USA Cycling Reform

We, the Undersigned, call for the immediate resignation and/or dismissal of Jim Ochowicz as President of the Board of Directors of USA Cycling, and of Steve Johnson, as Chief Executive Officer of USA Cycling, Inc. We call for the immediate divestiture of all interests in USA Cycling and affiliated organizations by Thomas Weisel, and call for the reinstatement of Gerard Bisceglia as CEO of USA Cycling.



We feel that due to inherent conflicts-of-interest, Mssrs. Ochowicz, Johnson, and Weisel are not acting in the best interests of the members of USA Cycling.



USA Cycling's Code of Conduct states, in part, "The mission of USA Cycling is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of bicycling ... any member or prospective member of USA Cycling may be sanctioned ... if such member violates the provisions of the USA Cycling Code of Conduct".



It is our belief that Jim Ochowicz, Steve Johnson, and Thom Weisel have violated Section 3, paragraph (j) of the Code of Conduct, to whit "any act of fraud, deception, or dishonesty in connection with any USA Cycling-related activity."



It has been established that Mr. Ochowicz maintains an outside employment relationships with the Swiss Phonak team and failed properly disclose details of a financial relationship with a sponsor of the national governing body, despite his eventual absolution by the Board of Directors. USA Cycling By-Laws require prior approval of such relationships.



Mr. Ochowicz is also employed by Mr. Weisel's company, Thomas Weisal Partners.



Mr. Johnson appears to suffer from a serious conflict of interest between his organization's role as a doping cop and his personal, institutional, and financial ties to the diversified business world surrounding Lance Armstrong, who has been accused of using doping products during his victory in the 1999 Tour de France.



In additional to serving as Chief Operating Officer (and now CEO) of USA Cycling, Mr. Johnson is employed as the executive director of the USA Cycling Development Foundation, founded by financier Thomas Weisel, and whose Board of Directors includes Lance Armstrong.



Mr. Weisel is a co-owner of the Tailwind Sports, owner of the Discover Channel Cycling team, and exerts undue influence over the business of USA Cycling, whose role as a national governing body with regards to the Discovery Channel Cycling Team is compromised by Mr. Weisel's involvement with both organizations. In effect, Mr. Weisel not only controls the top American cycling team, but also the body whose purpose is to ensure that the sport of cycling is run in a fair and equitable manner.



We believe that these conflicts of interest are inherent, deceptive and dishonest, and as such are a violation of the Code of Conduct enacted by the Board of Directors.