The last two seasons of Friday night racing were among the best attended and most profitable in the track’s existence. The numerous developmental programs are overflowing with exuberant kids, including my own daughter, Devon, who won the national championship for the girls 10 to 12 age group in 2010. Even the Tuesday night Pro-Am racing draws a sizeable, enthusiastic crowd. (It helps that admission is free, a local craft beer costs only three bucks, and the concession stand serves organic hamburgers and fries.)
From well before the sun rises to the dark hours of the evening, the velodrome hums with people enjoying the pure pleasure of riding a bicycle on a banked oval. The Valley Preferred Cycling Center offers early-morning cycling classes for adults, open training sessions in the afternoons, and nightly competitions 7 days a week—from 5-year-old kids racing in the PeeWee Peddlers on their BMX bikes to the employees of local businesses prepping for the rivalry-filled Corporate Challenge. My talented, passionate, and hardworking staff somehow makes sure all this activity flows smoothly during the course of each season.
In the fall of 2011, I’m inducted into the US Bicycling Hall of Fame. I honestly nearly forgot that 5 years had passed since my retirement, the minimum requirement for eligibility. I make it into the Hall of Fame my first time on the ballot—a great honor. I travel to California for the induction ceremony.
The US Bicycling Hall of Fame recently moved to Davis, California, one of the nation’s best cycling cities. It previously sat in a small storefront on the finishing strip of the country’s longest running criterium in Somerville, New Jersey. The new building is situated in Davis’s Central Park, among delicately landscaped gardens.
Plaques and memorabilia honoring the sport’s illustrious past line the walls inside the 8,000-square-foot Hall of Fame. I read the bios of champions such as A. A. Zimmerman, who won the very first match-sprint world championship in 1893; the incomparable Major Taylor; and Frank Kramer, whose photo hangs on the wall of my office back in T-Town. Twenty years before me, in 1991, Bob Rodale was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a contributor to the sport, specifically for his construction of a world-class velodrome in a vacant field in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania.
I look at the plaque with my name on it and think of the thousands of miles ridden and the tons of weight lifted; my blood, running with sweat across the surface of my smoothly shaved skin; the relationships that were either strengthened through my competitive determination or swept aside like so many opponents. I look at my plaque and think of the steadfast pursuit, and ultimate attainment, of a singular goal under asphyxiating pressure.
I look at my plaque, hanging among the pantheon of cycling’s greatest champions, and I think, shit, that was one hell of a ride.
Back in T-Town, on one of the final Tuesday night Pro-Ams of the racing season, three generations of Nothsteins show up at the track—a common occurrence when the weather’s nice and Tyler’s racing. Tyler is a teenager now and making his own way through the track cycling ranks. So far as I can tell, he’s truly enjoying the journey.
My dad positions himself on a stool at turn four, a stately figure peering over the railing. The rest of my family, including my mom and Christi’s dad, who remains a fervent racing fan, congregate nearby. Christi drifts through the crowd, mingling with old friends as she keeps one eye on Devon and the other on the action on the track.
For Christi and me, my retirement, and the redefining of our roles as parents and partners, proved initially rocky. But we’ve since settled into our post-Olympic life as a cohesive family, with Christi remaining the consummate, positive force behind the scenes. (I do, however, make my own cereal these days. Thank-you very much.)
Gil hangs out at the track near where he and Whitehead used to drink beer and cheer for me on Tuesday nights. But now, Gil reserves Tuesday evenings to spend time with his own 11-year-old son, Joey. They eat monstrous Italian hoagies and shout for Tyler (long and lanky, he’s nicknamed Bones) as he battles men twice his age.
Though Gil counts his unwavering allegiance to helping me win gold as one of his life’s greatest achievements, he never gave up his own competitive ambitions. In the fall of 2011, he traveled to Manchester, England, to compete in the masters world championships. He won the match sprint in the 55 to 59 age category and added another world title to the junior world title he won 37 years earlier. Gil celebrated so wildly after his win in Manchester, the officials gave him a warning.
