Juniors Then (1978) and Now (2008 & 2009)

Bike Guy Blog
June 24, 2008

Juniors Then and Now


The last time I coached a junior team was 1978. As junior national road coach working under Eddie B we were fortunate to have a talent pool of dedicated riders to select from.

We started with an open camp in the dead of winter at the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs. They came from a variety of backgrounds and club systems. They came by bus, car, and airplanes from all over the country.

The history of previous junior world’s road teams was one that (other than Greg Allison [Demgen] winning a stage race in Switzerland—a great trivia question) lacked results and produced discipline problems.

This year, the Junior World Championships were to be held in Washington, DC and not in Europe. This meant that the whole U.S. cycling community would be watching closely and any unruly teenage behavior was not going to be tolerated. Not that this cast of soon to be famous characters were not above pulling a few pranks in the dorms of the OTC, but that is another story.

This was to be Eddy B’s first assignment as national coaching director, and his arrival on the American cycling scene was something that every faction of our amateur governing body, and existing “good old boy” network recognized as a godsend. VeloNews was still being published in Vermont, there was no Internet, and entire regions of the country were acting independently in how they developed riders and race programs. Leaders in these regions were made up of former riders, overworked state reps, officials, and bike shop owners who, at the same time, did most of the race promotions.

Eddy B’s arrival galvanized all these different factions. One thing they all recognized was the successful systems of the Eastern Block countries sports medicine schools and universities that had been producing powerful cycling teams for many years.
One thing we all knew; you did not tell Polish jokes in the peleton. The Poles, Russians, and Czechs told American jokes, punching our tickets and moving us the DNF pages of results columns around the world.

Our guru had arrived and the trickle down was such that these fresh-nosed kids totally understood the importance of the moment. Those that did not get it in the first 24 hours of that dark and desolate camp that February in Colorado, either figured it out got their shit together, or were gone in the middle of the night.


The final trials, which were held back at the USOTC in Colorado Springs, were to tell the story, and it was during these events that the mysterious chemistry completed the transformation of a skeptical, somewhat bewildered group of teenagers into a well prepared, dedicated national team with a positive, serious approach to the challenge of world class competition.

It was difficult for me to stand in front of all these kids, many with their parents in attendance and read off the names of those who would wear the stars and stripes, while others would go home.

Looking back on it 30 years later this week, I can see where it was a true turning point, and a turning off point, if you will, for many of them. Those that were so close had to be consoled and tears were shed.

Talking with their parents was difficult as they had major investments in time and money tied up in this venture. To encourage them, to tell them there were still opportunities for the travelling teams in future years was falling on deaf ears.

When you see the names of those selected on that night in June 1978 even those of you new to the sport will understand how difficult it was to make this junior team. Those that did not make the team 30 years ago know now more than ever what they were up against. Looking back on the results these riders would continue to accomplish for the next 10 to 14 years should make anyone of those not making the cut that June of 1978, proud to be there and to have competed at that level. It was a watershed year that is still be felt in the European peleton to this day.

Some of the names I read off my scribbled yellow pad that night would include:
Greg Lemond
Greg Demgen
Ron Keifel
Chris Carmichael
Thurlow Rogers
Jeff Bradley

Need I say more?

In the final event of the Junior Worlds Championships that year, the 70km 4-man Team Time Trial, Greg LeMond, Greg Demgen, Jeff Bradley and Ron Kiefel, defeated such traditionally strong cycling nations as Poland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, France, Belgium, Holland, and West Germany, losing only to the powerful East Germans and the famous Soviet athletic machine, for a Bronze Medal.

The rest is a history of winning races and stages in the most prestigious events our sport has to offer over the next 15 years. Many of them would win Olympic medals before turning professional and making great money, speaking several languages, getting married and owning homes in two countries.

That was then, this is now.

Recently one of those juniors from 1978, Greg LeMond, came to visit me and spend a day riding and coaching my current junior team of local kids, most of whom are 15-year-olds.

My next entry will flash forward 30 years to this very special day for both me, and my new group of renaissance juniors.