USA Cycling History The Amateur Bicycle League of America was organized in 1920 and incorporated in New York in 1921. In 1975, the name was changed to the United States Cycling Federation. In 1995, USA Cycling, was incorporated in Colorado, and on July 1, 1995, the two corporations merged, with USA Cycling being the umbrella corporation. USA Cycling is the official cycling organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and is responsible for identifying, training, and selecting cyclists to represent the United States in international competition. Besides preparing elite level athletes for world-class competition, USA Cycling conducts business as the U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF), the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA), and USPRO, controlling nearly two dozen events each year and issuing permits for up to 3,000 more. The major responsibilities of the organization are to ensure the ongoing safety and development of the sport. The United States has been a major player in the cycling movement since the invention of the bicycle - from the world's first mountain bike races held in California to Lance Armstrong's world-renowned performances. Cycling has been on the Olympic platform since the beginning of the modern movement in 1896, and the U.S. took its first medal when John Henry Lake finished third in the sprint at the 1900 Paris Games. Four years later, the U.S. team won every medal in all seven events at St. Louis. Eight years later, in Stockholm, the U.S. road team won two bronze medals. That was the final podium appearance for Americans until the comeback performance of 1984. Before World War II, the only sport in the U.S. more popular than cycling was baseball. Cyclists were once the highest paid athletes in the country, and thousands of fans flocked to the races. After a decline in the 50's and 60's, the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles saw U.S. riders take nine medals including the first-ever women's medal awarded to Connie Carpenter for her first place road race finish. Interest in the sport once again took off as a popular American pastime and today is one of the fastest-growing amateur sports. Greg Lemond's three Tour de France victories and Lance Armstrong's five Tour wins continue to boost the sport in the U.S., but there is still a continuous battle to regain the prominence the sport experienced before basketball and football.
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