30 August 2009
29 August 2009
28 August 2009
Interview with Terry McGinnis
We're talking to Terry McGinnis, the director of the Tour of Utah. Terry, how long have you been with the Tour of Utah? And what does the Director do?
I have been with the Tour of Utah for 4 years in different capacities; in 2006, I did the live radio commentary, for 2007 I served as a consultant for the team Greg Miller had assembled to do a UCI level stage race, taking over as Executive Director in 2008, a position that I still hold.
The Executive Director is basically the general manager of the event; I hire key personnel, design the courses, work with USA Cycling, handle most of the sponsorship sales, work with our merchandise partners, select the teams to invite, oversee our marketing and PR efforts by working closely with those I have hired for that as well as Tweet some about the whole process.
During the race you will find me doing everything from greeting VIPS to hanging banners and picking up trash.
Now that the tour is over for the year, do you get any down time before you start working on 2010? Is there anything new that we can expect for 2010?
We began working on 2010 last week while the Tour was still on! We had our first executive meeting to discuss how we were going to fill out the NRC application, which is due tomorrow. Steve Miller, Chad Sperry, Karen Weiss, Linda Luchetti and myself layed out our intentions for 2010 during that Thursday dinner meeting.
For 2010, not much will change, it will still be a Prologue (same course) plus 5 stages and will likely run August 17-22. We are going to make the Ogden-SLC (Stage 1) and Nebo (Stage 2) courses longer, we may add a circuit race in Park City and if we can make it work, the Stage 3 TT may become a TTT.
Do you have a cycling background? And with everything you are doing as Executive Director, do you find time to get out and ride?
I raced for over 20 years, nearly a decade of that as an Elite Cat 1. I was forced to retire in 2007 because of cancer. I now ride occasionaly when time and health allows.
I think the prologue was a great addition to this years race, and I can't wait to see if there will be a TTT next year.
What does the future hold for the Tour of Utah? Are we going to see it on the UCI calendar by 2011? Is there any possibility of the race leaving the Wasatch Front and visiting other parts of our state?
First and foremost we have to keep the race in the black and making the jump to UCI will be dependant on sponsor support. A UCI event will triple my budget and right now we can continue to hold a first-class NRC event year after year with the support I am getting from sponsors and the community but whether or not that same community will support a UCI event at three times their current investment is a question we will have to answer going forward.
It is the vision of both the race owners, myself and the State of Utah to showcase beyond the Wasatch front, whether or not we can do that by 2011 is a big question mark right now. After our performance this year, we will be taking the temperature of sponsors in the next few months and try to get a feel for whether or not they would support a UCI event.
For now, watch for a bigger and better NRC event in 2010!
I would like to thank Terry McGinnis for taking the time to talk to me. It sounds like the Tour of Utah is in great hands, and 2010 is going to be a great year!
**update**
On Saturday, October 24th, Terry McGinnis lost his battle with cancer. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this time. The Cycling community has lost a good friend.
I have been with the Tour of Utah for 4 years in different capacities; in 2006, I did the live radio commentary, for 2007 I served as a consultant for the team Greg Miller had assembled to do a UCI level stage race, taking over as Executive Director in 2008, a position that I still hold.
The Executive Director is basically the general manager of the event; I hire key personnel, design the courses, work with USA Cycling, handle most of the sponsorship sales, work with our merchandise partners, select the teams to invite, oversee our marketing and PR efforts by working closely with those I have hired for that as well as Tweet some about the whole process.
During the race you will find me doing everything from greeting VIPS to hanging banners and picking up trash.
Now that the tour is over for the year, do you get any down time before you start working on 2010? Is there anything new that we can expect for 2010?
We began working on 2010 last week while the Tour was still on! We had our first executive meeting to discuss how we were going to fill out the NRC application, which is due tomorrow. Steve Miller, Chad Sperry, Karen Weiss, Linda Luchetti and myself layed out our intentions for 2010 during that Thursday dinner meeting.
For 2010, not much will change, it will still be a Prologue (same course) plus 5 stages and will likely run August 17-22. We are going to make the Ogden-SLC (Stage 1) and Nebo (Stage 2) courses longer, we may add a circuit race in Park City and if we can make it work, the Stage 3 TT may become a TTT.
Do you have a cycling background? And with everything you are doing as Executive Director, do you find time to get out and ride?
