USA Cycling looking for next champ

PARIS — The first Lance Armstrong is still racing while the search goes on for the next great American champion.

He wouldn’t have it any other way.

The six-time Tour champion has been active with USA Cycling’s efforts to develop young riders who could someday compete for the yellow jersey in the Tour de France.

“There can really never be another Lance,” said Stephen Johnson, chief operating officer and director of athletics for the national governing body. “But we are actively looking for riders who can compete in Europe, the big leagues of cycling.”

Before Olympic cycling allowed pros to compete for the first time at the 1996 Atlanta Games, USA Cycling’s emphasis was on building an amateur base in pursuit of Olympic medals. But now the group’s efforts are aimed at bringing talented Americans to Europe to hone their skills.

“Lance, George Hincapie, Tyler Hamilton and Bobby Julich were all part of our development programs,” Johnson said. “It is so exciting that they’re all in the thick of the competition here at the Tour.”

Members of the Champions Club, composed of the biggest donors to USA Cycling’s development program, paid their own way to France to see the race this year and to ride some of the same routes taken by the Tour. Johnson led one group up the legendary ascent of Mont Ventoux, considered one of the toughest climbs used in the Grand Tours.

Johnson said he hopes more grass-roots support comes in, as well.

“If everyone who races or rides a bike gave just five or 10 dollars, we could make a huge impact on the sport,” he said.

On a more practical level, racing in the major pro leagues of cycling can lead to more Olympic medals. Dave Zabriskie, a young rider on the U.S. Postal team who came up through the development ranks, didn’t make the Tour squad but is preparing for the time trial event in Athens.

“He’s had some bad luck with injuries,” Johnson said. “But we think he can be a great racer.”