Originally Posted by alanbikehouston

A country does not win the Tour. A person wins the Tour. If that person is from Belgium, Spain, or Italy, he wins with the support and encouragement of most of his countrymen. If that person is an American, he must overcome the lack of support providing to cyclists by high schools and colleges in the USA, and the lack of support from the general public.

The key to an American becoming successful at a world-class level in cycling is to leave the USA at the youngest possible age, and race on a team where most of the cyclists are NOT Americans.