Is cycle sport encouraging uptake of cycling?

Utility cyclist to racer... Does have precedent, e.g. Svein Tuft.

February 8, 2009

Tuft, above, is now a member of the Garmin-Slipstream team. At 18, he spent $40 on a thrift-shop bike and built a trailer to haul supplies and his 80-pound dog, Bear, and rode into the Canadian wilderness.

Came second in the ITT at world champs 2008.