"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Best Race you ever saw LIVE

Not counting the Tour. That's a different animal.
I'm talking live American racing.

OK, here's mine.

The Brick Criterium - Athens Ohio - 1993 (?)

Coors Light dominates American scene all summer while Subaru-Montgomery focused on European campaing.

The two teams finally face off on the brick streets of Athens.... in a DOWNPOUR!

Chaos in the first five laps. Coors Light takes off while Subaru gets a shoddy start. Almost immediately, Coors Light has three guys in the lead group. Subaru-Mongomery has three guys more than 1/2 lap down. Everyone else is of little consequence as there's no defined field, and no one who can match the big guns.

The race looks to be over after 7 laps. Pfft. Big deal. Let's eat.

Slowly but steadily throughout the next 50 laps, the three guys from S-M begin to catch up. Remember, the've been riding on cobbles all summer.

After a frantic chase, they finally make contact with the lead group with two laps to go. The crowd... bored at first... is now on fire. A crash in the final turn takes out Gaggioli.

Nate Reiss wins it for Subaru Montgomery.

I think. It's been so long, I'm not 100% sure. It might have been Darren Baker.

Still, the best race I ever saw.

World Cycling Championships, 1986 Colorado Springs. Road races on killer course at US Air Force Academy, track events at the smooth and fine 7-11 Velodrome. Elevation 6400 ft.

One of the most memorable was during the Tour of Texas in the late 80's. I don't remember the team he was riding for at the time but Alexi Graywall was in the overall lead going into the final stage which was a criterium in Austin. Either his team or he below up and he ended up losing the lead. Once he realized he had lost the overall lead he started ripping the leader jersey off of his back. He put on quite a show that day :)

One of the most memorable was during the Tour of Texas in the late 80's. I don't remember the team he was riding for at the time but Alexi Graywall was in the overall lead going into the final stage which was a criterium in Austin. Either his team or he below up and he ended up losing the lead. Once he realized he had lost the overall lead he started ripping the leader jersey off of his back. He put on quite a show that day :)

Wasn't it Alexi who got off his bike at the finish line of a race to win and did the mash potatoe carring his bike ?

That was the Morgul-Bismarck stage in the Coors Classic in 1985? The exact year might require some research.
In the second most famous cycling movie, American Flyers, 'David' carries his bike across the M-B line just under the time cut. That scene was supposed to be a take-off/homage to Alexi doing his thing. So we know it predates the movie by a couple of years.

Alexi rode for Denver Spoke, Crest, 7-Eleven, Coors Light. That I know of. Not sure which jersey he ripped off, but I wanna say it was 7-11. I'd hafta make a quick phone call to verify that one, too.

That was the Morgul-Bismarck stage in the Coors Classic in 1985? The exact year might require some research.
In the second most famous cycling movie, American Flyers, 'David' carries his bike across the M-B line just under the time cut. That scene was supposed to be a take-off/homage to Alexi doing his thing. So we know it predates the movie by a couple of years.

Alexi rode for Denver Spoke, Crest, 7-Eleven, Coors Light. That I know of. Not sure which jersey he ripped off, but I wanna say it was 7-11. I'd hafta make a quick phone call to verify that one, too.

I think that was 1984

1986 Cats Hill in Los Gatos Ca.


or was it Repack in 76?


toss up.

Philly US Pro is always great for atmosphere. Didn't see many others, the UCI MTB World Cup in Napa was pretty sweet though!

Next week though, UCI Track World Cup in Sydney (the one in Australia, not America) should offer some serious action !

'91 Redlands Classic. I was working as a camera operator for a company that filmed the race. I got to do one day in helecopter and that was very cool. We got to hang out with the riders an really had a great time.

I know, I didn't see it live..................but :D

TDF 2001 - The Look, Alpe D'Huez.....

I remember seeing it for the first time on the OLN replay the night after it happened.....It was a statement of pure power. It gave me goosebumps, literally :eek:

He stood up and rode away from one of the world's best cyclists like he was standing still.

