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SubscribeJohn Eustice; Looking backward and forward
Alex Ostroy
The Harlem race has been around for 35 years, it’s a staple of NYC racing with a reasonable start time, excellent views for spectating and a great Manhattan location. But attendance has not been great lately-- the race has started to look like a glorified CRCA race, and the City has noticed. Indifferent to accommodating local racers, they need a completing reason before they shut down city streets in the middle of the day, remember the short lived NYC Cycling Championship downtown? Post-Lance attendance was poor and it was quickly called off. The Harlem race was in jeopardy too.
Enter John Eustice, creator and promoter of ambitions races such as Univest Grand Prix, Tour of Connecticut ( Housatonic Cycling Classic) and The Tour of West Virginia (K-Mart Classic). A New Yorker since 1996, John has the requisite experience dealing with local government, great connections in the cycling industry—you can thank him for bringing Michael Ball and Rock Racing aboard, and, a knack for promotion. As John says, “If cycling is to succeed in America , it has to include some good old fashioned American vulgar showmanship”.
Besides promoting races Eustice has been a professional cyclist; he was the winner of the first two US Pro Championships back in 1982 and 1983. He has been instrumental in creating numerous cycling teams, such as the first USA team to race a major Tour: the Gianni Motta Team that raced the Giro in 1984, and Pepsi-Fanini, winner of the CoreStates race (now Commerce Bank Philadelphia Championship).
John also has a career as a television analyst: His is considered as ESPN’s Cycling Analyst, having covered eight full Tours in Europe for them and ABC Sports, and another five for ESPN from Stateside. He is also the commentator for the Philadelphia race and can be seen on Versus this June for their coverage of the Commerce Bank Philadelphia Championship and the Tour of Pennsylvania . He has unbounded energy for everything cycling. Here is his long overdue story, as told to NYVC:
Winning the 1982 US pro championships, Photo: Robert F. George
I want to ride my bicycle
All I wanted to do from the age of 12 on was ride my bike—I knew I would be a cyclist and I never considered any other career seriously. Even at that age I really wanted to race in Europe and I was already aiming towards doing it. I grew up near Philadelphia and there was a wonderful bike shop, Hill Cycle Shop, one of a handful of legendary bike shops that keep the tradition of professional cycling alive. [Hill Cycle was founded in 1929 by the Casale family, –ed.] There were a few in New York , too: Stuyvesant's, which is now “A” bicycles[A Bicycle Shop], Thomas Avenia in East Harlem, and later, Kissena. There was Princeton Kopps Cycle too, and together they were the East Coast establishment that kept the flame burning for American cycling. The shops were beautiful, full of Campagnolos and Masis, Pinarellos and Colnagos, and beautiful hand-made Vittore Gianni wool jerseys—Eddy Merckx used to get Gianni to make his jerseys. Hill Cycle Shop was an incredible jewel box of a bike shop and a very stimulating place for a boy interested in cycling.
The Rebirth of American Cycling
The Philadelphia race, the San Francisco race, the Tour of Pennsylvania all came of Hill Cycle Shop. It was the Casale family that kept cycling going, and they still run the Pro Cycling Tour with David Chauner. Dave Chauner was an Olympian and Jack Simes was the thoroughbred of the thoroughbreds—they used to come by the shop. The shop had a wonderful club team. It was a mix of people who had been to Europe , like Jackie Simes and Chauner, who raced in Holland for years. And there were old guys with the old American knowledge from the six-day era—I rode with these guys and they really knew how to ride their bikes. I consider myself the last of the old guard, having absorbed the knowledge they passed on to me. Remember that in the twenties cycling was as popular as baseball in America , but after the war, car culture took over America and Americans fell in love with the power and romance of the automobile. You see the same thing in China now, where cities are actually banning bikes because they get in the way of the cars. Bicycles are considered socially backward. In America it’s come full circle to where cycling has become a high-end privileged sport—it’s a natural social evolution.