I raced for over 20 years, nearly a decade of that as an Elite Cat 1. I was forced to retire in 2007 because of cancer. I now ride occasionaly when time and health allows.
I think the prologue was a great addition to this years race, and I can't wait to see if there will be a TTT next year.
What does the future hold for the Tour of Utah? Are we going to see it on the UCI calendar by 2011? Is there any possibility of the race leaving the Wasatch Front and visiting other parts of our state?
First and foremost we have to keep the race in the black and making the jump to UCI will be dependant on sponsor support. A UCI event will triple my budget and right now we can continue to hold a first-class NRC event year after year with the support I am getting from sponsors and the community but whether or not that same community will support a UCI event at three times their current investment is a question we will have to answer going forward.
It is the vision of both the race owners, myself and the State of Utah to showcase beyond the Wasatch front, whether or not we can do that by 2011 is a big question mark right now. After our performance this year, we will be taking the temperature of sponsors in the next few months and try to get a feel for whether or not they would support a UCI event.
For now, watch for a bigger and better NRC event in 2010!
I would like to thank Terry McGinnis for taking the time to talk to me. It sounds like the Tour of Utah is in great hands, and 2010 is going to be a great year!
**update**
On Saturday, October 24th, Terry McGinnis lost his battle with cancer. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this time. The Cycling community has lost a good friend.
27 August 2009
Tour of Utah Stage 5 Downtown Criterium
Here it is, the final post of the 2009 Tour of Utah, the Downtown Criterium photos. Again, I apologize it took so long to get these posted. Life sometimes gets in the way of other pursuits.
On with the pictures...
Boy, I'm meeting new friends left and right out here. Here is me with Dave Zabriskie.
David Clinger. Didn't have a chance to get a picture with him.
Before the Pro's took to the course, they had several waves of amateur criteriums, all the way from Cat 1-3, down to little kids. Here are some of the young ones tearing up the course.
The traditional lining up of the jerseys at the start of the race.
and other notable cyclists and locals.
Waiting for the gun...
90 minutes of criterium action has begun!
The action on turn 4.
Dave Z and a few other cyclists took an early lead, forming a breakaway that at one time had 20 seconds on the peleton. They held out for more than 10 laps before they were swallowed by the peleton.
Their lead gone, the breakaway is about to be swallowed by the peleton.
At the vendor expo, they had Local band, AntiVibe entertaining the crowd. You can see the peleton going past behind the band.
More pictures of the race going past. These guys were averaging nearly 30 MPH for the entire 90 minutes!
And we have a winner, Bernie Sulsberger with Fly V Austrailia.
I brought my 11 year old with me to watch the stage. His response? "Cool"
How would you like to get a $12,000 bike for only $3? That is what this guy did. He bought a raffle ticket from Team Give, and walked(rode) away with a Delta 7 Road bike. Lucky!
Your top 3 stage finishers: Bernie Sulsberger with Fly V Austrailia, John Murphy with OUCH, presented by Maxxis and Chris Barton with BMC
Rock racing took the top team. Here the team is with Owner Michael Ball.
The top 3 in the General Classification: Francisco "Paco" Mancebo, Darren Lill, and Jeff Lowder (with daughter).
The final jeresy lineup for the 2009 Tour of Utah: Yellow - Mancebo, Best Utah rider - Lill, Sprinter - , KOM and Best Young rider - Alex Howes
One last shot, me with "Paco" Mancebo.
On with the pictures...
Boy, I'm meeting new friends left and right out here. Here is me with Dave Zabriskie.
David Clinger. Didn't have a chance to get a picture with him.
Before the Pro's took to the course, they had several waves of amateur criteriums, all the way from Cat 1-3, down to little kids. Here are some of the young ones tearing up the course.
The traditional lining up of the jerseys at the start of the race.
and other notable cyclists and locals.
Waiting for the gun...
90 minutes of criterium action has begun!
The action on turn 4.
Dave Z and a few other cyclists took an early lead, forming a breakaway that at one time had 20 seconds on the peleton. They held out for more than 10 laps before they were swallowed by the peleton.
Their lead gone, the breakaway is about to be swallowed by the peleton.
At the vendor expo, they had Local band, AntiVibe entertaining the crowd. You can see the peleton going past behind the band.
More pictures of the race going past. These guys were averaging nearly 30 MPH for the entire 90 minutes!
