Tour Dupont’s Demise A Blow For U.S. Cycling Americans No Longer Have World-Class Race To Call Own

For the first time in nearly two decades, men’s pro cycling is without a major domestic tour this year, leaving U.S. riders scurrying to compete in less prestigious regional and international races.

The Tour DuPont, which last year began on May 1, had been the world’s third-richest race. It offered a purse of more than $250,000 and was won by some of the world’s finest riders, including Americans Lance Armstrong and Greg LeMond, the three-time Tour de France winner.

But the 11-day Tour DuPont, embroiled in a battle of legalities and egos, was canceled last December after six years. The race’s predecessor, the Tour de Trump, began after the Coors International Classic ended a nine-year run in 1988.

“The loss of a significant international stage race on U.S. soil hurts the U.S. cycling scene,” said Norman Alvis of Colorado Springs, Colo., the former U.S. pro road race champion who competes for Saturn.

“There are now fewer venues for U.S. riders to measure themselves against the world’s best,” he said. “It also takes away the primary forum for our riders to gain recognition or to even get noticed by European pro teams.”

The Tour DuPont, which was centered around the title sponsor’s headquarters, had been scheduled to start Thursday in Wilmington and progress 1,200 miles through Eastern and Southern states.

But DuPont, which had earlier announced it would end its commitment following the 1997 race, withdrew its sponsorship a year early after failed negotiations with Medalist Sports Inc., the Richmond, Va.-based race organizers.

In addition to Armstrong, who is recovering from cancer surgery, and the now-retired LeMond, the Tour DuPont attracted many of the world’s finest riders.

Former world champion Gianni Bugno of Italy, Steve Bauer of Canada, Phil Anderson of Australia and Laurent Fignon of France all participated. Americans Davis Phinney, Jeff Pierce and Andy Hampsten, all Tour de France stage winners, also competed.

“It’s unfortunate because the Tour DuPont was considered one of the top worldwide events,” said Dan Osipow, spokesman for the San Francisco-based Postal Service pro team. “It would have continued to bring over the best team from Europe and the chance for U.S.-based riders to compete against them head-to-head.”