Junior Racing
In the early seventies the junior racing scene was big. There were a lot of kids ring, 50 to 60 at a local race and hundreds at the nationals. It kept growing through the eighties, the era of LeMond. In New York you’ve always had this phenomenon of a Hispanic kid who could beat anyone in the world. The Wilson Vasquezes—you have always had them in New York. Jesus Portalatin, who was a big Puerto Rican kid—when he was 16 he beat the East German world champion in a match sprint in Trinidad . I came to New York and rode with him, Nelson Saldana, a Colombian track rider and Billy Cooney, another New York kid I used to ride with. So it was me, the wet-behind-the-ears suburban kid with these two New York City toughs. I would come up to New York from PA all the time to race the Kissena track. And the three of us would race all over New England and Canada getting into all sorts of trouble. It was a great time. I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Leaving home
In the eighties when you went to Europe you really went to Europe —there was no Internet or cable TV, no structured training either. I first went when I was 19. I bought a one-way ticket. Later I saw, over and over, these guys coming back from Europe completely destroyed, and when I went it was ten years before that. There was nothing—no support in place for young American riders. It was also very adventurous in a Hemingwayesque sense. The races were great, very unpredictable, and the skill level was tremendous. Now I find the races are much more formulaic. I would get my ass kicked, come home, lick my wounds, work all winter, and go back. I kept trying to break down that wall, and it took me a long time. I learned a lot. I worked the winters in Switzerland moving pianos, and then I would jump back into the racing in the spring. This was also the era of the first generation of plastic shoes and cleats, and there were a raft of injuries because of them. Between the shoes and the Piano moving I had my share.
Joining the “Mafia”
For a time I rode with the mafias, which to people who don’t know are a group of say five or six riders from different teams who work together in secret. Someone would say "I want to win today" and we would say "Okay, but you have to give us the prize money." I had no money—I was working construction. I’d take all the primes and set the race up for someone else to win and take all the money. It was a great way to learn how to win. It was really hard. You have to beat up the field and chase down those breakaways. It was like a school for professional racing—when I got to the pros I knew what to do. They didn’t want me to leave France as they had a good thing going, but I knew I’d never be able to advance to the next level in the mafia. I went to Belgium and Switzerland to try and break into the pros. They had an amateur elite team in Switzerland I raced for. Once, we had the jersey in a big Italian race - Giro di Umbria. An Australian rider approached me and told me that there was nothing I could do—they had 60 Italians working a combine against us in the field so we should just give up now. I said, "Okay man, I give," but I went to the Polish team and made a deal with them. I got them every King of the Mountain point and we hammered the field for the last 60 miles—no one could do a thing. After that race I knew I could be a professional. I could hold my own with the international amateurs, I could go blow for blow with them. I did well in the Milk Race, 3rd on points and a few second places on stages (before crashing – I finished though) in 1981. But I was on my own, hustling, moving pianos, and trying to make it with no support.
Going Pro
When I finally got to the point where I could ride with the pros and hold my own, be strong once and a while, it was almost too late. I knew how to ride my bike. Of course when I got there it was terribly intimating to ride with the great riders. When you ride with Francesco Moser or Hinault or De Vlaminck—holy cow they were so good. I was a teammate of Sean Kelly’s for a while. In the pros it was different; I couldn’t get in shape soon enough in the season and by the time I finally came around it always seemed like it was too late. I was a NYC bike rider like George Hincapie; I could go all day long, know how to handle the machine. I had a resting heart rate of 28, and I had a sprint. But there were certainly guys who came to Europe and made it happen. Look at Robbie McEwen—there was no support from Australia when he came over, so I can't really complain.
There are so many potential champions in New York City . Every sport has trouble attracting new participants these days, but cycling has been gaining momentum lately. Miguel Indurain started as a runner, the 440. He went to try a bicycle race where they gave him a bike to use. He won a coke and a sandwich. He thought that was nice and he came back the next week. That’s the kind of program you need to attract young people. With what’s happening with the energy crisis these days, you get the sense that young people think bicycles are cool again. When I go riding in the suburbs people actually cheer you instead of running you over like they did ten years ago. There is a sense that bikes are a good thing. The problem is the sport has never been properly presented to young people. What the American media does now with the Tour de France is not attractive to kids, but if you do it right it could be very attractive.
