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35TH ANNIVERSARY OF VELONEWS

Greg LeMond. John Tomac. Lance Armstrong. Eddy Merckx. In the last 35 years, a select few men and women have defied the odds — and their competitors — to cement their names in the annals of cycling history. Regardless of what type of rider emerges in the next 35 years, the feats accomplished by heroes like Armstrong and Merckx will not be diminished with the passing of time. In fact, they may only grow more storied.

Integrated shift levers. Mountain biking. Clipless pedals. These are but a few of the innovations born during the past 35 years. Here we examine the stories of the people behind the products, races and techniques that changed cycling forever.

“I was excited about U.S. racing, but now I think it’s just about as Mickey Mouse as possible. Compared to Europe, we are infantile.” — American John Howard after Britain’s Milk Race (June 14, 1974)

Eddy and Axel Merckx. Stephen and Nicolas Roche. John and Christian Vande Velde. Cycling has a few examples of sons carrying on the legacies of their fathers. Today, it is young Taylor Phinney and Peter Stetina taking their parents’ legacy into the future.

Covering cycling is usually rewarding, but the job isn’t all roses and VIP treatment. Throughout the years we have collected a barroom evening’s worth of war stories. Here, we share three of them with you.

• WORLD BEAT: Alejandro Valverde off to a good start at Valenciana
• JUST IN: Hot new road products
• TRAINING: On the bike with T-Mobile’s Michael Barry

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