COORS INTERNATIONAL BICYCLE CLASSIC RECORDS

Collection

Identifier: WH1418

Staff Only

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection spans the years 1975 to 1989 and contains printed material consisting of promotional items, manuals, publications, sponsorship proposals and contracts. This collection primarily consists of ephemera, which includes the commemorative tee shirts, mugs, postcards, water bottles, and souvenir sports caps in addition to official bicycle jerseys and cycling caps. These items are included because they define each year's event. Each year's race is identified by colors, clothes and promotional materials.

SERIES 1 PRINTED MATERIAL 1975-1989 BOX 1-4

This series is organized chronologically. Material includes correspondence, promotional items such as press releases, spectator guides, wall calendars and bumper stickers, manuals, publications, contracts, and sponsorship proposals.

SERIES 2 EPHEMERA 1975-1989 BOX 5-22

Contains wrapped items including commemorative tee shirts, visors, postcards, water bottles, mugs, sports caps, pins, and official cycling jerseys, cycling caps, staff shirts and jackets.

SERIES 3 OVERSIZE 1976-1987 FOLIOS 1-6

Contents include race posters, yearbooks and uncut ribbons.

SERIES 4 AUDIO-VISUAL 1985, 1987 BOX 23

45 RPM phonograph records with theme songs from the Red Zinger Bicycle Classic and the Coors International Bicycle Classic comprise the series

Dates

1975-1989

OWNERSHIP:

Literary rights and copyrights are assigned to the Denver Public Library where applicable for research purposes.

PUBLICATION RIGHTS:

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.

HISTORICAL NOTE

Celestial Seasonings, an herbal tea company located in Boulder, Colorado established the Classic in 1975 as the Red Zinger Bicycle Classic, named after the company's first successful tea. The Red Zinger grew out of a concern for good health, ecology and competitive sport, according to the Classic's press releases. It began with three bicycle races in three days - a 10.8 mile time trial, a 93.4 mile road race and the 50 mile Criterium - that escalated to a thirteen day series of races.

Within two years, the Red Zinger Bicycle Classic was America's largest amateur bicycle race and the first international stage event in United States history. The addition of international teams brought new life to the race, as well as national and international publicity.

In an article from the 1980 Red Zinger Magazine looking back on the first five years of the race, Celestial Seasonings founder Mo Siegel had this to say: "Then came Michael Aisner, race director, and the team. A new era had arrived for American cycling. Now the Red Zinger had a full-time, talented promoter, backed by a competent staff and quality officials. Deadline dates, line item budgets, new sponsors, world teams, television coverage, two movies and lots of hard work followed Michael's entry." The Classic became America's most prestigious bicycle race and on par with the Tour de France and other top international cycling events.

In 1980, sponsorship passed from Celestial Seasonings to the Adolph Coors Brewing Company. The 1982 Classic welcomed world class racers from the Soviet Union, Mexico, Sweden, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Italy, France, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Ireland, Holland and the United States. Celestial Seasonings turned from race sponsorship to team sponsorship. In 1985 and 1986, the company backed a powerhouse team that included Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault. In 1986, half a million racing fans attended the Coors Classic. The participants in the 1987 Classic raced in a greatly expanded series of competitions in Hilo, Hawaii, San Francisco, Sacramento, Squaw Valley, Aspen, Estes Park, Vail, Boulder and Denver. Coors dropped out of the Classic in 1988 "concluding that the event did not fit its national marketing strategy" according to an article in the November 15, 1988 Rocky Mountain News. In its final year (1988), the race covered three states (Colorado, California and Nevada) and had a budget nearing one million dollars.