Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008

Will bicycle race's cachet spin off on Modesto?

For bicycle racing's elite, finding Modesto is the first test.

"I'm not too familiar with Modesto," rider George Hincapie admitted. "I think I've passed through it."

Therein lies the rub: Does a trip down Highway 99 and a glance out the window count as a "visit"? Oftentimes in the past, if a second-tier celebrity somehow draws a successful connection between Modesto and "American Graffiti," we think we've arrived in the real world.

But year by year and vision by vision, our fair burg is maturating from a farm-oriented community to, well, whatever we define as the next step. Modesto Centre Plaza has been a revelation and the Gallo Center for the Arts no doubt puts the city on a more refined level.

So does the Amgen Tour of California, professional cycling's biggest event in the United States, which starts today at Stanford and makes a cameo appearance in Modesto on Wednesday. The pack of riders will begin Stage 3 by cruising through a few parade laps downtown before it churns under the Modesto Arch and continues west, nearly 103 miles to the finish line in San Jose.

Which invites questions: Why should we bust a few spokes about ceremonial laps? Why cast more than a cursory glance at a drug-troubled sport? What does it do for us? And who, by the way, is George Hincapie?

From here on, we ask that you think beyond the valley. Consider places where bicycling is followed with religious fervor. Understand that fans, millions of them, will chart the progress of their favorite athletes from afar. They'll know about Mount Hamilton and Sierra Road, a pair of Tour de France-sized climbs en route to the South Bay.

It's why the Versus network will beam the Tour of California to 28 countries. Like many endeavors, bicycle racing has its can't-get-enough followers who scan Web sites and book their trips accordingly. On the ground, promoters say 1.6 million cared enough to witness portions of the race in 2007. That number requires a leap of faith because it's impossible to prove, but you get the picture: The venues where these stages start and finish are coveted.

Modesto, read the city partnered with the Modesto Convention & Visitors Bureau, outbid several others to land the ceremonial stage-start. The price tag was estimated at $50,000 for must-do's such as road permits and hospitality. It boiled down to this: Why not?

"It gives us a unique ability to showcase Modesto," said Jim Niskanen, the city's parks and recreation director. "We encourage bike trails and outdoor fitness and activity, and such an event will speak to the best of Modesto. It's pretty cool from a lot of perspectives."

Another perk is the 30-second commercial spot Modesto produced for Versus. A tease: tree-lined streets, vibrant downtown and, of course, an "American Graffiti" tie-in.

Perhaps defending champion Levi Leipheimer of Santa Rosa (third in last year's Tour de France) will grasp the idea behind buzzing down Modesto streets on two wheels rather than four. More problematic is Hincapie, raised in Queens, N.Y., now a resident of Greenville, S.C.

To him, Modesto will seem a little out there. No matter. He's the kind of racer, an underappreciated team-first guy, the city might warm to. Hincapie is a genuine star, a perfect lieutenant in bicycling parlance, who's recognized only by the sport's in-crowd:

He's the only rider who rode with Lance Armstrong in each of his seven Tour de France victories.

He's finished more Tour de France campaigns (10) than any other American, including Armstrong and three-time champion Greg LeMond.

He rode on the Discovery Channel team, which won the Tour de France last year.

Hincapie also wants the world to know he's pharmaceutically clean. To prove it, he says he's tested

40 to 60 times per year, a steep price to retain his sport's ravaged credibility.

It was less than two years ago that American Floyd Landis sped to victory in the 2006 Tour de France, only to be stripped of his title for using performance-enhancing drugs. Last year's race also was marred with drug-related disqualifications.

"A lot of stuff has happened that put us in the wrong limelight," Hincapie said. "But we do far more drug testing than any sport in the world. I think other sports should follow our lead. About 70 percent of my blood and urine tests are random. The rest are done at the races. The way it has gone for us, while it's a pain, it's probably needed."

Sounds like baseball. Or football. Or pick your sport.

Regardless, Modesto's image will take an incremental step forward this week. Bicycling's best, packaged on 17 teams, will gather near the Gallo Center for the Wednesday send-off. Whether I Street will be chalked with messages from fans to riders or whether flags will fly from the windows are wait-and-see scenes.

As it stands, it will be five fleeting but potentially important minutes for Modesto: two laps around city blocks, a mass of athletes gliding beneath the arch and -- poof! -- they'll be gone.

We trust they'll find the way to San Jose. But will they remember Modesto?

Bee sports columnist Ron Agostini can be reached at ragostini@modbee.com or 578-2302.