After that he sucked up a 6:00 lead by Laurent Roux within a couple kilometers and then dropped him like a bad habit.

I just got the TDF 2001 on DVD to ride rollers to this winter. I watch that stage a couple times a month now...or at least til Spring. Never fails to impress me....I try to match his cadence riding rollers, me having been riding for 30-60 minutes, he having climbed several hors category mountains before even getting to the final climb. He spins like a madman and keeps jumping out of the saddle over & over again, by himself.

I know there are alot of people who are sick of Lance, of hearing about him and doping allegations....etc.
But he's my guy, when I want to get motivated to go spin in my dark, unheated garage on a cold February morning in Connecticut, he's my guy.

J.

I was about 600' from the finish of stage 3 of the '04 Tour de Georgia. Everyone was surprised to see Lance Armstrong out sprint everyone else in a flat stage feild sprint!

Not as big as the races you folks have mentioned, but the final race of the New England Verge Cyclocross series, in the U23 race Jesse Anthony needed to place one rider ahead of Matt White to win the series. To make things interesting Jeremy Powers from Jelly Belly had come back from Belgium, and had a point to make. Jeremy starts beating on the field like a bat out of hell right from the gun, and only Mark McCormack and Jesse Anthony manage to hang on, Jesse needing to beat Jeremy to win. Things stay right on the edge till the last lap, where in the last turn with Jesse and Jeremy neck and neck, Jeremy crashes and Jesse won the title. It was insane.

1975 Tour de France. I was living in Belgium and it should have been Eddy's sixth win. The Prologue was in Charleroi and the crowds were gigantic. They rode to Molenbeek the next day, then out of Belgium to Roubaix on day 3. In those days, during the stage there were radio updates every hour and then they showed the last 50 or so kilometers in TV, live. The whole country came to a standstill at that point...

Eddy was in yellow and then the fan jumped out at the finish at the Puy de Dome and punched Eddy in the gut and actually did liver damage....he was never the same after that.

Finished second to Thevenet....I saw several stages.

Made me real nervous last summer with Lance going for his sixth....had that fan not hit Eddy, he would have won six 30 years ago.....

1976, saw my favorite rider, Lucien Van Impe, the perennial KOM, finally win a Tour.

Some of the best races I ever saw, I rode in....Somerville, Bound Brook, stuff like that...

1984 Olympics - Grewal beating Bauer in the sprint finish and the women finishing 1-2 earlier in the day..

Me and friends camped out at a park to watch the race, of course sprinklers came on in the middle of the night..

Tour De Georgia, don't remember stage number.

Climb to Brasstown Bald, everyone is waiting for the big battle between Armstrong and Vogt. They get it but not until local star Cesar Grajales (spelling?) from Jittery Joe's attacks on the steepest pitch of the climb to go ahead for the stage win.

Bostick versus McCarthy in the individual pursuit on the track at the 1996 Olympic Trials in Trexlertown, PA. Bostick was 43 years old and riding for a small domestic road team. McCarthy was world champion and riding the US national team's superbike. Bostick had a day job and McCarthy was fully supported by US National team..and he simply trained, ate, slept and received massages..****us he was in his twenties and wearing the rainbow jersey. It was a foregone conclusion that McCarthy would get an easy win and advance to the Olympic games.

Comparing split times during the race..the crowd senses that the race is tight! Everyone is going crazy. Bostick's coach is going nuts as he shouts out his split times to Bostick. Bostick pulls off the upset and goes to the Olympic games at age 43. McCarthy is shattered by his defeat.

I wasn't there..but I saw it on TV and I was going nuts like everyone else there in Trexlertown. Bostick was one of my heroes after that race.

Mine was back in 1980 or '81. It was The Coors Classic stage in Nevada City/Grass Valley, CA. It had Greg Lemond and Eric Heiden as the only names I knew at the time. I would say it was the "best" for me because that event is what inspired me to become a cyclist instead of just having a bike to get around like everyone else where I lived.

