“I would like to see a world-class bike racing event in Portland.”
-Commissioner Adams
Last night at City Hall, a sub-committee formed as part of the bicycle industry task force, met to discuss the potentials and pitfalls of creating a major bike racing event in Portland.
The meeting got off to an exciting start when City Commissioner Sam Adams announced that due to a surplus in the City’s General Fund, one-time monies might be available to make the event a reality.
Adams encouraged the group to put a funding request together ASAP so he could bring it to City Council for a vote in less than two weeks.
This news gave an excited energy and sense of urgency to the proceedings.
Around the table were Sal Collura from the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association, promoter Brad Ross of Club Vivo, Drew Mahalic from the Oregon Sports Authority, reps from Commissioner Adams’ office, Sarah Bailen Smith with the Portland Jazz Festival, Sacha White of Vanilla Bicycles, and leading the discussion was the PDC‘s bike industry liaison Jennifer Nolfi.
could be coming to Portland.]
After a wide-ranging discussion about other major bicycle races in both North America and Europe and the motivations for having one in Portland, the group reached a consensus on how to proceed.
The primary motivation of the race would be to further establish Portland’s bike brand and showcase the city (and to a lesser extent Oregon) as the epicenter of cycling in America.
Beyond that, a major bike racing event would have a significant economic impact for downtown businesses and hotels.
Brad Ross, who puts together Oregon’s most successful and well-known bike races — including the Cross Crusade and the Cascade Classic Stage Race — told the group that the Tour de Georgia would be a good model for Portland to aspire to. That race generated an estimated $26.2 million in economic impact and attracted 500,000 spectators this year.
The group preferred a multi-day stage race over a one-day event and a tentative outline for the race was put forth by Ross:
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Day 1 – Road race from Portland to Salem
Day 2 – Road race from Salem to Portland
Day 3 (2 stages) – Individual time trial and criterium in downtown Portland
Day 4 – Circuit race in Portland (including SW Hills to Skyline)
Day 5 – Road race to finish atop Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood.
If funding is approved, the race will likely be scheduled in August of 2008.
Drew Mahalic, Executive Director of the Oregon Sports Authority — whose mission is to “define the state of Oregon as the preferred location for select amateur and professional sports events” — added that,
“I think the Oregon Sports Authority is well-positioned to serve in a facilitator role in developing this event along with key people from the bike community.”
The funding request is likely to be for $1-2 million dollars over two years and the proposal should be finalized within the next few days. This proposal will compete with many other demands already on the table for these General Fund monies.
City Council will make a final decision on November 28th.
I may be biased, but shouldn’t there be a zoobomb century stage, I mean really, come ON! They can stop at the bins on their way back from salem and pick up a mini.
Makes me think, maybe the “alt bike” crowd should organize a complimentary event? A bike freak stage race: polo to zoobomb to joust to ?. It could be good chance to show off the creativity of the pdx scene alongside the mainstream racing events.
Dave,
If we get funding for this event (and that remains a big “if”) showcasing Portland’s “alt” bike culture (and local bike builders) will be a big part of the event…rest assured!
No doubt, fingers crossed. 2008 – I figure if it happens, and I train really hard, I could make Cat 1 or 2 in time to get shelled on the first day.
Most pro stage races are men only. If we do this in Stumptown, it’s GOT to have a women’s pro race as well.
Another way to welcome women would be a non-racing event like the Cinderella Classic Metric Century:
http://www.valleyspokesmen.org/cinder.php
I fail to see how an all women’s (metric, yawn) century meets the objective of creating a “major bike racing event in Portland.”
Century rides, all women rides, etc,are a dime a dozen. Opportunities for world class elite racing in the US are pretty pathetic for men, and virtually non-existent for women. We have an opportunity here to support and showcase the sport for both genders.
Tour of Georgia is men-only, with a couple of women’s road races and crits conveniently scheduled to coincide.
We have a chance to pick up where the HP Challenge (aka Women’s Tour of Idaho), left off.
