Most of Lancaster race promoter Rich Ruoff’’s events require a time commitment of only a few hours. One race that was - until recently - listed on Ruoff’s schedule would require a lot more time: a commitment of several years.
Ruoff’s All that is Good promotion company was carrying a flyer for the first Tour de Tallil Ali Air Base, a race around the perimeter of the American air base in Iraq where local bike racer and soldier Neil Gussman is serving. Gussman had hoped to hold the event on Sept. 5, but it was not to be.
The idea may seem far-fetched in a war zone, but Gussman believed it was doable. Tallil Ali is a huge base with some 10,000 airmen, soldiers and civilian personnel. Between 300 and 400 of them have bicycles, Gussman estimates. A couple dozen have nice bikes. His goal was modest. He hoped to get maybe 20 people in the 28-mile race and as many as 100 for a fun ride around the base’s 15-kilometer perimeter road.
Gussman wrote on his blog that base officials were willing to listen, but the plans eventually fell apart when they insisted on security for the length of the course, guaranteed participation numbers and a party at the end of the race/ride - which Gussman did not have the resources to provide.
“So I was looking at a small, first-time event that would bring out the bicyclists on our big air base and help to form a cycling community. They were looking for an event that is way beyond my resources. There was a follow-up email asking me to provide all the things I could not provide: guaranteed participation, perimeter security strategic plans, etc. I answered the memo then the next day sent another memo withdrawing my offer to organize the race,”Gussman wrote.
Maybe they’ll change their expectations. Hopefully, Gussman will soon be able to come home to do his racing.