Compared to racing in one yourself, watching a bike race live is like watching grass grow. I much more prefer to see it on TV because they show so much more than just that nanosecond of when the racers speed by you.

You're kidding, right?

You're entitled to your opinion, but I disagree completely.


I could list a million, but here are a couple that seemed pretty unlikely to be earth-stopping in their excitement, yet they were indeed crazy.
Fitchburg Longsjo in 1996....the time trial was amazing.
USPRo Championships in 1993....stellar.
Wendy's International in 2001....breathtaking.
Blue Ash Dash in 1989..... it was a steady crescendo to the last lap.

TV can't capture that.

You gotta be patient and pay attention to the subtle stuff.

I saw the Stetna's from Indy in a race in Louisville KY in 1970's A youngster named Steve Bauer was also in the race. The Canadian won, but the Stettna's father was in one of the official cars trailing the leaders and protested the finish - claiming Bauer cut off/impeded his son. The officials moved Bauer to second or third - I can't remember. Bauer went on to a much more successful professional career - I guess in Euro pro circuit they did not have much tolerance for parents in official cars !

I was on the Ben Franklin Parkway during the 1993 USPRO Championships. Lance (Armstrong, in case anyone has forgotten his last name :) ) had already won two of the three legs of the Thrift Drug Triple Crown. If Lance won the USPRO Championships, which were the third and final leg of the series, he'd also win $1 million dollars. The race organizers had a big screen TV on the Parkway, so I could watch the final lap and the grind up the 16% Manayunk Wall. Lance broke away with a few other riders, then dropped the breakaway to ride solo to the finish. It was a truly awesome display for a first year pro, and a foreshadowing of things to come...

I really enjoy going to the Downers Grove National Criterium Championships every year. It is a lot of great fun, and you get the chance to see our local heroes and our American cyclists in action. I go and set up in the same place every year on the first day and stay until the very end every time. It's some of the most exciting racing I remember seeing.

Koffee

The old Coors Classic - Washington Park Crit in 1984. I think La vie Claire was over here for that one. My wife left me for Bernard Hinault. And Rebecca Twigg wouldn't give me the time of day.

sun

I have not seen alot of racing but my favorite live actually had to be the last Ontario criterium, Cat 4,5. Pouring rain and the racers were pushing so hard it actually scared me. Couple good saves and lots of sliding around... and won in a pack sprint.

(And I absolutly got soaked videotaping it)

The Tour Dupont in 90, watch the pros climb one of my favorite climbs at 30 mph. Three days latter got married, the reception was at the same hotel the teams stayed. We had an extra 250 people at reception’s bar. it was great to see the riders. My wife’s dad didn’t it was to funny, it was an open bar.

Best race I ever saw, I was actually in. IT was during a Superweek Crit and my teammate Robby Ventura got in a breakaway and won while I held the lead pack at bay. Pretty cool seeing him take the win and I was his only teammate left in the race.

Thats on par with the time I lined up next to Lance in a Superweek crit, that was in 96.

Best race I saw live was in 1988 Grand Prix des Ameriques in Montreal.

Steve Bauer was in a small leading group and in the last climb of the day, he took off and finally won the race in front of a crazy crowd !!! Bauer, a Canadian, wins at home !!! Great race !!!

Tour De Georgia, don't remember stage number.

Climb to Brasstown Bald, everyone is waiting for the big battle between Armstrong and Vogt. They get it but not until local star Cesar Grajales (spelling?) from Jittery Joe's attacks on the steepest pitch of the climb to go ahead for the stage win.

You beat me to it. We parked ourselves on Brasstown Bald to wait for the race. Someone had painted "Grajales" on the road in front of us. I had to look at the program to find out who he was. When the race finally got to us there was Grajales leading. See http://home.comcast.net/~olebiker/Grajales.jpg Lance came along a little later. You can see in the picture at http://home.comcast.net/~olebiker/Lance.jpg where Grajales name is painted.

Many of the riders outside of the top ten were tacking back and forth across the road just to get up it to the finish.