What I think is that it’s going to be someone like Michael Ball [of Rock Racing] who will find the key to make this thing cool. He knows how to tap into what motivates kids. People are going to have to come along and put some good old-fashioned vulgar American showbiz spin on it to make it super cool. It's not the Tour de France—the media is much too tour-centric right now. Look at the Giro: it’s a much, much better race, three weeks of total chaos, its chaotic and unpredictable but beautiful. The best race of the year, really. Look what’s happening with cricket. The Indians have aligned themselves with Bollywood, the games are shorter and more intense with gobs of money, and for the first time the head of the Cricket federation is outside of Europe . There is a real opportunity for dynamic change in cycling. And the future of cycling is right here in America —that’s without a doubt to me. We won 11 out of the last 20 Tour de Frances, our team and training structures have become role models through out the world, our bike manufactures are the most innovative. The only thing we haven’t taken the lead on is events. Now is the time to do it. However, I don’t think we are going to do it by copying the Tour de France. I love the Tour, but I don’t think that's the kind of racing that’s going to capture the American public's imagination. I think we need a fresh look at things. The sport needs to be grown here not as an imitation of Europe , not even as Americans who conquer this esoteric sport in Europe . You have to create a uniquely American sport.
After Racing
I always got into the press as a racer somehow. I found Roberto Gaggioli in Italy and unleashed him on America , it was my joke on American cycling. I also served as his translator. I started doing live commentary for races. I also started promoting races. The first was the Tour of West Virginia—that became my baby. I figured if I put the race together I could get on ESPN, and that’s what happened. I loved designing the race. And of course there is a huge political aspect to making a race that I found I enjoyed—getting permits to use roads, getting the mayor's office and the police on board. I believe we are doing a good thing with a bicycle race—it’s a good thing for the community. Bicycles bring people together, instead of cars, malls and Burger Kings. It’s different and positive and pretty. I was made an honorary citizen of West Virginia for that, right after Garth Brooks.
I remember hosting the press conference for the New York City Cycling Championship race the year Lance raced it. The room was full of reporters. Lance answers his questions, and then I announce we have Ivan Dominguez, the winner. I turn around and the room is empty. They all walked out, save JP Partland and like one other guy. This is the problem when the sport is reduced to the face of one hero. I would never diminish what he accomplished or how many people he brought in to the sport, but he became a bigger story than the sport and it was hard to convert the attention to cycling.
At first, like a lot of people I felt Michael Ball was doing everything wrong. Then I saw an interview with him on Velonews, and I said, wait a minute—there's something more here. I went to California to meet Michael—I wanted to get him involved in the Harlem race. My wife is a Blue Chip fashionista, so I’ve been around that world for twelve years and I know how to deal with them. The problem is he has been dealing with people who don’t get what he is about at all. I understand his world a bit better than maybe some of the cycling world does, how much image counts. Fashion people live on the edge, that’s just what they do. I believe he is an incredibly big-hearted person, and he loves this sport.
One thing is for sure: If you don’t go to the Harlem race you are going to wish you had. There are some surprises in store. Harlem is New York ’s race—it’s a perfect race course, it’s photogenic, and I believe we can build a much bigger audience. We made the races shorter with more primes, and we have a Jumbotron. The big thing is the NYC Sport Commission and the DOT signed on, and they will be attending along with many other civic leaders and local celebrities. It will be broadcast on WCSN TV and on WCSN.com. You can see yourself on TV and online when you go home. It will be a shame if you are a woman a Cat 3 or a Master and miss that opportunity to really race in a show. A real show.
Used to know Billy from Jackie Simes bike shop in Nanuet NY back in 75 or so. That was a wild place to hang out back in the day!
John has been a great member of the US cycling community for so long. It's about time he got a full interview, excellent work.
Yes Great read, i had meet John on 9W but never would have imagined he was this accomplished.
The City did not shut down the NYC Cycling Championships. Casale and Chauner lost BMC Software as their race sponsor and pulled out. City Sports Commissioner Ken Posziba asked me if CRCA could take over the race.
The City has also never expressed any problem with the Harlem race or threatened to shut it down. David Walker got the permits for the previous 34 years and he has gotten the City permits for this year's race.
In my opinion the race needed a "boost" so I got John together with David to try to make the race into something bigger. Looks like John has done a great job.
The first or second issue of Velo News I sas had that picture of him at the US Pros on the cobbles. I hadn't started racing but it looked so cool.
