In recent years, Marshall “Major” Taylor has finally begun to receive the attention he deserves as one of the most influential riders in cycling history. The first professional African-American cyclist, Taylor began competing on the track around the turn of the 20th century. He not only won American Championships and set world records, he traveled the world racing his bike for over a decade before retired at the age of 32.
And now, he’ll hopefully have a documentary sharing his story with the world: Whirlwind. The title comes from his nickname: The Massachusetts-based racer was referred to as the Worcester Whirlwind on posters and in the press.
While Taylor has been featured in Super Bowl commercials, whiskey ads, short films, museum displays, and massive murals, this is the first time his story will be shared in a full-length documentary format. The film, Whirlwind, will not only look at his history as a racer, but also examine the larger arc of African American and American history, from Reconstruction to the Great Depression, according to the executive producer and director Cyrille Vincent.
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“In a word, I was a pioneer and therefore had to blaze my own trail,” Taylor wrote in his 1928 autobiography, The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World. And now, Vincent is trying to honor Taylor’s legacy—though for the film to succeed, it still needs some serious funding.
But clearly, if there was ever a cyclist deserving of a full-length documentary, it’s Taylor.
To watch the trailer, you can check out the Worcester Whirlwind page—and consider donating to the film while you’re there. Unfortunately, the movie may never make it to the big screen without further backing. The projected budget for the film is $1.2 million, and to date, the director and crew have raised $30,786.
Molly writes about cycling, nutrition and training, with an emphasis on women in sport. Her new middle-grade series, Shred Girls, debuts with Rodale Kids/Random House in 2019 with "Lindsay's Joyride." Her other books include "Mud, Snow and Cyclocross," "Saddle, Sore" and "Fuel Your Ride." Her work has been published in magazines like Bicycling, Outside and Nylon. She co-hosts The Consummate Athlete Podcast.
