U.S. CYCLING SPINS WHEELS SHORTAGE OF MONEY, SUPPORT UNDERMINE AMERICAN TEAM.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

Although prospects look good for American Olympic cyclists - the 13-member team qualified in 27 of 28 positions in three disciplines and includes the most famous rider in two-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong - all is not well in Bike Land.

With the Olympics less than a month away, there is infighting with some cyclists blasting their federation for lack of financial support and leadership.

``This year has been so disappointing,'' said sprinter Marcelo Arrue of Woodland Hills. ``You would think U.S. Cycling would put extra emphasis on treating riders right.''

Such is life at USA Cycling, where the dollars are always hard to come by because Americans don't follow the sport as do the Europeans and South Americans.

Things haven't been made easier by incoming U.S. Olympic Committee president Norm Blake's intention of equating financial backing with Olympic success.

The budgets are small, USA Cycling director of athlete performance Sean Petty said, and with sponsorships hard to come by, U.S. Cycling had no choice but to cut the athletes' stipend this year.

``We're spread so thin,'' Petty said. ``My budget is much less than last year. We made reductions, and one of those was the elimination of the stipend. It's very, very frustrating in an Olympic year to do that.''

To a cyclist such as Arrue, that's a lot of money. Last year, in which he won the Pan American Games and the national championship in Olympic sprint, he earned between $1,400 and $1,500 a month. He expected to make at least $2,500 a month but instead makes $1,440 from a special program, plus a one-time $2,500 grant from the U.S. Olympic Committee.

He blames a lack of leadership at U.S. Cycling, specifically officials' lack of trying to get the sport on American television.

Arrue knows for a sport to survive in this country, it needs a television contract. He suggested four or five times a year could spark interest. Cycling sprints, in which cyclists go around a 250-meter track between three and eight times, are as glamorous and TV-friendly as the 100 or 200 meters in track, he argues.

``I think this sport hasn't received (attention) from the media,'' Arrue said. ``The X Games has more attention. I've seen X Games on TV and people are totally into it.''

Petty said he was surprised at Arrue's comments.

``He's reached the top of his field and not necessarily seeing the fruits,'' Petty said of Arrue. ``Sacrifices are made and opportunities are there. Is it the level they want? No. Does it take sacrificing? Absolutely.''

This dissatisfaction won't stop Arrue from giving his all in Sydney, but he's considering a return to his native Chile, where he is well known and where cycling is second to soccer in popularity.

``Down there, you're on TV shows,'' he said. ``You're a celebrity. People notice hard work.

``(USA Cycling's) support has been horrendous. . . . This is not right. This is an Olympic year. This is the first Olympics of the millennium. We should have much more support.''

CYCLING

Competition dates: Sept. 16-21 (track); Sept. 23-24 (mountain bike), Sept. 26-27, 30 (road race)

Events: 18 medal events in three disciplines.

--Track (men and women): match sprint, points race, time trial and individual pursuit. Also for men: Keirin, 4,000-meter team pursuit, Madison, Olympic sprint and 1-kilometer time trial.

--Road race: men race 148.5 miles, women race 74.56 miles. There's also individual time trials of 29.08 miles (men) and 19.4 miles (women)

--Mountain biking: 30.76 miles (men), 22.18 miles (women)

History: Track and road cycling have been part of the Games since the modern Olympics began in 1896. Mountain biking was added in 1996.

How U.S. will fare: Not well, since cycling isn't as popular (or well-funded) here as in Europe, South America and Australia. Still, watch for Lance Armstrong in individual time trial, Marty Nothstein in match sprint and Keirin and Alison Dunlap in women's mountain bike.

Did you know: Armstrong is trying to become the first cyclist to win the Tour de France and an Olympic gold medal in the same year. Miguel Indurain of Spain came closest, winning the Tour in 1995 and the Olympic time trial the following year.

- Lee Barnathan

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