He rode for two years with Sean Kelly
Community/City support was via the local guy David Walker.
Eustice is getting the top racers back, and the sponsors
Great
Who win be in the top five in all cats?
What are we looking for in the races to lash out? Will be exciting to know these things. Like a playbill for cycling.
I agree that kids and junior development are the key to building more interest in the sport. Otherwise, it will remain a kooky fringe sport that only the participants care about. Look at soccer in this country. Attendance at a NY Red Bulls game is 90 percent kids/teen teams. Interesting that Beckham is to American soccer what Lance is to cycling .
I love the Vitus 979 Aluminum w/ Mavic on the cobbles - just like King Kelly...oh yeah,
nice article also...
It is great seeing John Eustice in Central Park doing laps and racing at times also. I love what he said about "The Lance Effect". I can remember the post Lance years of cycling when I could watch the Spring Classics and the Giro on OLN with infinite repeats almost commercial free. While Lance introduced many to cycling, where are these same people now. Thanks John for helping to save a great race for NYC.
Especially with teh point abou thow we are running a losing race by trying o emulate the tour de france...American should focus it's attention on Criteriums and one day races with "philly" like walls. This is america, American Gladioator, American Idol, WWF....If we want to market our sport such that it gains a little mass appeal then I think you need ot know your audience. That is why I like the way Ball is approaching this race...and I couldn't be happier i bailed on Housatonic for the 4PM showdown!
Does he still blindly support Floyd? His frothing at the mouth insistance on Floyd's innocence during Landis' fund raisers made me question his sincerity.
John Eustice, second only to Adrian Karsten
there is a rumor that ZIdane might play for the NY Red Bulls
Lack of juniors isn't the problem with cycling. It's the grown men behaving badly. Anyway, why market it to the masses? So we can't get into races? So 100 guys can get a raise? To satisfy nationalism through bike racing? It's fine the way it is.
John has always been the greatest cycling advocate around, providing unconditional support for events and racers. Bringing top racers (Tafi, Jalbert, Steels, Boonen, etc) to his super hard races, has helped our up-and-coming racers get a real taste of Euro racing. Congratulations on a great cycling career and many thanks for his years of hard work for the cycling community. It is greatly appreciated.
Great Interview. Great figure for NYC cycling too. Thanks.
To the last comment. At the end of the day Floyd got unfair shake at getting to the truth - guilty or not. A lot of the facts and factors that lead to that stage 17 ride made sense to me. Based on John E. career written about in this interview, I give his backing of this case a little more validity.
Go to www.premierecycling.net for some cool races coming up.
Go to www.premierecycling.net for some cool races coming up.
Go to www.premierecycling.net for some cool races coming up.
where he can headbutt anyone he pleases.
America, where the euros come to retire.
where can i go to find out about cool upcoming races?
What is so great about the way the sport is now?
Lee, are you still defending Floyd?
He didn't get a fair shake?! I mean, come on!
You really are a nitwit.
It's affordable, mostly safe, racers are generally good people self-selected, not forced into the sport by parents or coaches or even employers, multiple races to choose from every week, pressure to do well is tolerable (more so than high school football). At the same time, many races can't handle more people. I don't care if bike racing is on TV or in the papers. I have few complaints about it. I understand some people want to make more money from it. Good for them, I guess.
I agree. The day my boss and co-workers line up at a PP race or out of town race is the day I stop racing.
I would love it if my co-workers and boss would show up to my races. The more fan fare the better. Anybody that writes that they wouldnt like to see people lining the course cheering on local races (cpk - pp) are lying to themselves and shortsighted.
For the record - many share Eustice's views on Floyd.
true. or increased exposure could create additional races with easier permitting.
I can totally understand non-racers not wanting to watch bike races, but the Harlem race will be decent for spectators. Maybe not something they'd want to watch every weekend, but perhaps as interesting as going out to watch a parade, or the marathon, or something like that. Cool for an hour or two.
I think yall should send a note to co-workers -- I sent the following and think I got one taker (out of 30 people in my office):
"Some friends of mine are promoting a major bike race on Sunday in Harlem that
I think the permitting for Harlem has not been too hard, and this year both the DOT and NYC Sports Commission are on board -- and I would not be surprised if one or both commissioners show up. Parks Commissioner Benepe likes bike racing too. The hard nut to crack for permits, I think, is the police and local community boards. David Walker has the relationships to make it work for the Skyscraper. We need that for other places in the city.
