7-Eleven Cycling Team
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The 7-Eleven Cycling Team, founded in 1981 under Jim Ochowicz and spanning 10 years, was the United States' first professional cycling team, and responsible to a large extent for an increase in bike racing interest in the U.S. In its lifespan, the team claimed a win in the Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy), a handful of World Championship medals, and US Championship titles, as well as numerous Tour de France stage wins. It was the first U.S. cycling team to ride in the Giro d'Italia (1985) and the Tour de France (1986). The 7-Eleven Cycling Team was succeeded in 1991 by the Motorola Cycling Team, which existed until 1996.
Of the seven men on the inaugural 7-Eleven-Schwinn team racing in 1981, Eric Heiden was the best known. The other Americans were Jeff Bradley, Greg Demgen, Bradley Davies, Tom Schuler, Danny Van Haute and Roger Young. They were joined by Canadian pro Ron Hayman.
Schwinn dropped out as the team's co-sponsor for the 1982 season, but 7-Eleven stepped up its sponsorship resulting in the adding of Davis Phinney, Ron Kiefel, and Canadian Alex Stieda to the roster.
[edit] Notable Members
- Raúl Alcalá
- Frankie Andreu
- Steve Bauer
- Chris Carmichael
- Alexi Grewal
- Andy Hampsten
- Davis Phinney
- Jeff Pierce
- Bob Roll
- Alex Stieda
- Sean Yates
- Doug Shapiro
[edit] Trivia
- The 7-Eleven team were featured in the 1984 movie American Flyers, starring Kevin Costner.
- In 1991, the team changed sponsor and became 'Motorola' when the mobile phone company took over sponsorship from 7-Eleven. Team Motorola was the last team with which renowned cyclist Lance Armstrong raced prior to his cancer diagnosis in 1996.
- Team 7-Eleven is the only cycling team inducted into the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame.