I saw the Stetna's from Indy in a race in Louisville KY in 1970's A youngster named Steve Bauer was also in the race. The Canadian won, but the Stettna's father was in one of the official cars trailing the leaders and protested the finish - claiming Bauer cut off/impeded his son. The officials moved Bauer to second or third - I can't remember. Bauer went on to a much more successful professional career - I guess in Euro pro circuit they did not have much tolerance for parents in official cars !

It is amazing that such nice young men as Wayne and Dale came from a father like that. I remember a race in Cincinnati back in the 70s. Papa Stetina raced in the Masters category but missed the start. He took a short cut and eventually caught the pack and won. Since he didn't ride the whole course he was not awarded the win. I can still hear him railing about chasing for the entire race and then being deinied the win.

The Downers Grove USPRO Criterium Championships in 2004. The Elite Women's championships were awesome- Tina Pic in a sprint finish winning for her third time, and the men's pro final was also exciting- US Postal sent a full elite squad to support Robbie Ventura's final bid for the win before his retirement. He was leading in the final lap to the finish and crashed in the 8th and final turn before the finish line. The whole crowd was just groaning and screaming... dang it!

Koffee

The collegiate national championships in 04, madison wisconsin. The crit was awsome, was pouring rain. Lots of crashes and a wild crowd.

Also the downer ave crit in superweek this year was great. helped that a friend won it but was amazing to see thousands of people there for the bike race.

Also the downer ave crit in superweek this year was great. helped that a friend won it but was amazing to see thousands of people there for the bike race.

My wife and I have been going to the Downer Ave crit for the past few years and it's always a great race and ton of fun.

I would love to be around next year for Superweek. The announcers referred to it at Downers Grove this year, and the accounts they gave made me really really REALLY want to be around next year for that.

Koffee

The race on Downer Ave on Milwaukee's north side is, by far, the best Superweek race to go to.


Oddly, despite being named Downer, neither of those races are.

My 1st race. 1985 US Pro Champs. The 1st year in Philly. Rode to the race with a buddy and got to ride all over the course. Not many people showed up and little Security. We got back to the finish line in time to see Heiden win. Then watched as he put on the Stars and Stripes jersey from about 15 ft away in the middle of the parkway.

I'll always remember Jens Veggerby on the 3rd step of the podium. He had the biggest thighs I have ever seen. Boy, were they cut.

Aussies winning gold and becoming World Champs in the 4000m TP in Melbourne last year. Absolutely fricken incredible 4 min ride.....lifted the roof of Vodafone Arena. Luke Roberts climbing off and raising his bike to the crowd on the back straight.

I had no voice for 3 days after.

Twilight Crit, in boise last year...

it made me want to race bicycles, it was the first race i ever saw live..

Tour De Nez...riding motor support alongside Scott Moninger and Co. as they sped 50 MPH+ down Brockway Summit into the teeth of a bitter sleetstorm.

Riding next to Antonio Cruz doing 18MPH up Geiger Grade during the TT the year before.

My seats weren't as good for the Alpe D Huez TT in 2004 but that wasn't bad either.

Aussies winning gold and becoming World Champs in the 4000m TP in Melbourne last year. Absolutely fricken incredible 4 min ride.....lifted the roof of Vodafone Arena. Luke Roberts climbing off and raising his bike to the crowd on the back straight.

I had no voice for 3 days after.

I was there too. Great night. The sprint was fantastic as well.

Danny Clarke winning the '90 Austral was awesome too. What a ride.

I'm going to Madrid in a few weeks. I reckon that might be a race worth watching :)

1990 Twilight Weekend in Athens, Georgia, included the Top of Georgia Time Trial, up the side of Brasstown Bald. I started out strong, then started choking...bad...only to have Alexi Grewal pass me on my left, steady and strong, sitting back and spinning up the hill. Compared to my slow, mashing pace--out of the saddle and flailing, of course--it was pure artistry. It inspired me, and still does, as an example of the form I want to have.

Danny Clarke winning the '90 Austral was awesome too. What a ride.




