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| Click image to watch. Slide show and report by The Union |
Friday June 15th update: Steephill.tv correspondent, Mike Norris, will be at the Tour de Nez Criterium and Nevada City Classic bike races this weekend with his new Nikon D200 camera. He's an excellent photographer and with his new camera we can expect some more great action shots. The 'Classic is one of the big races on the Northern California road race calendar. It has a great history and this year will be it's 47th year running making it one of the longest running bike races in the United States. As a young Reno native, Greg Lemond won it three times in the early '80; see the history excerpt below. — Steve
| Tuesday June 19th update: Mike Norris has posted his Tour de Nez Criterium report and photos: • Tour de Nez Pro12 photos • Tour de Nez Masters photos |
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| American Saunier Duval rider, Aaron Olson, and Toyota-United's Tony Cruz hitting the hill at last year's 'Classic. (2006 Results) photo: Mike Norris |
1979-81: THE"RENO ROCKET" SOARS TO THREE WINSThe 19th Annual "Classic" saw the emergence of the dominant force in American Cycling through the change of the decades. Greg LeMond, of Reno, Nevada was winning everything in sight, including a gold and bronze medal at the World Championships. He dominated the Nevada City field, becoming only the second junior ever to win the senior race. Greg did it with a mid-race tear that quickly dropped the field. Army Lieutenant Bill Watkins was 2nd, nearly a minute behind the win ner. Cindy Olivarri began her own string of victories in the Women's division. In 1980, the record entry of 111 seniors had two things on their minds at the start of the race; the new longer, tougher 1.13 mile course, and Greg LeMond. Both took their toll early. The longer course and the 96 degree heat wilted the racers; all but the "Reno Rocket" that is. Greg reeled in the field with military-like efficien cy, lapping all but the top three places by mid-race. Out of the pack, though, came unknown Toby Power, who raced a nearly solo effort, finally passing a gassed Keith Vierra in the final laps to take second. The 12,000 fans cheered Toby..Toby at each passing...a star was rising. Cindy Olivarri took her 2nd consecutive Women's Race, and another name of the future, Gavin Chilcot, was the class of the underclassmen. Now sporting the colors of his new employers, the team of World Cham pion Bernard Hinalt-Renault-Gitane, Greg returned for his final visit to Nevada City. He saved his best for last. Now racing professionally in Europe, trips to the U.S. were rare, so Greg used this one to decimate the classiest field ever assembled on the West Coast in front of 17,500 fans. Greg took off on a test break on the second lap, "and nobody followed me..." And that was that. He passed Olympic hero Eric Heiden on the 15th lap. Asked if Greg said anything as he applied the lap, Heiden later commented, "I don't know, he went by too fast."courtesy of the Nevada City Classic |