TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER CONTINUES SUPPORT OF U.S. JUNIOR ROAD CYCLING
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec. 8, 1999) --- Lance Armstrong, who captured the Tour de France earlier this year, has agreed to continue his important support for junior road cycling in the United States. The Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Road Series (LAJORS) returns for its sixth campaign in 2000, USA Cycling announced Wednesday.
"I feel it is important for me to continue my support in helping junior cycling grow in the United States," said Armstrong. "We have a strong nucleus of junior cyclists who have benefited from the LAJORS program, and I would like to get more kids involved in cycling. The sport has provided me many opportunities and experiences that I would not have received if I were not a cyclist. I am happy to continue my relationship with USA Cycling to bolster junior cycling in this country."
Armstrong has been involved with the U.S. Cycling Federation for a decade, including two junior national championships in 1989 and a senior national championship two years later.
To increase participation in the junior cycling ranks in the United States, USA Cycling, the national governing body for the sport of cycling, created a junior road cycling series, and Armstrong, one of the world's elite riders lent his name to the series. A two-time Olympian, the native of Austin, Texas has numerous impressive victories on his resume, including the 1993 world professional road race crown. He captured four stage race wins en route to his impressive victory at the 1999 Tour de France.
Since being diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996, and recovering, Armstrong has established the Lance Armstrong Foundation and been involved with the fundraising efforts of his foundation.
In 2000, Armstrong enters his third season as a member of the U.S. Postal Service pro cycling team.
LAJORS continues to be the proving ground for America's young cyclists. The road racing series, which started in 1995 with 34 races and 1,416 junior racers, expanded to 60 races and 2,476 junior and espoir racers in 1999. Among USA Cycling's top competitors who have competed in LAJORS races are Will Frischkorn (fifth at 1999 World Cyclo-Cross Championships), Mike Creed (17 national junior titles), Cecilia Potts (1997 world junior mountain bike champion) and David Zabriskie (1998 U-23 national time trial champion). In addition, some of the top espoir and pro performers who participated include Christian Vande Velde (1999 Tour de France, 1999 World Cup winner), David Clinger (four-time world championship participant) and 1999 elite and espoir national road race champion Danny Pate. Other LAJORS veterans include 1999 world road race competitors Rebecca McClintock (juniors) and Emily Robbins (elite).
"The Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Series is our most successful development program in providing racing opportunities for young riders. In 1999, we retooled that program to provide a more defined path for those young cyclists wishing to pursue their dream of representing the U.S. in international competition. Lance's sincere interest and support for young cyclists has been invaluable for the success of the program."
"Athletes qualify through the race series for regional camps. USA Cycling has always found a way to get my best athletes from the regional camps to an international competition," said USA Cycling's National Athlete Development Manager David Mayer-Oakes, who helps manage the program.
LAJORS races offer categories for boys and girls 10-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18 and 19-22. Every cyclist earns points in each LAJORS event in which he or she competes. Winners in each category get a certificate and are recognized in USA Cycling Magazine. Among the major 1999 road races that included LAJORS races were the Redlands Cycling Classic, the Sea Otter Classic and the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic.
In 1999, cyclists qualified the Tour l'Abitibi and the Tour of Guatemala (espoir). Brad Buccambuso won the Tour l'Abitibi title.
During its five-year tenure, more than 180 LAJORS races have been staged and thousands of junior and espoir riders have participated in the series. |
