Cyclists could bring tourists in their path

Chelsea Conaboy

As they roll by Mount Moosilauke, around the shore of Newfound Lake and through some of the state's historic villages, riders in the Montreal-Boston Tour coming to Concord this summer will see some of the state's best natural and recreational resources. And so will the thousands of visitors who come to watch.

The eight-leg men's race will draw the same caliber of racers as the Tour de France. It is their last chance to gain points sanctioned by the International Cycling Union for the 2007 World Championships and the 2008 Olympic Games. New Hampshire officials and cycling enthusiasts are busy organizing parallel events and preparing for the race itself, hoping to draw some recognition for the state as a good host and a great place to ride.

"This becomes an attraction for cyclists basically from all over the world to come and ride the back roads of New Hampshire," said Van McLeod, commissioner of the state Department of Cultural Resources.

While it is still being tweaked, the basic route of the race is set. After four stages in Canada and one in northern Vermont, the racers will ride 115 miles from Franconia to Concord with the finish line just in front of the State House on Aug. 10. The next day, they'll go on to ride 94 miles from Manchester northwest through Goffstown, Weare, Henniker and Hillsboro before looping down to Nashua. They'll finish the final leg around Boston.

Cyclist Brad Sheehan said unlike other professional sports that are tied to domes and sports parks, cycling takes place in a "rolling stadium."

"It showcases everything around the actual race," he said.

Though many spectators will gather at the start and finish lines, local cyclists say steep climbs along the stage ending in Concord could decide the race.

Leslie Ludtke, a longtime cyclist and vice president of the New Hampshire Cycling Club, has ridden sections of the course many times. Three huge climbs and some "hair-raising descents," on which racers will reach up to 60 mph, are squeezed between Franconia and Hebron. Cyclists call one hill on Route 112 "Gonzo's Pass." It's about five miles - straight up.

"It's a big climb," Ludtke said.

Gonzo's Pass is flanked by a climb over Kinsman Notch and another up Hall's Brook Road to the Groton dump. In all, racers will have to climb more than 9,650 vertical feet. For comparison, Ludtke said, Carter Hill is about a 300-foot climb.

Sheehan, 27, of Newton, Mass., is hoping the race becomes an annual one so he can ride it in a couple years. He's part of the 1K2Go cycling program and team director for its 11-man Legal Sea Foods team, with racers from New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The team rides in the most competitive amateur races and hopes to turn professional.

Although the team has several sponsors, it lacks what those that will be invited to race in the Montreal-Boston Tour will have: a lot of money.

Entry fees alone can cost a team nearly $30,000 a year. Then there are salaries for the team director, general manager and support staff, including a masseuse. The racers get paid, too. And big budgets draw the best racers, Sheehan said.

Teams often have a lead racer whom other racers support. Much like in NASCAR, some racers block competitors or ride in front of the leader, creating a draft, Sheehan said. Others will act like gofers, dropping back to the team's car to collect water and sprinting ahead to pass bottles off to the leader and other racers - a strenuous job, he said.

Some of the professional teams that could compete in the Montreal-Boston team have multimillion dollar budgets. The tour's Canadian promoter is expecting about 140 racers, McLeod said.

When they blow through the finish line in front of the State House, they'll likely be whisked out of sight to be massaged, refueled and prepared for the seventh leg. But a city committee is busy planning a full day of activities to keep both the cycling fanatic and the casual spectator entertained.

One idea is to reschedule part of the city's Concord Criterium, a series of races held annually in White Park for all levels, from the greenest tricycle drivers to elite amateurs. The Criterium is scheduled for Aug. 4. Ludtke, who is the organizer and sits on the city's tour committee, said one or more of the events could be moved to Aug. 10 and be held downtown. Because the racers would be doing laps, spectators could get a longer look at the strategy involved.

Dick Lemieux, a cyclist and co-chairman of the city's committee, said he wants to plan events that will help spectators understand the race, including guided tours of the route.

"I call it bike racing 101," he said. "Not to learn how to be a bike racer, but to learn how to watch one."

The committee is also working on fundraising and outreach. Tim Sink, another committee chairman and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce president, is hoping local businesses will "really lay out the red carpet for people coming to visit here." Area hotels and inns have already called him looking to get involved.

It's hard to tell just how many people will come to New Hampshire to watch the race. A similar stage race in California has drawn more than 1 million visitors. Organizers aren't expecting quite that many, but they anticipate a crowd.

The city will need hoards of volunteers as the race gets closer. For now, the organizing committee still needs members, said Ken Lurvey, Concord's business development director, who is leading the effort for the city.

"There more the better," he said. "There's all kinds of work to be done."

McLeod said the operation of the entire race will cost about $5 million. He's not sure what the local costs will be but said the state is working with the towns to find local sponsors to cover most expenses.

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