BREAKING NEWS !!! (reprinted from the Small Business Times 1 / 16/ 2009)

Chicago committee chooses Madison as cycling hub for Olympic bid

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle today announced that Madison has been selected as the cycling hub for Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. "Not only is Madison a great place to live, it's the nation's premier area for bike riding," Doyle said. "I am pleased that the Chicago 2016 Committee has chosen Madison to be its cycling hub and can't wait for people from around the world to discover our beautiful region."

Chicago 2016 has consistently placed athletes at the center of our Games plan," said Patrick Ryan, chairman and chief executive officer of Chicago 2016. "Our constituents emphasized their desire for technical and challenging courses, and we believe that the natural terrain found in Madison will exceed their expectations and make for an ideal competitive environment."

To select an ideal venue, the bid committee worked collaboratively with cycling experts, Olympic athletes and the International Cycling Union (UCI) to select courses that are technically challenging and conducive to high-level competition.

The Wisconsin Road Cycling Course would begin on the campus of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, head east through downtown and feature several steep climbs near the finish line in Blue Mound State Park.

The Wisconsin Mountain Bike Circuit would take place in Tyrol Basin, a popular ski and snowboard destination in the winter that makes for a technically challenging course that meets the needs of the athletes while allowing for a great spectator experience during the Games. Madison has one of the most extensive bike trail systems in the United States.

Wisconsin's reputation as a major cycling destination accounts for its $800 million bicycle tourism industry. Pacific Cycle, Trek and Saris, three of the industry's leading companies, are headquartered in the Madison area.
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Editor's Note: No mention of the Bicycle Motocross venue ... but, it's a safe bet that will also be proposed for the Madison area. In any event ... this is an exciting day for all of Wisconsin's cyclists to be sure !!!

Kevin O'