7-Eleven Cycling Team
Encyclopedia
The 7-Eleven Cycling Team, later the Motorola Cycling Team, was a professional cycling team founded in the U.S. in 1981 by Jim Ochowicz
, a former U.S. Olympic cyclist. The team lasted 16 years, under the sponsorship of 7-Eleven through 1990 and then Motorola from 1990 through 1996.
. Ochowicz had managed the U.S. national speed-skating team and was friends with Eric
and Beth Heiden
, who were both excellent cyclists as well as champion speed skaters. He managed to get sponsorship from the Southland Corporation, owners of the 7-Eleven
convenience-store chain, and bicycle manufacturer Schwinn to form an amateur team. Of the seven men on the inaugural 7-Eleven-Schwinn team racing in 1981, Eric Heiden (who swept the gold medals in speed skating in the 1980 Winter Olympics
) was the captain and the best known. The other Americans were Jeff Bradley, Greg Demgen, Bradley Davies, Tom Schuler
, Danny Van Haute and Roger Young (Ochowicz's brother-in-law). They were joined by Canadian
Ron Hayman
. Although Schwinn dropped out as a co-sponsor in 1982, 7-Eleven added a women's team with Rebecca Twigg
, among others, as well as more male riders, including Davis Phinney
, Ron Kiefel
and Canadian Alex Stieda
. The all-amateur 7-Eleven team was featured in the 1984 movie American Flyers
, starring Kevin Costner
. Southland continued its commitment by sponsoring the cycling venue at the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles, where nine Americans won cycling medals.
In 1985, Ochowitz changed the men's team's status to professional. The team went to Europe with an initial roster of members including Olympic gold medalists Alexi Grewal
and Heiden, Olympic bronze medalists Phinney and Kiefel, Bradley, Schuler, Hayman, Stieda, and Chris Carmichael. When the team received an invitation to the 1985 Giro d'Italia
, one of the Grand Tours of Europe, a young American cyclist based in Europe named Andy Hampsten was added to the team under a 30-day contract for the race. After both Kiefel and Hampsten stunningly won stages during the Giro, becoming the first American stage winners ever at a Grand Tour, 7-Eleven was invited to the 1986 Tour de France
and became one of the major cycling teams for the next decade, under the sponsorship of Southland through 1990 and then Motorola through 1996. Ochowicz disbanded the team after the 1996 season, when Motorola decided to discontinue sponsorship.
While it was not the first professional cycling team in the U.S., 7-Eleven was responsible for an overall increase in bike racing interest in the U.S. The team claimed a win in a Grand Tour, when Andy Hampsten won the overall championship (maglia rosa
) as well as the mountains championship at the 1988 Giro d'Italia
(Tour of Italy). It also claimed a handful of world championship medals and US championships, as well as Tour de France
and Giro stage wins and one more Grand Tour podium (Hampsten's third in the 1989 Giro d'Italia
). It was the second U.S. team to ride the Giro d'Italia (1985) (the Gianni Motta team was the first in 1984) and in the Tour de France (1986), where two Canadian riders on the team held the yellow jersey on different occasions (Alex Stieda
in 1986 and Steve Bauer
in 1990). Its Tour de France stage winners included Phinney, Jeff Pierce
, Hampsten and Lance Armstrong
. As of 2009, Team 7-Eleven is the only cycling team to have been inducted into the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame
.
, who continued to use a race radio when he joined the U.S. Postal Service cycling team and then won the Tour seven straight years.
