Amy Smolens was asked about some of her most exciting moments covering cycling competitions...and this was included in her list. I actually remember watching this particular race(individual pursuit, 1996 olympic trials) on ESPN. McCarthy was wearing the world champion's jersey that night..and he was considered a shoo in for the Olympic team. Here's Kent Bostic at age 43 and racing domestically for a low budget team lining up against the world champion. I think Kent even had a job..while McCarthy was fully supported by the national team..he simply trained, ate, and slept. No one gave him(Kent) a chance. Kent was now 43..and had been told by Eddie B.(several years earlier) that he was too old. I cannot describe how exciting this race was on the track that night in Trexlertown, PA. This reminded me of that final time trial in the '89 tour de france.....although most folks may not know who Kent Bostick is..while everyone knows Lemond. Kent looked unbelievable. He was in such great condition for that race. He was 43 years old..but his body looked like he was 28. He obviously had trained like a madman for that event. Time will probably forget this race..but I never will. I would give anything to have a tape or DVD of this event...1996 Cycling Olympic Trials(velodrome). Anyone remember this race or know if these events exist on tape????.......




"1996 Olympic Trials Men's Individual Pursuit Final. Mike McCarthy vs Kent Bostick. McCarthy was 27 years old . He raced for and had been supported by the US National Team and had their pricey state-of-the-art "Superbike" - a clear favorite. Bostick was approaching 43, racing for Team Shaklee, not the highest budget team - a clear underdog if there ever was one. The enviable job of cameraman Scott Ogle and me was to supplement the actual race coverage by shooting the coaches giving the racers splits, getting the reactions, etc. We spent most of the time on McCarthy's side, with US National Team coach Craig Griffin, since McC was the prohibitive favorite... but as time went on and Scott and I looked up at the split times on the scoreboard we had the sense we were in for a big upset. At one point we looked at the scoreboard, looked at each other, and tore across the infield as fast as we could to the other side. Bostick's coach, Mark Whitehead, was going absolutely nuts yelling splits to Kent... As you probably know, Bostick pulled the huge upset and was as excited as a kid in a candy store about finally qualifying for the Olympics after all his years of trying!! It was an electric moment for me and Scott, and was actually one of the most exciting sports moments I've ever experienced."....Amy Smolens

Moral of the story...never give up!..and you are never too old! No one ever thought that man would break the 4 minute mile(running)..so perhaps in time we will see a 45 or 48 year old athlete make the olympic team or become a World Champion?

I'm dying to know if you found a copy of the video-I dated Kent in the late 70's and would love to see it. He was, and obviously still is, awesome.

barbarat59

Great story! Wish I were into cycling then, I started right after I got back from the Gulf War(1) Went to my first and only Tour de France in 1991. Hope you find a tape/video of that event. Good luck.

I know how old this thread is...but hey...why not:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z22QD...eature=related

Jeannie Longo is off to her seventh straight Olympic Games at 49-50!

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Hamish Ferguson: Cycling Coach
http://hamishferguson.blogspot.com/