WOW! John really seems to have transformed his physique in the 80's. He went from scrawny to diesel... the "gun show" and the shoulders are impressive... suspiciously impressive....
Do you argue with your coworkers about everything under the sun as well? If you weren't so difficult maybe more than one would show and you'd be a better ambassador for the sport.
Thanks for the report and insights, John. It's been fun riding with you a few times in Central Park and you've convinced me to be there on Sunday. Good luck with the event.
To JFT:
Do have evidence to support your contention that one person from your office is interested in going to Harlem?
Otherwise, I think I'm safer without a helmet and am keeping my tires at 120 psi. I'm also going to be looking for JP when I'm up at Harlem. He owes me rent money.
What I meant was the day my boss and co-workers take the line to compete in a race with me is the day I stop racing.
same viewpoint stands. I would love to see my boss or coworkers getting interested in racing. Not only that but if I didnt like'em, more the opportunity to put'em in check if he/she tries to get away in a break.
would be the girl in the picture, that is another one who has been around the 'race scene' for many years. Her interview has been done check here:
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=5511
Great article Alex. Top notch.
I just had a big chicken sandwich and a beer
the back of the field
This race will be very cool
Thanks for the history Alex
Who is JFT?
So if the best 1 or 2 from each of the best teams collude to fix results at Harlem, everybody OK with that?
is that a real mustache. has cozza seen that pic?
This action caught on camera this morning!
ttp://velopaint.blogspot.com/2008/06/rock-racing-in-central-park-pre-harlem.html
now copy and paste with the included 'h':
This action caught on camera this morning!
http://velopaint.blogspot.com/2008/06/rock-racing-in-central-park-pre-ha...
http://www.myfoxwebcasts.com/
BTW - I heard Prospect is gonna get "Rock-ed" tomorrow...actually that is just a guess
I'm going over to repave the course. Who can join me?
Nice job by the rock racing crew pulling their escalades on to the course today. One might think the pros would know better.
that wasn't rock racing. those were the organic athlete escalades...idiot
Right on Fred Rod'w wheel coming into the last K when some Toyota United guys chopped me off it
We were 80 riders back, but still. Right on Freddie's wheel!
I know the usual suspects will complain about the Rockus Interruptus today -- and it was a little dodgy when they jumped in the field -- but c'mon, you have to admit, it was pretty admirable that they rousted themselves out of bed to go to show up at a Brooklyn race. Ball may be a freak but at least he's a freak who is trying to reach the grass roots.
Still, I'm sure some people will find a way to bitch about it, so bitch away, this oughta be interesting to read....
"Ball may be a freak but at least he's a freak who is trying to reach the grass roots."
Come on guys - this is a glorified beer league but with a bunch of self obsessed maniacs who watch their weight too much to drink beer.
Mr. Capt. America Freddie Rodriguez, and Rashaan Bahati, and a bunch of other Rock guys came out. Would you be as upset if Chris Webber came and interrupted your intramural basketball game, or if Don Mattingly wanted to take a few swings during your softball game?
Having Rock show up with the semi, ball, and an entourage was cool as hell.
Anyone who is bitching...should keep their mouths shut. Those guys were nice, showed up in force to support the local race, hopped in to mix it up (if you have a problem with that you are moronic) and then post the race hung out a little and mentioned they are excited for tomorrow and looking forward to that same group of local guys showing up again.
How is that not a good thing for that race?
Please someone explain a CON to them showing up....It was fantastic.
I liken it to a couple major leaguers coming into town to hop into a college game...you let em hop in.
I would have rather had the 2008 Rock Racing crew show up vs. teh 2004 discovery team...oh yeah, they would have never showed up and oh yeah...don't think they ever threw big money behind a local event either.
I am a big fan of Michael Ball and looking forward to 4PM tomrorow.
...I think some of those individuals that were bitching were just upset by the fact that they were no longer the big fish in our little pond. It was great that Rock Racing made the effort to make an appearance (....Prospect park of all places). They were all very gracious.....lighten up - so this week all the photos won't be focused on the usual suspects for the millionth time