Whitehead planned an end-of-season trip to T-Town, he surely would have loved watching Tyler race, but he never made it. He passed away unexpectedly during the summer of 2011. Whitehead’s death affected me deeply, as if I lost a piece of my childhood along with him. As my racing career progressed, Whitehead morphed from a mentor to a competitor, and then to a member of my team. He remained part of a close circle of people I trusted and felt comfortable around during the height of my gold medal push. He intrinsically understood the demons I battled, because he undoubtedly fought his own.
The velodrome staff commemorated Whitehead with a special evening at the T-Town track, a place where he was both reviled and revered—and will forever remain known as the Outlaw. Though he never shied away from confrontation (and was, admittedly, often responsible for the altercations), most anyone who spent time with Whitehead counted him as a great friend, and nearly everyone who watched him race agrees: He was one of the best damn bike racers they ever saw.
Heinz still lives across the street from my parents’ old home and remains a fixture at the track. On the rare occasion that I jump into a local race with Tyler, I hear Heinz yelling, “Move up, Blade.” Mike passed away in 2009. Right up until the end, he remained a regular spectator on Friday nights and was instrumental in getting handicap access at the T-Town track. Even while working as the track’s assistant director, I continued to rely on his intelligent bike-racing perspective. Similar to Whitehead’s death, losing Mike pained me. He was so instrumental to my early life. I will miss him.
In his honor, I created the Mike Walter Madison, a tribute to the event he excelled in as a racer. The race, which takes place at T-Town every year, is 100 laps with point sprints every 10 laps. It’s the kind of race Mike would’ve loved, long and hard, and respectful of the sport’s illustrious history.
As the Tuesday night Pro-Am winds to an end, my attention turns to the track. Tyler made it to the finals of the amateur keirin in his first attempt at the event. On his way to the start area, he looks for his mom and his sister. He smiles at his grandpa. I find Tyler before he lines up. I place my hand on his shoulder. I look him the eyes. “Don’t try to be the next Marty Nothstein,” I say. “Become your own bike racer.” He nods.
Gil holds Tyler at the line, just as he held me. “Get ‘em, kid,” Gil whispers in Tyler’s ear.
The start gun fires. The racers surge behind the motor. Tyler jockeys for position. The laps tick by, one after another. The motor peels off the track. Tyler stays out of the scrum, in front of the white water, out of the rough stuff. One lap to go. The bell rings. The tightly bunched pack flies down the back straight. Tyler sits second wheel, spinning faster than everyone else on his junior gears, perfectly positioned to go for the win. “C’mon Bones!” Gil yells. Good job Tyler, I think. The racers whip out of the final turn. They fan across the track, from the apron to the rail, and sprint for the line.
INDEX
An asterisk (*) indicates that photos appear in the photo gallery.
A
Air Products developmental program, 27, 47
Alpine training camp, 81–83
“the American” race, 85–88, 131, 200
Arrue, Marcelo, 162, 178
Atlanta Games. See Olympic Games, 1996
Australian training methods, 80–81
Aviator’s fracture, 87–88
