Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Tour de Los Alamos Looking for New Management



From: DAVID ZERKLE
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2015 5:26 PM
To: Lunch Group; Pajarito Riders; LA Triatomics; NM Cycling Racer List
Subject: 2015 Tour de Los Alamos (?)

Hi,

We announce with great regret that we will not be promoting the Tour de Los Alamos this year for its 43rd running.

We are actively searching for someone (or a group) to take over the race.  If you or someone you know is interested in promoting The Tour this year, please contact us.  We will help to make the transition year as painless as possible.

Thank you for your consideration, and we sincerely hope to be able to find a way to continue this great tradition.

Roadrunners Cycling Club
505-500-7535


You never know who might show up for the Oldest Bicycle Race in the Southwest
(Jeannie Longo has actually raced the TdLA; maybe Jim will send a pic)

1 comment:

Jimbo said...

This news is sad, but not unexpected. The Zerkles and others have done a marvelous job with this race over the years. The race does not seem to receive much support (I'm not talking monetary, but in terms of encouragement) from the County of Los Alamos.

I still remember when the TDLA had a downtown criterium—which was exciting and awesome. The race these days is a shell of its former self. Let's blame Lance Armstrong for the the general flagging enthusiasm for bicycle races (I'm only halfway joking).

Out of one side of our mouths the county and its residents talk about economic vitality and sporting events as a mechanism to make that happen; out of the other sides of our mouths comes the silence of apathy and indifference.

I think maybe the biggest "problem" with Los Alamos is that residents want a lot, but few are interested in rolling up their sleeves and making it happen. Ultimately, this is probably what led to the fate of the TDLA.

Hats off to the Zerkles for giving a flying F... about the racing and for their dedication over the past half decade or so.

Maybe the best course of action for the TDLA is to simply pull a shroud over its face and declare it dead. Goodness knows it's been on life support long enough. Perhaps it would be merciful now to admit the obvious.