Portland has recently shown itself to be a great place to be a female bike racer. Example, equal pay out for men and women in the Cross Crusade, 5 deep, this is a race series that has set the bar nationally for turn-outs and has now set the bar for equity as well. Bravo! Portland should always be the leader in opening up cycling to the U.S. audience, knowing some of the members of this committee I am sure they won’t disappoint.
If they do this with city funds, it should be a cat 1,2,3,4-5 deal, instead of standing around watching our money be spent, more of us could participate.
I say this cause it would certainly only turn out to be a pro race, and watching a stage race is only fun for so long, but, if you get more people that are local actually racing it….
You get what I mean.
Open it up wider,
But, alas, this will never happen…
as long as were dreaming how about a “Gran Fondo”
for the mass of us who don’t race
Must we water down everything in the name of populism?
Celebrate our bike culture with an expo during race week. Encourage people to ride out to viewing areas along the route like the grand tours. Have a central “fan zone” where folks can find out about BTA, Zoobombers, The Sprockettes, OBRA, and everything great about our community.
Please don’t turn a professional stage race into “Bridge Pedal”. Can we just enjoy seeing the best do what they do? Do the Mariners let anyone bringing a glove to Safeco play an inning in the outfield? These feel good things just create more cost and liability for the event promoters. Portland offers many, many opportunities for casual riders and lower catagory racers to test themselves.
Brad,
Word.
Tom – I appreciate OBRA’s inclusiveness. It’s time to spread the Portland Way to the elite cycling world.
Tony and Brad…yeah!
Thank you, Brad, for perspective. So why do we need to spend tax dollars to put on a professional race that most of us can’t participate in? I get the economic benefits to other businesses, but why can’t the race pay for itself? I can think of other ways that $1 – 2 million could be spent that would directly benefit bicyclists in Portland.
And is this a one time deal or a recurring event? If it’s recurring, wouldn’t it need to pay for itself without tax subsidies?
30-some years ago there was a Tour de California race. Kids from my school were recruited to help at a feed station. Most of the riders were Euros (and all men). The race inspired a bunch of my peers; some went on to be top-level local junior racers, and some later tried to be pros. Some are still racing as Masters.
I see nothing wrong with spending $$ in the name of tourism. I’d rather see it spent to bring a pro bike race here than a moneypit like baseball. Lots of folks journey to SF every year to watch the Grand Prix bike race, stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, etc. Why not make that happen here! Portland Beer! Yamhill Co Wine!
There are lots of opportunities to tag on community-based events, like an all-comers ride, a festival of Portland bike culture, or course pre-rides that could be held to help raise funds to support the pro race series.
To add to Clinton Rider’s comments, a well organized pro race featuring ProTour teams and riders (and the proposed Eurobike spin-off, indoor velodrome, Cross Crusade, etc.) would help cement Portland’s place as the cycling capital of the U.S.A. That would help lure the bike businesses that PDC and Sam Adams covet and create jobs, tax revenues, and more bike oriented political clout for the area.
I suspect the public dollars being talked about are “in-kind” donations of permits, road closures, police for event security, etc. In my opinion, that is a wise investment compared to what the city has thrown towards the Blazers and attempts to lure MLB to Portland.
Cate and Dabby-
You spend money to make money. Bringing pro racing to Portland means bringing big money that will be spent in this town.
Like Clinton Rider says, it is way better than spending public money on a sport like baseball that has enjoyed dramatic declines in spectatorship and participation.
As for not being able to participate, do you watch or race OBRA races? Once you have beat all the riders in the 1/2 and Elite categories, then we’ll see about letting you “participate” in the pro field. If you can make it out of cat 5.
Brad and clinton rider,
I totally get the value of the race – it would be great. So the money is all about marketing. Okay. I wonder if other cities provide that kind of money for bicycle races. And I wonder the odds of Sam getting it.
clinton rider said “I fail to see how an all women’s (metric, yawn) century meets the objective of creating a “major bike racing event in Portland.””
And “There are lots of opportunities to tag on community-based events, like an all-comers ride, a festival of Portland bike culture, or course pre-rides that could be held to help raise funds to support the pro race series.”
You got it the second time… 🙂