202 ALCALA Raul (MEX)
203 CARMICHAEL Chris (USA)
204 HEIDEN Eric (USA)
205 KIEFEL Ron (USA)
206 PHINNEY Davis (USA)
207 PIERCE Jeff (USA)
208 ROLL Bob (USA)
209 SHAPIRO Douglas (USA)
210 STIEDA Alex (CAN)
1h 43' 12"
80 - Jeff Pierce
1h 56' 57"
96 - Ron Kiefel
2h 06' 38"
114 - Raul Alcala
2h 15' 53"
120 - Alex Stieda
2h 19' 47"
Eric Heiden
ab.18°
Alexi Grewal
ab.17°
Davis Phinney
ab.15°
Chris Carmichael
ab.12°
Doug Shaprio ab.12°
Jim Ochowicz
Jim Ochowicz is a former Olympic bicyclist and manager of the BMC Racing Team. He was inducted into the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1977 as a contributor to the sport of cycling....
, a former U.S. Olympic cyclist. The team lasted 16 years, under the sponsorship of 7-Eleven through 1990 and then Motorola from 1990 through 1996.
History
7-Eleven was formed as an amateur cycling team in 1981 by Ochowicz, a 29-year-old former Olympic cyclist from the U.S., who was married to Olympic speed skating gold medalist Sheila YoungSheila Young
Sheila Grace Young-Ochowicz is a former speed skater and track cyclist from the United States.-Short biography:...
. Ochowicz had managed the U.S. national speed-skating team and was friends with Eric
Eric Heiden
Eric Arthur Heiden, M.D. is an American former long track speed skater and road cyclist who won all the men's speed skating races, and thus an unprecedented five individual gold medals, and set four Olympic records and one world record at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York,...
and Beth Heiden
Beth Heiden
Elizabeth Lee "Beth" Heiden Reid is an American athlete who excelled in speed skating, cross-country skiing and bicycle racing. She was born in Madison, Wisconsin. Her brother Eric was a five-time gold-medalist speedskater at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics...
, who were both excellent cyclists as well as champion speed skaters. He managed to get sponsorship from the Southland Corporation, owners of the 7-Eleven
7-Eleven
7-Eleven is part of an international chain of convenience stores, operating under Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd, which in turn is owned by Seven & I Holdings Co...
convenience-store chain, and bicycle manufacturer Schwinn to form an amateur team. Of the seven men on the inaugural 7-Eleven-Schwinn team racing in 1981, Eric Heiden (who swept the gold medals in speed skating in the 1980 Winter Olympics
1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
) was the captain and the best known. The other Americans were Jeff Bradley, Greg Demgen, Bradley Davies, Tom Schuler
Tom Schuler
Tom Schuler is a retired American professional road bicycle racer and founder of Team Sports Inc., a sports management company in cycling, mountain biking, triathlon, and roller blading...
, Danny Van Haute and Roger Young (Ochowicz's brother-in-law). They were joined by Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Ron Hayman
Ron Hayman
Ron Hayman was one of the first Canadian cyclists to turn professional in the late 1970s, inspiring those following like fellow Canadian Alex Stieda...
. Although Schwinn dropped out as a co-sponsor in 1982, 7-Eleven added a women's team with Rebecca Twigg
Rebecca Twigg
Rebecca Twigg is an American former racing cyclist, who won six world track cycling championships in the individual pursuit...
, among others, as well as more male riders, including Davis Phinney
Davis Phinney
Davis Phinney is a former professional road bicycle racer from the United States. He was known as a fast sprinter, and claims to have won the most races in American history. In 1986, he became the first American to win a stage at the Tour de France, while riding on the American-based team 7-Eleven...
, Ron Kiefel
Ron Kiefel
Ronald Alexander Kiefel is a former professional road bicycle racer from the United States. Kiefel is a seven-time Tour de France racer, Olympic bronze medalist and member of the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame....
and Canadian Alex Stieda
Alex Stieda
Alexander Nicholas Ernst "Alex" Stieda is a former professional road bicycle racer from Canada. Stieda captured all five jerseys of the Tour de France, the yellow jersey, the polka dot, the green, and the white, on the second day of the 1986 Tour de France, becoming the first North American to...
. The all-amateur 7-Eleven team was featured in the 1984 movie American Flyers
American Flyers
American Flyers is a 1985 film starring Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong, Alexandra Paul and Janice Rule about bicycle racing....
