news conference before America’s lone major international road race, they all said to expect a major drop-off on top-flight American cyclists.
“No, I don’t see anyone,’ said Julich, the lead rider for the Danish team CSC. “That’s the problem. That’s why we need more races like the Tour of Georgia and race in California because I see there’s a big gap between us guys who are 32, 33, 34 years old compared to the growth that we should see. Hopefully in the next few years I’ll be proved wrong.’
Don’t count on it. Boulder-based VeloNews is predicting that after Armstrong retires, no American will win the Tour for 20 years. Last year, Armstrong won his record sixth straight Tour de France but Leipheimer, who took eighth, was the only other American in the top 22.
In 2003, no American placed in the top 20 of the road race or time trial at the World Junior Championships. Last year, the top junior American in the time trial was Adam Switters in 41st and in the road race it was Chris Stockburger in 101st.
“If you’re asking if there’s another Lance Armstrong in the offing right now, no, it’s not there,’ said Cherry Creek High School graduate Jonathan Vaughters, director of TIAA-CREF, one of America’s few developmental teams. “He was a special talent at 16 years old, and it was very clear he was very different than everyone else and there’s no one like that right now.’
Landis is young enough to make an impact next year, but he never has won a stage race and, after leaving Armstrong’s side for Phonak, this will be Landis’ first time as team leader. However, at 29, his window of opportunity is small. Behind him, the gap begins.
Cyclists say the climate will start improving when more racing shifts from Europe to the U.S., where American youth can watch. That is beginning with the first Tour of California, set for February 2006.
John Henderson can be reached at 303-820-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com.
