Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club

A Brief History

The Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club (LGBRC), a 501 C7 non-profit (Federal) and a 501 C3 non-profit charitable (State) corporation, is a highly competitive amateur cycling team founded by 1960 Rome Olympic team members Bob Tetzlaff and Jack Hartman in 1960 as a developmental racing and training club. Traditionally closely-knit club, the LGBRC is one of the most successful amateur bicycle racing clubs in the US. The LGBRC was selected by the US Cycling Federation as the Regional Club of the Year in 1996 and Club of the Year – Division 1 (largest clubs) – Women in 2003, Club of the Year in 2004 and again in 2008. In addition to 1960 Rome Olympians Tetzlaff and Hartman, LGBRC members have represented the US in the 1968 Mexico City (Rob Parsons), 1976 Montreal (Fred Markham, Joe Saunders), 1984 Los Angeles (Chris Huber), 1988 Seoul (Craig Schommer) and 1996 Atlanta (Don Myrah) Olympics. Two other former LGBRC members, Anders Wickholm and Maureen Kaila Vengara, also represented Sweden and El Salvador, respectively, in the 1996 Olympics. Bob “King of the Road” Tezlaff was inducted into the US Bicycling Hall of Fame in May 2003.

LGBRC junior, women, senior and master members have won numerous California, National and World Championships in road, track, cyclocross and mountain bike racing. Several LGBRC members have had very successful professional cycling careers (e.g., Fred Markham, Chris Huber, Craig Schommer, Don Myrah, Maureen Kaila Vengara, Jackson Stewart, John Hygelund, Matt Dubberly, James Hibbard and Lara Ruthven). The LGBRC has also had its share of international racers including former Champion of France Eric Rekkas, Tour of Martinique champion Fabrice Rouinsard, Scandinavian Road Champions Anders and Eric Wickholm, Swedish Criterium Champion Micael Gustafson, Swedish Time Trial Champions Fredrik Andersson and Jörgen Josefsson and Danish National Team member Carsten Jesppersen. Many members of the Swedish National Team have raced and trained with the LGBRC.

In addition to racing, the LGBRC has promoted/hosted a premier racing event, The Cat’s Hill Classic bicycle race, for the past four decades in beautiful downtown Los Gatos in May. The Cat’s Hill race, with its 23% grade hill, is known throughout the internationally cycling community. In fact, three-time world champion and three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond considers winning the 1978 Cat’s Hill Criterium one of his fondest memories. The LGBRC also promotes the Timpani Criterium every August in Santa Clara.


The LGBRC promotes cycling at the grass roots level through closely supervised training and education. The club teaches bicycle safety and proper use of helmets at schools and community health fairs. We have a wonderful boys and girls youth race-training program designed to maximize their potential on and off the bike. We provide support for the Hellyer Park Velodrome. The LGBRC has devoted significant time to the town of Los Gatos and is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce. We support local charitable organizations such as Los Gatos Education Foundation (LGEF), public television, Bikes Belong and other various community programs. In fact, part of Cat’s Hill Criterium’s income is donated to the LGEF. In summary, the LGBRC is a positive and proactive citizen of the Bay Area.

In 2005 Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club was also named 2004 USA Cycling Club of the Year, Division 1 (teams with more than 76 members) Click for more information from the USA CYCLING site. Barry Gordon, LGBRC president, accepted a commendation from the town of Los Gatos for LGBRC's achievement of 2004 USA Cycling Club of the Year - Division 1. Click for photos. Read the Article in the Los Gatos Weekly Times, Jan. 19, 2005. (Link opens new window.)