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Mailbag: a fund for Steve; more on Boonen and Cavendish; and 'spoiler' solutions proposed.

Published: Jun. 1, 2009

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Price remembers Larsen

Editor,

I grew up in Northern Califorina and raced with and against Steve Larsen since we were 12 years old; we continued to battle for nearly 20 years.

Steve was a complete rider: he could climb, tt, sprint, and ride on and off road well.

The beauty of racing against Steve was he had the ability to make you a better rider. Steve encouraged you ride faster, stronger and smarter because he was so tenacious.

Reading the quote from Mike (Steve's brother) made me laugh (and cry); anyone who has ridden within half a wheel of Steve Larsen has heard that.

But my most fond memories are from events like the Davis criterium (Steve's hometown race). Every 4th of July we'd go to Davis and stay with Steve and his family. The heat was unbearable and Steve would take home the lion's share of the primes and wins, but going to the fire works show and eating Connie's great food will never be forgotten.

Steve — RIP. Carrie, Massimo, Amalia, Gunnar, Marco, Matteo, Connie and Mike — all my best.

Daryl Price,
Hailey, Idaho

Remembering Larsen

Editor,

I was one of the fortunate riders to get the invite to the winter training camps at USCF training compound in Colorado Springs back in the winter of 1988.

Steve Larsen was one of the “A” listers training there prior to the National team spring campaign. It was great to get to know some of the characters that winter and Steve was one of them.

Coach Eddy B. said he had more talent than all of us put together. He was right! I can’t believe he is gone. Take nothing for granted!!!

Cris Williams,
Park City, Utah

A memorial and fund in Larsen's memory

Editor,

As some of you may be aware, Steve Larsen, one of the most accomplished cyclists and triathletes, tragically died May 19, 2009, at the young age of 39. While the exact cause of death is not yet known, he was in the midst of doing what he loved most, running with a group of athletes. Steve leaves behind his wife Carrie of 16 years and five children – Amalia (13), Massimo (11), Gunnar (4) and twins Marco and Mateo (2).

Steve was extremely well respected in the business and athletic communities, and was seemingly able to balance his family, professional and athletic commitments with amazing skill and dedication. Most of all he was a devoted father of five young children. If you are unfamiliar with Steve’s biography take a moment to check out www.rememberstevelarsen.com. I am sure you would agree that someone with his talent, on many levels, is a rare find today.

I have followed Steve’s athletic career for many years and only recently came to know him on a personal level when I moved to Bend, Oregon, a few years ago. Steve and I worked on a few business opportunities together and shortly after I arrived in Bend, Steve and his family moved across the street from us.

With the tragic death of Steve, our entire community is mourning his loss. As a father of three young children, I cannot even imagine how difficult it must be for the Larsen family at this moment. Just imagine you or your spouse vanishing and the enormous void that would be left behind. What do you tell your young children and just imagine how devastating it would be to them. Their tragedy is so “close to home” that I felt compelled to reach out to my network of friends, as well as the broader athletic community, to ask you to join me in supporting Steve’s family.

A few days before Steve’s passing, I was discussing with him an upcoming race that I was contemplating – a 100k ultramarathon. Steve gave me encouragement to participate in the race and with that I entered the event literally the day before he passed away. In recognition of Steve and to support his family, I have set out to raise $100,000 for the Larsens. While this is no way will ease their suffering, it will give the family some financial breathing room for the long road ahead of them.

It is in this spirit of helping those in need, that I personally ask each of you join me in this helping this wonderful cause.

Specifically, please give generously and help support the Larsen family during their time of need. Checks can made out to the Steve Larsen Memorial Fund and be sent to Umpqua Bank, 390 SW Century Drive, Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97702 or you can donate directly at www.rememberstevelarsen.com. All funds received will be directed to the Larsen Family. If you are so inclined, take a moment to write a short note to the Larsen Family with support and encouragement.

Like you, I typically don’t look forward to receiving monetary requests or chain letters, but this is simply one cause that cannot go overlooked. It is times like this that we need to do the right thing and support someone who offered a tremendous amount to others. Steve was the type of person who always had encouraging words for people and his life should be an example followed by others. Please “pay it forward” and assist this most deserving family during this time of need.

