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Show 5 SUMMER THE UTAH H N I L C E ALEX LEE Chronicle Feature Writer Only a handful of Americans have ever finished the Tour de France, cycling's most prestigious and grueling event. Although racers in the Tour are celebrities in France, few people in the University of Utah community know about the two U alumni who have ridden in the famous race. Marty Jemison. who graduated in '89 with a bachelor's degree in economics, raced as a member of the United States Postal Service team during the '97 and '98 Tour de France. Laura Howat raced in the Tour Feminin, the female version of the Tour de France, with the Tissot team in '88. She finished her undergraduate degree at the U in finance during '84 and then received a graduate degree in accounting in 1990. The men's Tour de France is a three-wee- k event that covers more than. 2,000 miles. Each year, the organizers invite the 21 best professional teams from all over the world. These teams then select their nine best racers to participate in the Tour. For most professional racers, it's the culmination of a career. The Tour is the Superbowl of cycling. Half a million spectators line the streets each day, and 5,000 journalists cover the event. When Jemison was selected in '97, he was ecstatic. "Even to this day, I think it's the greatest chal- -- lenge I've ever experienced," said Jemison. "I believe it's the greatest challenge in any sport." Riding more than 100 miles everyday for three weeks is not a problem for professional racers. But under the intense race conditions of the Tour, more than a quarter of these elite athletes throw in the towel each year. Of the 27 American men who have participated in the Tour, 18 have finished. "It's difficult to comprehend how hard it was and that I finished it twice," Jemison reflected. "It's not just the distance or all the mountains." Jemison explained that having the 200 fastest riders going against each other in such a race creates an "exponential effect" on the speed and intensity. In a professional bike race, each team usually has one or two "protected riders." The team high-stak- ft mi 1,1 t!ihiiib es tah's French Connection: Two U Alumni Reflect on Riding in the Tour de France believes these riders have the best chance of winning. Other members of the team, called "domestiques" by the French, sacrifice themselves to help keep these designated hitters fresh until crucial moments in a race. Jemison rode as a domestique during the two Tours and finished 96th and 47th respectively. During the first Tour, he was happy just to help his teammates and finish. In his second Tour, he finished fifth in a stage, and that has become one of the highlights of his career. The Tour for Laura Howat was just as demanding and rewarding. "I was in a euphoria all the time," she said. "I had everything. I got to ride hard, see Europe, see the men race, visit the culture and architecture. It was hard to sleep because it was so fun." The Societe de Tour de France, the organizing committee of the Tour, held a female version of e It was a the Tour from event that started a week later than the men's race. The women rode the last 35 to 50 miles of the men's route each day. '84-'8- y, 9. 1,200-mil- a ALEX LEE Chronicle Feature Writer This is the official site of the Tour de France. It offers coverage of each day's racing during the three-wee- k event. The s?.te offers coverage in several languages, including English. www.usnsprocvding.corn The professional team sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service is the only American team invited to the Tour de France this year. This official Web site has news, photos and biographies of each team member. www.IanceArm3fr0ng.com The man who saw death and then came back to win the Tour de France twice is favored to win again this year. Follow his every move at his official Web site. You can see his training schedule, help his charity foundation and read his wife's journal.. hour-by-ho- Following bicycle racing in the United States is a trying experience. While baseball and basketball get pages of game summary, commentary and analysis, cycling is lucky if it gets a line. Now that we have the World Wide Web, cable and satellite television, American cycling fans can get their daily dose of bile racing. So when the premier event of the second-most-watch- ed sport (behind soccer) starts next month, don't settle With just finding out who won each day's stage at the Tour de France. Here are the places to find out more: ur . www.ofnfv.coni www.velonews.com Velonews is the most popular periodical e version among bicycle racers. The news is the place to get the most e mountain-bikand road on racing racing around the world. www.letour.fr on-lin- up-to-d- CHRONICLE If you are fortunate enough to have digital cable, you can watch live coverage daily on the Outdoor Life Network channel. The commentary, by Phil Ligget, Paul Sherwcn and Bob Roll, is the best in the sport. The Web site also has the schedule. FEATURE EDITOR aleechronicle.utah.edu CASSANDRA Howat had never ridden in Europe and had to adapt quickly to the big crowds, narrow and twisting streets, bumpy cobblestone roads and, of course, the steep mountain passes of the Pyrenees and the Alps. On a stage in the French Alps, despite equipping her bicycle with gearing lower than anything she had ever used in the U.S., Howat still had a hard time pedaling up the switchback-lade- n mountain roads. If requested, spectators would usually help the stragglers by pushing them up the road. Howat quickly learned the French phrase "pouse moi." She still remembers it as one of her toughest days on a bicycle. "I wondered if I had to get off and walk," Howat recalled. Sometimes, it's not just the demanding terrain the racers have to worry about. In a stage where Howat was one of the leaders in the race, her tire went flat. Her team car wasn't nearby, so she received a wheel change from another support vehicle. As she was chasing to catch up to the other riders, her speeding team car finally caught up and hit her from behind. The footage of her flipping in the air was shown repeatedly on French television. The French police even gave her a special courage award for the acrobatic feat. Unhurt except for a few scrapes and bruises, Howat finished with the main group that day. She eventually finished the Tour in 38th place overall and second among the Americans. The climb to the top level is long and arduous in any sport, but it is especially difficult for American cyclists because cycling is a marginal sport in the U.S. Living and training in Europe is a must for aspiring professionals because the level of competition at home is inadequate. "The amateur scene is really advanced in Europe," said Jemison, who has spent the last 11 cycling seasons in Europe. "It's a step above the professional scene in America." In addition to coping with the higher level of competition, American racers also have to deal with adjusting to the culture and the isolation. "Being the only American wasn't easy," Jemison said about racing on European teams. "I was so focused that I didn't let my surroundings affect me too much." Jemison started cycling to commute while attending the U in '83. He started racing in '87 and moved quickly through the local ranks. After graduating in '89, he wasn't sure what to do, so he spent a summer racing in Europe. "It was more of a kind of thing," Jemison said. Having made up his mind about pursuing a career in cycling, he returned to Europe for the following seasons. His breakthrough year came during his third trip to Europe, when he had n finishes in amateur races. wins and 52 top-2- 0 HARTLEY After spending a year on the U.S. national team, Jemison turned professional and earned a spot on Team Wordperfcct, a Dutch team sponsored by the Utah software company. Jemison described Team Wordperfcct as a "big budget, powerhouse team." The racers traveled in chartered flights and private buses. "They really took care of us," Jemison said. Turning professional meant that Jemison had to prepare for longer and even harder races. riding four to seven hours each day and logging more than 12,000 miles each year, but that wasn't a big adjustment for Jemison. "I was training with professionals when! I was an amateur," he said. "Most amateurs were afraid to do that." In addition to being one of the few Americans in the pro ranks, Jemison was also unique because he had a college degree. He estimates that less than percent of the professional riders have graduated from college. Waiting until after college to commit to cycling gave Jemison a late start. By the time he turned pro, Jemison was 27, whereas most racers red-carp- He-wa- s 1 see TOUR DE FRANCE, page 8 0toi rA'fifA uI Qraduate Laura Howat raced f female Nf the the fTl?wM 'n Tur Feminin, Tour of de the version France, t t$i CHARTLEYCHRONICLE.UTAH.EDU 581-704- 1 j |
