Description

Eddie Borysewicz

Eddie Borysewicz—affectionately known as “Eddie B”—was a transformative Polish‑American cycling coach whose influence reshaped U.S. cycling from the late 1970s through the early 2000s. Born March 18, 1939, in northeastern Poland (now part of Belarus), he began as a national junior cycling champion, overcame a bout of misdiagnosed tuberculosis, then earned a degree in physical education from the University of Warsaw.

He served as assistant coach for Poland at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, then relocated to New Jersey. There, while still grappling with English, he met Mike Fraysse and was hired as the U.S. Cycling Federation’s first full‑time coach in 197.7 Setting up base at Squaw Valley, California, Eddie B revolutionized training methods and emphasized team unity. Among his early protégés were future stars like Greg LeMond (a rider he famously described as “a clear diamond”), Sue Novara, and Connie Carpenter.

At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics—America’s first cycling medals since 1912—Eddie’s teams earned a haul of nine medals: four gold, three silver, and two bronze. These victories marked a dramatic breakthrough, even though subsequent investigations revealed that several cyclists had received medically supervised blood transfusions before competition—a practice then not barred by Olympic rules, earning Eddie and the team doctor fines and prompting policy change in 1985.

After resigning from the U.S. national program in 1987 due to internal conflicts, Eddie launched an amateur team in 1988, initially sponsored by SunKyong and later by Montgomery Securities. That squad evolved into the powerhouse US Postal and later Discovery Channel teams, where he took credit for discovering Lance Armstrong before Armstrong’s tenure under Chris Carmichael.

Eddie lived in Ramona, California, where in 2003 his home was destroyed by the devastating Cedar Fire. Cyclists and supporters worldwide rallied, raising over $120,000 to help rebuild.

He was enshrined in the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1996 and earned accolades such as “Father of Modern American Cycling” and “Super Master of Sports”.

Eddie Borysewicz spent his later years equally between California and Poland. He passed away at age 81 on November 16, 2020, in Drezdenko, Poland, after contracting COVID‑19.

In summary, Eddie B was a trailblazer who elevated U.S. cycling from obscurity to Olympic podiums, mentored legends like LeMond and Armstrong, and transformed the sport’s culture, leaving a legacy both inspiring and complex.