I was there too!! Me and a mate watched in awe as Clarky was unpacking and setting up his carbon Alan track bike before the racing started. Was better than meeting Jean-Francois Bernard at the Sun Tour!!!

Then to see him win from 1/2 a lap down with only a lap to race was incredible.

Saw Patey win from -20 metres in 1993 too....

it was a mountain bike race not a road bike race. Paul Rowney ex pro on the US and world circuit rocked up to a club round i race at. the guy was jsut poetry in motion. made all the other a graders look like they were standing still. so smooth, so fluid and in control. he won it at a canter against a top quality a grade field by somthing like 5 minutes. the guy is a living ledgend of aus MTB, and a nice guy to boot.

Well...I...Umm...Eee..Aa.....ummm... Havent...well...Seen a race...before :(

CoreStates in Philliy back in the late 90's. and the Wilimington stage of the last ever Tour DuPont. I went to see the Mapei squad. Tony Rominger was there. Way cool dood!

I guess the most exciting race I ever saw live was the first one. The Coors Classic criterium stage in S.F. It was a figure-8 course, so if you're at the cross in the middle, you can see them twice per lap! I've never seen guys riding SOoohh fast before. And after the pack goes by, you can feel the rush of wind blow past. :) I think this is what got me into bike racing:

http://www.gururacing.com/cycling/SFcoorsClassic1s.jpg

I went to see the finish of the Tour in 1991, but somehow, I must've been jaded by all the races I've attended as it simply wasn't exciting as that first one. The novelty factor had worn off I guess. :(

Verizon Ampitheatre, August 23 or 16th. First Person POV :p

I have been waiting to post to this thread because I have a few. I have decided to list them in no particular order.
San Francisco GP 2001- George rode awesome on a course that shocked many of the pros because it was so hard.

Los Angeles World Cup points race 2004-It was awesome to see an American in the hunt for the win all the way to the last sprint.

1991 USCF Junior 17-18 National Championship Road Race- I was actually in this race along with recently crowned Jr. World Champ Jeff Evanshine, Fred Rodriguez, George Hincapie, Chris Wherry, and Jonathon Vaughters. The race was in San Antonio, Texas in August. It was so hot and humid. I remember seeing Vaughters out of the race early. Jeff had raced with my team at a stage race earlier in the year. He told us he was going to win Worlds and we had laughed at him. At this race he had promised to pay Fred back for helping him at Worlds and we knew he would. The race just disintegrates and the lead group is about six guys. By this point there is about 20 guys left in the race and I am out. Fred attacks the lead group and by the last lap of the six or eight mile course he is about three minutes clear. Evanshine has been sitting on the other guys making sure Fred stays clear and then attacks them and almost catches Rodriguez at the line.

2004 T-Mobile International- I have raced against Chris Horner quite a few times and have watched him race many times. I was most impressed by his abilities at this race. There had been an early break but most of the riders were getting swept up. Jason McCartney who had won a stage at Georgia after going solo early and had also won the US Olympic Trials was still around four minutes clear with about 40 kms remaining. USPS put some guys on the front and Horner was there chasing for his teammate Dionne. The chase was flying. A few different Postal guys blew themselves up but Horner was there matching their pulls. Dionne attacked on the last climb, caught McCartney and won.

Garret Lemire GP 2005-A surprise Lance sighting. I was in this race and hadn't believed the rumors I heard that morning that he was going to be there. The last time I had been in the same race as Lance was the Cascade Classic in 1998 (before all the Tour victories). Lance was impressive and single handedly caught what looked like the winning break. However, he didn't look like the Lance I had seen on TV the last few years. This was one of the rare times that my wife missed one of my races and when I got home I declared to her that he was not going to win the Tour this year. When we saw the Dauphine on TV in June, I told her "I take back what I said after Ojai, he's winning this year."

I'll stop at five.

DannoXYZ,
My wife was at the Coors Classic criterium in S.F. that year also. I am so jealous that when she was thirteen she got to follow the Coors Classic through California, Nevada, and Colorado with her dad. They followed the races and camped in a Volkswagen bus.