TDG Board Denies Brigman’s Appeal

The Tour de Gulch Board of Directors voted unanimously to deny Lance Brigman’s request for a handicap at the 2009 Growlers Gulch 5,000. The decision was handed down on Monday, March 9th.

Brigman, who won the event in 2006 and 2007, elected to skip the 2008 5K in lieu of a trip to Hawaii. This year, he pleaded with the Board to grant him a five-minute headstart. The 62-year-old Brigman based his appeal on what he called a “noticeable fall-off in my climbing abilities and overall strength.”

"Faster, pussycat" - Brigman impatiently waiting to pass a young dude at MBO '08

A former triathlete, Brigman established age-group records at numerous events throughout the Northwest before making the switch to mountain biking several years ago. His skills were on display at the 2008 Mountain Bike Oregon event in Oakride, where he established himself as one of the top climbers among 300-plus riders.

TDG Board members – all of whom have had their asses handed to them by Brigman on a regular basis – were swift to respond.

“Is he out of his mind?” said Three Rivers Cycling stud Mike van Hoose. “Lance Brigman deserves a handicap like Lance Armstrong deserves one.”

“Even Mother Theresa couldn’t summon up any compassion for him on this one,” said Dave LeMonds. “No way, no how.”