And we have a winner, Bernie Sulsberger with Fly V Austrailia.
I brought my 11 year old with me to watch the stage. His response? "Cool"
How would you like to get a $12,000 bike for only $3? That is what this guy did. He bought a raffle ticket from Team Give, and walked(rode) away with a Delta 7 Road bike. Lucky!
Your top 3 stage finishers: Bernie Sulsberger with Fly V Austrailia, John Murphy with OUCH, presented by Maxxis and Chris Barton with BMC
Rock racing took the top team. Here the team is with Owner Michael Ball.
The top 3 in the General Classification: Francisco "Paco" Mancebo, Darren Lill, and Jeff Lowder (with daughter).
The final jeresy lineup for the 2009 Tour of Utah: Yellow - Mancebo, Best Utah rider - Lill, Sprinter - , KOM and Best Young rider - Alex Howes
One last shot, me with "Paco" Mancebo. Back on my July 22 post, I said that I may have a special surprise coming up, but I couldn't say more at the time. Well, I can now say. I am in the middle of an interview with the Executive Director of the Tour of Utah, Terry McGinnis. I hope to have it posted by Friday, but It may have to wait till Monday. So far, very good. There are a couple of things that he has said for the 2010 Tour that I really hope they can make happen.
26 August 2009
Help me win a Madsen!
I don't ask much of you, dear readers, but I would very much appreciate your help in this matter...
To help get the word out about their cargo bikes, Madsen Cycles is holding a contest. They are giving a madesn cargo bike away. Entering is simple, you just need to link to their site.
Anyone can enter. You simply need to put a link on your site. To get more information about Madsen cycles, and the contest, just click on the picture below to go to their site.
How much fun would it be to take my boys on a Father and son's campout on our bicycles? With a cargo bike, it would be simple. Simply load up the bike with the tent, bags, etc... and go!
To help get the word out about their cargo bikes, Madsen Cycles is holding a contest. They are giving a madesn cargo bike away. Entering is simple, you just need to link to their site.
Anyone can enter. You simply need to put a link on your site. To get more information about Madsen cycles, and the contest, just click on the picture below to go to their site.
How much fun would it be to take my boys on a Father and son's campout on our bicycles? With a cargo bike, it would be simple. Simply load up the bike with the tent, bags, etc... and go!
25 August 2009
Tour of Utah Stage 4, the Queen Stage
Some pictures from Stage 4...
Shimano neutral support vehicle.
Some of the moto volunteers.
Burke Swindlehurst doing a pre-race interview.
The crowds are starting to gather for the start.
Teams are getting ready. The Trek/LiveStrong U23 team.
Me and my new best friend, Floyd Landis.
Dave Zabriskie, Floyd Landis, and a chicken.
Lining up for the start.
The jersey-wearers line up at the front of the peleton.
Here we go! the peleton did a couple of neutral laps up main street before the race actually started.
Neutral laps are done. The peleton heading towards Kamas and Midway.
Back down the freeway for me, so I could get up to Snowbird before they closed the roads. The Rock Racing semi seemed to have the same idea.
Some of the OUCH team and crew enjoying breakfast at the Main Street Deli
Shimano neutral support vehicle.
Some of the moto volunteers. 
Burke Swindlehurst doing a pre-race interview.
The crowds are starting to gather for the start.
Teams are getting ready. The Trek/LiveStrong U23 team. 
Me and my new best friend, Floyd Landis.
Dave Zabriskie, Floyd Landis, and a chicken.
Lining up for the start. 
The jersey-wearers line up at the front of the peleton.
Here we go! the peleton did a couple of neutral laps up main street before the race actually started. 
Neutral laps are done. The peleton heading towards Kamas and Midway. 
Back down the freeway for me, so I could get up to Snowbird before they closed the roads. The Rock Racing semi seemed to have the same idea.
Love this picture. "please take the cup and go behind the dumpster"
At the end of a grueling climb, best young rider jeresy wearer, Alex with Felt Holowesko overjoyed with his first place finish
Burke Swindlehurst (Bissell) coming in second.
"Paco" Mancebo rolls in for third.
Jeff Lowder comes in, but isn't able to keep the Best Utah rider jersey.
Stage 4 podium: Howes, Swindlehurst, Mancebo
Stage 4 GC: GC and Sprinters - Mancebo, KOM and Young Rider - Howes, Best Utah - Lill
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