, starring Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner
Kevin Michael Costner is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J...
. Southland continued its commitment by sponsoring the cycling venue at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles, where nine Americans won cycling medals.
In 1985, Ochowitz changed the men's team's status to professional. The team went to Europe with an initial roster of members including Olympic gold medalists Alexi Grewal
Alexi Grewal
Alexi Singh Grewal ' is a Sikh-American Olympic gold medalist and former professional road racing cyclist. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Grewal became the first American man to win an Olympic gold medal in road cycling...
and Heiden, Olympic bronze medalists Phinney and Kiefel, Bradley, Schuler, Hayman, Stieda, and Chris Carmichael. When the team received an invitation to the 1985 Giro d'Italia
1985 Giro d'Italia
The 1985 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 16 May to 9 June 1985, consisting of 22 stages for a total of 3,998 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.89 km/h...
, one of the Grand Tours of Europe, a young American cyclist based in Europe named Andy Hampsten was added to the team under a 30-day contract for the race. After both Kiefel and Hampsten stunningly won stages during the Giro, becoming the first American stage winners ever at a Grand Tour, 7-Eleven was invited to the 1986 Tour de France
1986 Tour de France
The 1986 Tour de France was the 73rd Tour de France, taking place July 4 to July 27, 1986. The total race distance was 4094 km, distributed over 23 stages and a prologue. It was won by Greg LeMond, the first American to win the Tour...
and became one of the major cycling teams for the next decade, under the sponsorship of Southland through 1990 and then Motorola through 1996. Ochowicz disbanded the team after the 1996 season, when Motorola decided to discontinue sponsorship.
While it was not the first professional cycling team in the U.S., 7-Eleven was responsible for an overall increase in bike racing interest in the U.S. The team claimed a win in a Grand Tour, when Andy Hampsten won the overall championship (maglia rosa
Maglia rosa
The pink jersey is awarded to the leader of the General Classification at the Giro d'Italia. The leader of the GC is the rider who has the fastest time when all the stage results are added together, taking into account time bonuses for high finishes and intermediate sprints...
) as well as the mountains championship at the 1988 Giro d'Italia
1988 Giro d'Italia
The 1988 Giro d'Italia was the 71st edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours.The Giro started off in Urbino on 23 May. The route included notable climbs such as the Passo di Gavia, the Campitello Matese, the Chiesa in Valmalenco, and the Passo san Marco...
(Tour of Italy). It also claimed a handful of world championship medals and US championships, as well as Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
and Giro stage wins and one more Grand Tour podium (Hampsten's third in the 1989 Giro d'Italia
1989 Giro d'Italia
The 1989 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 17 May to 10 June 1989, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by the French Laurent Fignon.This 72nd edition was 3,623 km long, completed at an average speed of 38.747 km/h.- General classification :...
). It was the second U.S. team to ride the Giro d'Italia (1985) (the Gianni Motta team was the first in 1984) and in the Tour de France (1986), where two Canadian riders on the team held the yellow jersey on different occasions (Alex Stieda
Alex Stieda
Alexander Nicholas Ernst "Alex" Stieda is a former professional road bicycle racer from Canada. Stieda captured all five jerseys of the Tour de France, the yellow jersey, the polka dot, the green, and the white, on the second day of the 1986 Tour de France, becoming the first North American to...
in 1986 and Steve Bauer
Steve Bauer
Steven Todd Bauer, MSM is a former professional road bicycle racer from Canada. He is an Olympic medallist and winner of several professional races.-Cycling career:...
in 1990). Its Tour de France stage winners included Phinney, Jeff Pierce
Jeff Pierce
Jeff Pierce is a retired American professional road bicycle racer. At the 1987 Tour de France, Pierce gained fame by becoming the third American to win a stage in the Tour de France, winning the final stage on the Champs-Élysées while riding for Team 7-Eleven.In 1991 Jeff Pierce appeared in a...