Azevedo, José, 194–95
B
Bairos, Johnny, 162
Balboa Park velodrome (California), 74
Balcerzak, Eddie,* 19, 119–20, 143, 171, 1
73, 185
Beamon, Ed, 194
Bear, the. See Hatton, Gil (Gibby)*
Bek, Andrzej*
Blaine training camp (Minnesota), 149
Ergo and, 103
Olympic Games (1996), 13–14, 17–18
six-day race of Nothstein, 130
“team Nothstein” and, 143
trust in, Nothstein’s, 98
as USA national team coach, 83–84
World Championships
1995, 91–95, 98
1996, 119, 121, 123
1999, 165
Bell, Bart, 53, 68
Big Bertha (tandem bike), 51–54, 59–60
Blade, the. See Northstein, Martin “Marty”
Blaine training camp (Minnesota), 149–50
Block training, 136–37
Blockus, Gary, 12
BMX racing, 9, 28
Borysewicz, Eddie “Eddie B.,” 83
Brinker, Tom, 53, 68
Brinson, John, 140
Buran, Pavel, 121–23
C
Cali (Colombia), Nothstein’s impressions of, 133
Cali velodrome (Colombia), 134
Capitano, Gianluca, 49
Carlson, Chris, 154–55, 159–60
Carney, Jamie, 34
Carney, Jonas, 34–35
Carpenter, Ken, 58, 68–74, 76
Cavendish, Mark, 197
Central Park (New York) road races, 39
Chauner, Dave, 25
Chenowth, Nick, 117–18, 148–49, 154–55, 159–61
Cherp, Macon, 159
Chiappa, Roberto, 76, 93–94, 132, 138
Cioroslan, Dragomir, 140
Clay, Bill, 106, 132
Clinton, Bill, 101
Colas, Fabrice, 58–59
Copa International Championships (1993), 75
Couric, Katie, 188
Cox Enterprises, 159
Criterium races, 191–95
Csonka, Larry, 139
Cuba, Nothstein’s impressions of, 61–62
Curz, Antonio, 194
Cutting, Skip, 118
D
Derksen, Jan, 78
Dickson, Tom, 88, 92
Dip tank, 146
Disney, Jack, 32–33
E
Eadie, Sean, 178–79
EDS, 5, 117, 148, 155–61
EDS team, 148–49, 154–55
Electronic Data Systems (EDS), 5, 117, 148, 155–61
Ergometer “Ergo” (stationary bike), 103–4
F
Fiedler, Jens,*
deal proposed to Nothstein, 163
Junior World Championships (1988), 42
Open des Nations, 70–71
Olympic Games
1996, 8, 12–18
2000, 177, 181–83, 188–89
six-day races, comment on, 199
World Championships
1996, 120
1997, 138
1999, 163–65, 171
World Cup (1997), 134–35
First Union Grand Prix (1993), 75
Flair, Rick, 81
Freeman, Cathy, 175
Fugman, Christi. See Nothstein, Christi Fugman
G
Gané, Laurent, 121–22, 177
Gray, Dunc, 175
Grills, Jim, 42
GT Bicycles, 5–6
H
Hall, Eric, 160
Harnett, Curt, 8–10, 125
Hartwell, Erin “Erv”
Alpine training camp, 81–83
Australian training, 80–81
EDS team contract, 148
Nothstein and Hill confrontation, 152–53
Olympic Games
1992, 68–69
1996, 6–7, 12
Olympic Trials (1992), 65
racing season
1992, 64–65, 68
1998, 146
retirement of Nothstein, 204–6
Senior World Championships
1989, 54–56
1990, 60
1991, 62–63
tandem racing, 61–62, 69
US Olympic Training Center (Colorado Springs), 139–40
World Championships (1995), 7–98, 106
World Cup (1997), 132
Hatton, Gil (Gibby) “the Bear”*
Blaine training camp (Minnesota), 149
EDS sponsorship and, loss of, 156–57
as EDS team coach, 155
Ergo and, 103
Fiedler’s proposed deal to Nothstein and, 163
hometown celebration of Nothstein, 100
hunting with Nothstein, 129, 139
Junior National Championships (1988), 43
on Madison race, 86
National Championships (1995), 90–91
nickname, 28
off-season job with Nothstein, 59
Olympic Games
1996, 13, 17–18
2000, 173–74, 179–80, 185
onset of coaching Nothstein, 33–34
racing season of Nothstein
1988, 39–40, 43
1989, 45
1992, 64–65
2000, 171
racing years of, 28–30
showdown with young Nothstein, 30–31
son of, 209
strength training of Nothstein and, 140–41
“team Nothstein” and, 98, 143
track cycling history, 32
