Wisconsin State Journal, 09.23.09
In nine days, Wisconsin residents will know if the "horribly hilly" climbs in western Dane County will put Olympian cyclists to the test in 2016.
The International Olympic Committee is scheduled to choose a host city for the 2016 Olympics on Oct. 2 in Copenhagen. If Chicago is chosen, mountain biking and road cycling events would be held in and around Madison and Mount Horeb.
Other cities vying for the bid are Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Madrid, Spain; and Tokyo -- each of which has strengths and weaknesses.
Olympics experts say Chicago has a strong bid, but also faces a handful of obstacles, including an overloaded commuter rail system and uncertain financial backing. And an IOC report earlier this month noted that the two cycling events proposed for Wisconsin are about 160 and 180 miles from Chicago.
In nine days, Wisconsin residents will know if the "horribly hilly" climbs in western Dane County will put Olympian cyclists to the test in 2016.
The International Olympic Committee is scheduled to choose a host city for the 2016 Olympics on Oct. 2 in Copenhagen. If Chicago is chosen, mountain biking and road cycling events would be held in and around Madison and Mount Horeb.
Other cities vying for the bid are Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Madrid, Spain; and Tokyo -- each of which has strengths and weaknesses.
Olympics experts say Chicago has a strong bid, but also faces a handful of obstacles, including an overloaded commuter rail system and uncertain financial backing. And an IOC report earlier this month noted that the two cycling events proposed for Wisconsin are about 160 and 180 miles from Chicago.