, Hampsten and Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
. As of 2009, Team 7-Eleven is the only cycling team to have been inducted into the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame
United States Bicycling Hall of Fame
The United States Bicycling Hall of Fame, located in Davis, California, is a private organization formed to preserve and promote the sport of cycling.-Location:...
.
Race radios
During Motorola's sponsorship of the team in the 1990s, the riders began communicating with the team cars through the use of two-way radios built by Motorola. The radios were slowly adopted through the rest of the professional peloton, becoming standard equipment by 2002. Acceptance of these radios was hastened by the success in the Tour de France of former Motorola rider Lance ArmstrongLance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
, who continued to use a race radio when he joined the U.S. Postal Service cycling team and then won the Tour seven straight years.
Roster
201 GREWAL Alexi (USA)202 ALCALA Raul (MEX)
203 CARMICHAEL Chris (USA)
204 HEIDEN Eric (USA)
205 KIEFEL Ron (USA)
206 PHINNEY Davis (USA)
207 PIERCE Jeff (USA)
208 ROLL Bob (USA)
209 SHAPIRO Douglas (USA)
210 STIEDA Alex (CAN)
Results
63 - Bob RollBob Roll
Bob Roll is a former American professional cyclist, author, and television sports commentator. He was a member of the 7-Eleven Cycling Team until 1990 and competed for the Motorola Cycling Team in 1991. In 1992 Roll moved to Greg LeMond’s Z team and added mountain biking to his racing...
1h 43' 12"
80 - Jeff Pierce
Jeff Pierce
Jeff Pierce is a retired American professional road bicycle racer. At the 1987 Tour de France, Pierce gained fame by becoming the third American to win a stage in the Tour de France, winning the final stage on the Champs-Élysées while riding for Team 7-Eleven.In 1991 Jeff Pierce appeared in a...
1h 56' 57"
96 - Ron Kiefel
Ron Kiefel
Ronald Alexander Kiefel is a former professional road bicycle racer from the United States. Kiefel is a seven-time Tour de France racer, Olympic bronze medalist and member of the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame....
2h 06' 38"
114 - Raul Alcala
Raul Alcala
Raúl Alcalá is a professional road racing cyclist, who competed between 1985 and 1999 and again in 2008. In 1986, Alcalá became the first Mexican cyclist to compete in the Tour de France. In the 1987 Tour de France, he received the Maillot blanc, awarded to the best rider under 25...
2h 15' 53"
120 - Alex Stieda
Alex Stieda
Alexander Nicholas Ernst "Alex" Stieda is a former professional road bicycle racer from Canada. Stieda captured all five jerseys of the Tour de France, the yellow jersey, the polka dot, the green, and the white, on the second day of the 1986 Tour de France, becoming the first North American to...
2h 19' 47"
Eric Heiden
Eric Heiden
Eric Arthur Heiden, M.D. is an American former long track speed skater and road cyclist who won all the men's speed skating races, and thus an unprecedented five individual gold medals, and set four Olympic records and one world record at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York,...
ab.18°
Alexi Grewal
Alexi Grewal
Alexi Singh Grewal ' is a Sikh-American Olympic gold medalist and former professional road racing cyclist. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Grewal became the first American man to win an Olympic gold medal in road cycling...
ab.17°
Davis Phinney
Davis Phinney
Davis Phinney is a former professional road bicycle racer from the United States. He was known as a fast sprinter, and claims to have won the most races in American history. In 1986, he became the first American to win a stage at the Tour de France, while riding on the American-based team 7-Eleven...
ab.15°
Chris Carmichael
Chris Carmichael
Chris Carmichael is a retired professional cyclist and cycling, triathlon and endurance sports coach as well as the founder of Carmichael Training Systems.- Coaching career :...
ab.12°
Doug Shaprio ab.12°