trust in by Nothstein, 98
Tyler Nothstein and, 209–10
USA Cycling selection rules and, 90
Whitehead and, 36–37, 39
World Championships (1996), 119, 122–23
Hatton, Joey, 209
Henry, Mark, 139–40
Hesslich, Lutz, 13
Hill, Darryn,* 8–9, 95–97, 123–25, 150–53
Hincapie, George, 34
Hook, 16
Hübner, Michael,* 75, 77, 79, 94–95, 97–99, 121, 123, 151–52
I
International Madison (1994), 85–88
J
Jackson, Ian, 20
Japanese keirin circuit, 40, 190–91
Junior National Championships (1987), 32, 34–35
Junior World Championships
1988, 39, 42–43
1989, 42, 46–50
K
Keirin races, 40–41, 65, 76, 78–80, 98–99, 136, 138, 152, 162, 164–65
Kelly, Shane, 97
Kennedy, Jim, 6, 139, 159
Kilo races, 54–55, 65, 68
Kramer, Frank, 33, 99–100
Krylatskoye Velodrome (Moscow), 48
L
LeMond, Greg, 33
Lovito, José, 62
Lyon velodrome (France), 56
M
MacLean, Craig, 179–81
Madison Race, 85–88, 131, 200
Madison Square Garden cycling track, 32–33
Magné, Frédéric, 58–59, 80, 121–22, 132, 138, 164, 188–89
Mainus, Jiri, 32
Manchester velodrome (England), 120
Marty Nothstein Bicycle Racing League, 203
Marty Nothstein Day, 100
Match sprints
defining, 3
hook in, 16
Olympic Games
1996, 7–17
2000, 177–87
Olympic Trials (1992), 65–67
Pan-Am Games (1999), 161–62
Pennsylvania state championships (1988), 41
strategy, 3–4
World Championships
1996, 125–26
1998, 150–52
1999, 162–64
World Cup in Italy (1997), 136
McDonough, Pat, 27–29, 46, 64
Meade, Thomas, 105, 127–29
Meidl, Cliff, 175
Merckx, Eddy, 25
Mercury-Viatel contract, 192
Mike Walter Madison event, 210
Moffitt, J. D., 34, 45–46
Moscow velodrome (Russia), 48
N
National Championships
1996, 117–19
1998, 148–49
2000, 172
Neiwand, Gary, 8–9, 77, 79–80, 125, 177, 189
Neri, Randy, 89, 90–91, 106
New York City Cycling Championship (2003), 193–95
Niewand, Gary, 121–22
Nothstein, Carlene, 24
Nothstein, Christi Fugman*
birth of first child, 101–2
commitment of Nothstein to win Olympics, 63–64
dating Nothstein, 47–48, 50
father of, 47, 208
homecoming celebration for Nothstein and, 100
as junior cycling racer, 47
marriage of, 130
nutrition for Nothstein and, 147
Olympic Games
1996, 18
2000,* 176, 186–87, 189
post-Olympic life with Nothstein and, 208
pregnancies of, 84–85, 142
retirement of Nothstein and, 208
sacrifices of, 142–45
silver medal of Nothstein and, 143
“team Nothstein” and, 95, 142–43
Nothstein, Devon,* 171, 186–87, 195
Nothstein, Gail,* 11, 18, 21–24, 35, 57, 171, 176, 186–87
Nothstein, Jay,* 18, 20–22, 27, 43–45
Nothstein, Martin, 169–70
Nothstein, Martin “Marty.”* See also specific race
birth of first child, 101–2
Blaine training camp (Minnesota), 149–50
block training, 136–37
BMX racing, 9, 28
body fat, 146
childhood years, 11, 20–27
college years,* 50, 56–57, 62–63
cycling and, giving back to, 55–56, 203
defining moment as athlete, 204
double world championship, 99–100
EDS scandal, 155, 159–61
family history, 22–24
Fiedler’s proposed deal, 163–64
free feeling of, 189
goal to win Olympics, commitment to, 63–64, 137
high school years, 30–37, 45
hometown celebration for, 100–101
hunting,* 43–45, 129, 139
injuries
calcaneus “aviator’s” fracture, 87–88
concussion, 105
dislocated shoulder, 105
kneecap fracture, 105–6
knee tendinosis, 127–29
marriage, 130
Mercury-Viatel contract, 192
national record of, 172
new challenges, looking for, 191
nickname, 41
nutrition, 146–47
off-season job, early, 59
Olympic dream of, 11, 63
The Price of Gold Page 20