USA CYCLING HIRES GARY WEST AS HEAD TRACK COACH
Veteran Enjoyed Success During Career with Australian and JapanesePrograms
Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 31, 2005)—In a move expectedto significantly bolster the competitiveness of USA Cycling’s nationaltrack program, the national governing body announced today the additionof distinguished track coach Gary West to its staff.  As head trackcoach for USA Cycling, West hopes to revive a modest program that was onceconsidered one of the strongest in the world.West’s name has become synonymous with success in the internationaltrack cycling arena after the native Australian enjoyed an accomplisheddecade-long career with several Australian-based cycling initiatives aswell as a four-year stint with the Japanese Cycling Federation.West now has his sights set on returning the United States to the powerfulforce that it once was in track cycling.“Obviously, our main goal is to become a competitive country at world-classcompetitions,” said West during the UCI Track Cycling World Championshipslast weekend in Los Angeles.  “We need to establish competitive athletesand reestablish track cycling in the United States across the board.”An Olympian in 1984, West competed in the points race and was an alternateon the gold medal-winning team pursuit squad at the Los Angeles games. After retiring from competitive cycling following the Olympics, West returnedto the sport in the early 90’s as a coach.  In 1995, West was namedas the national sprint coach for both the Australian Institute of Sportand Cycling Australia.  Under his direction, the Australian sprintcontingent earned a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta andcaptured four medals at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.Following the Sydney Olympics, West was recruited by the Japanese CyclingFederation to become its head track coach and technical director. In the ensuing four years, West led the Japanese team sprint squad to asilver medal at last summer’s Olympic Games in Athens.“Gary has long been considered one of the best track coaches in theworld and his resume speaks for itself,” commented USA Cycling chief executiveofficer Gerard Bisceglia.  “Along with the addition of Pat McDonoughlast year, I truly feel that we now have the proper infrastructure in placeat USA Cycling to restore the credibility of U.S. track cycling and onceagain become a key player at international-level competitions includingworld championships and the Olympics.”USA Cycling director of athletics and chief operating officer, SteveJohnson, sees the addition of West as a major investment in the sport ata time when performances by American athletes at world-class events havebecome sub-standard.  On the heels of hosting the world championshipsfor the fist time in 19 years only to come away with no medals and onlythree top-10 finishes, Johnson is optimistic about the future.“We are now at the zero-hour,” said Johnson. “We consider the additionof Gary, as well as some other soon to be announced changes, as a signof a new age for American track cycling.”

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About USA Cycling
Recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Union CyclisteInternationale, USA Cycling promotes American cycling through its 50,000members and 2,000 annual events. USA Cycling associations include the BMXAssociation (BMX), National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike),U.S. Cycling Federation (road/track), the National Collegiate Cycling Associationand the U.S. Professional Racing Organization (professional men’s road).For more information visit www.usacycling.org or contact USA Cycling Directorof Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867.