John Allis
Encyclopedia
John Allis is an American cyclist who entered into international cycling competition
in the 1960s. He was one of the strongest competitive cyclists in the United States in the early 1970s, winning the United States National Road Race Championships
in 1974.
, and had not yet graduated when he led three of his Princeton teammates to compete in the world road championships in Ronse
, Belgium. The team performed poorly in the road race, but better in the time trial, where they took 20th place. This was the first American presence in international cycling competition since the era of Major Taylor.
Allis stayed to race in Europe when his teammates returned to the United States, signing on as a category 1 amateur with the Paris club, ACBB. He was the first English speaker to ride for the team.
Despite the skepticism of French cycling enthusiasts, who informed him that Americans were biologically unfit to compete, Allis did achieve victories, including Paris to Cayeux-sur-Mer in 1964. The team was so surprised to see their American rider win that they had to scramble to find him a clean jersey to wear on the podium; he had been given the worst one in the shop. His victory was covered in L'Équipe
and mentioned in the New York Times
.
Allis returned home to complete his Princeton degree. In 1965, he placed second in the national collegiate road championship. In his senior year, he participated in his first Olympic Games
. After placing fourth in trials in Central Park
, he was selected for the men's individual road race, but was under academic probation and the school almost declined to allow him to attend. However, somebody pointed out to the administration that Harvard and Yale each had two Olympians that year and that, without Allis, Princeton would have had only one (Bill Bradley
). He produced the best American result in the event that year, 70th out of 126 riders. Allis also raced in the team time trial in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City and the road race at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, where he took 63rd. He said his failure to gain success at the Olympics was the biggest disappointment of his career.
After a brief stint in the Army, Allis shone in American racing in the early 1970s, organizing along with Dave Chauner the Raleigh team that dominated American racing, and winning the national road championship in 1974, which he won by applying brutal tactics against the newcomer Tommy Officer, the 175-mile Quebec-Montreal race in 1973, and two runnings of the Mount Washington Hill Climb. He retired from national competition in 1976.
Allis achieved all his victories as an amateur. He would have entered European professional racing but was denied the opportunity in 1969 by the management of ACBB, who declared he was too old.
Allis lives in Massachusetts with his wife Kim, and has two daughters, Paget and Galen. He is co-owner of the Belmont Wheelworks and Ace Wheelworks bike stores, and has coached the Harvard University
cycling team since 1980. He was inducted into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1993.
Bicycle racing
Bicycle racing is a competition sport in which various types of bicycles are used. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, bike trials, and cycle speedway. Bicycle racing is recognised as an Olympic sport...
in the 1960s. He was one of the strongest competitive cyclists in the United States in the early 1970s, winning the United States National Road Race Championships
United States National Road Race Championships
The United States National Professional Road Race Championships began in 1985. They are run by the governing body, USA Cycling. Until 2006 the race was open to all nationalities, the first American to finish being named the winner and given a distinctive jersey...
in 1974.
Biography
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Allis began racing while a student at Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, and had not yet graduated when he led three of his Princeton teammates to compete in the world road championships in Ronse
Ronse
Ronse is a Belgian city and a municipality in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality only comprises the city of Ronse proper.- Early settlements to 14th century :...
, Belgium. The team performed poorly in the road race, but better in the time trial, where they took 20th place. This was the first American presence in international cycling competition since the era of Major Taylor.
Allis stayed to race in Europe when his teammates returned to the United States, signing on as a category 1 amateur with the Paris club, ACBB. He was the first English speaker to ride for the team.
Despite the skepticism of French cycling enthusiasts, who informed him that Americans were biologically unfit to compete, Allis did achieve victories, including Paris to Cayeux-sur-Mer in 1964. The team was so surprised to see their American rider win that they had to scramble to find him a clean jersey to wear on the podium; he had been given the worst one in the shop. His victory was covered in L'Équipe
L'Équipe
L'Équipe is a French nationwide daily newspaper devoted to sports, owned by Éditions Philippe Amaury. The paper is noted for coverage of football , rugby, motorsports and cycling...
and mentioned in the New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
.
Allis returned home to complete his Princeton degree. In 1965, he placed second in the national collegiate road championship. In his senior year, he participated in his first Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. After placing fourth in trials in Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
, he was selected for the men's individual road race, but was under academic probation and the school almost declined to allow him to attend. However, somebody pointed out to the administration that Harvard and Yale each had two Olympians that year and that, without Allis, Princeton would have had only one (Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley
William Warren "Bill" Bradley is an American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, and former three-term Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party's nomination for President in the 2000 election.Bradley was born and raised in a suburb of St....
). He produced the best American result in the event that year, 70th out of 126 riders. Allis also raced in the team time trial in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City and the road race at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, where he took 63rd. He said his failure to gain success at the Olympics was the biggest disappointment of his career.
After a brief stint in the Army, Allis shone in American racing in the early 1970s, organizing along with Dave Chauner the Raleigh team that dominated American racing, and winning the national road championship in 1974, which he won by applying brutal tactics against the newcomer Tommy Officer, the 175-mile Quebec-Montreal race in 1973, and two runnings of the Mount Washington Hill Climb. He retired from national competition in 1976.
Allis achieved all his victories as an amateur. He would have entered European professional racing but was denied the opportunity in 1969 by the management of ACBB, who declared he was too old.
Allis lives in Massachusetts with his wife Kim, and has two daughters, Paget and Galen. He is co-owner of the Belmont Wheelworks and Ace Wheelworks bike stores, and has coached the Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
cycling team since 1980. He was inducted into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1993.
Other sources
- The Ride magazine, issue 103, 2002
- History of the Princeton Cycling Team: http://www.princetoncycling.com/photos/old/mem/history.html
- Outside Magazine September 2004
- conversations with John Allis, 1992