Thank you for your time and I am hopeful you will be supportive.

David Uri,
Bend, Oregon

Stop the Lance bashing

Editor,

I am not one to jump on bandwagons, I'm much more likely to cheer for the underdog, but I am truly sick of all the Lance haters that blog, Twitter, or comment anywhere else they can garner an audience.

The simple fact is that Lance Armstrong has done more for the sport of cycling than every last one of these nuts that try to bash him, call him a doper, and every other reason they can think of to express some hate towards him, have or ever will do for cycling in their lifetimes.

Not only is he responsible for millions of Americans, and for that matter, riders around the world, to choose to ride a bicycle for fitness, fun, and competition, he has used his popularity to raise millions of dollars towards the cure of cancer, a disease that touches us all in some way or another, cyclist or not. How ironic that many of these people that hate him so have likely directly, or indirectly, benefited from his charity, whether they may have faced cancer, or had relatives or close friends that have faced this terrible disease.

I ask this of the next one of you that decides to attack Lance, in whatever form, what have you done for mankind? Can you honestly say you've done a tiny fraction of what Lance has done. I'm not necessarily referring to money. Have you volunteered to help someone in need. Have you done anything charitable in your life at all ? We would all do well to look in the mirror and be honest about ourselves before we criticize others, especially someone like Lance Armstrong, who has done so much for so many.

That goes for everyone of us, from the guy that never rides the bike he owns to Greg Lemond. What have you done for someone other than yourself ?

Ed Portmann
Franklin, Kentucky

Race radios

Editor,

Thanks for the very interesting discussion about race radios in “The Explainer.” Having read the article, my suggestion to the UCI would be either to outlaw race radios, or to legalize doping. They appear to amount more or less to the same thing.

Eric Hansmeier,
Keene, New Hampshire

Spoiler solution: Avert thy gaze

Editor,

Re: the request for no race spoilers (in the May 26 Mailbag).

Do what I do: Squint your eyes enough so that you can't make out the headlines, but can still find the live update report button. Avert gaze if necessary. Don't open until the flash application comes up. Enjoy the suspense.

John Kominek
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Editor's Note: Thannks, John. Or you could just bookmark Velonews.com/live. No squinting required.

Tom and Mark

Editor,

First, about Tom Boonen, I think he an incredibly gifted rider with a great style. That said, he also appears to be a young man with a lot of personal issues to work out (only one of which is his substance abuse/dependence).

Perhaps the most reasonable approach would be to hold his job for him as long as he is in a rehabilitation program and hold out a return to racing as the carrot. Thus far all we have seen is the stick and most people with addiction issues don't respond well to that approach. Actually MOST of us don't!!

The treatment of emotional and substance abuse problems has come a long way from stoning or casting out! We talk about recovery as a process, not as an event. Tom needs the assistance of compassionate therapists and the support of the public.

Yes, Boonen should not race the Tour de France. Whether or not we want to admit it, cycling's fair-haired boy has committed a crime! Cocaine is an illegal drug. Perhaps that is why it is not on the WADA list; in most countries the possession of and use of cocaine is prohibited by law caries an almost automatic jail sentence. Are we going to hold Tom Boonen to a different standard that the rest of us because he is a prominent sports figure? I hope not! Lest we forget, Jan Ullrich was sanctioned for using Ecstasy and he was Germany's fair haired boy at the time too.

On to the other issue in the May 26 Mailbag: Mark Cavendish — I agree whole-heartedly with Dennis Osborne who commented that Cavendish should not have abandoned the Giro! I'm sure Mark worked hard for Columbia while he was there and that he left the Giro with the blessing of management, but I don't think it should be done.

It is one thing for a rider to fall ill, or worse get injured, and not be able to continue a race. To go to a race to rack up some wins and bolster your own career and not be there for your team when they may need a little boost or another domestique to get through a tough stage is just poor form.

It is just this sort of treatment that contributes to the kind of problems that Tom Boonen is dealing with. Right now Mark Cavendish is Great Britain's fair haired boy and anyone who has seen an interview with him knows he has quite an ego!

Let's not forget the word TEAM is at the center of bicycle racing!

Bill Levey
Reisterstown, Maryland