The United States Cycling Federation joint Kentucky and Indiana State Championship road race and criterium was held on June 3 and 4. Two local teams promoted the races again this year. The Louisville Wheelmen hosted the road race portion of the championship weekend; the criterium was sponsored by the Rapid Transit Racing Team.
Cambellsburg, Indiana -- Saturday, June 3, dawned sunny and warm, a perfect day for a road race. The Kentucky and Indiana State Championship Road Race was held this year in conjunction with Cambellsburg's First Annual Country Hoedown Festival. A total of 155 racers from five states and Australia registered to compete in twelve different categories. The racers were paced into Cambellsburg by the local sheriff following registration, where they toured festival parade route to the applause of the town's people. Following the playing of the National Anthem, the stage was set for an exciting day of racing.
The organization and planning that went into this event were excellent. Laying out the course is perhaps the most challenging aspect of staging a race at a new venue, and this year was no exception. A record 20 inches of rain for the month of May made the originally planned 17 mile loop impassable, and a 13.5 mile alternate course was used. The alternate route proved to be sufficiently difficult. The open and rolling terrain provided a constant challenge for the racers, despite the shorter lap length and the lack of a major climb. The only true flat section was in Cambellsburg at the feed zone. Riders were required to get feeds while traveling more than 25 miles per hour. The difficulty of the course and aggressive riding combined to cause a great deal of attrition from each of the competing fields.
The Louisville Wheelmen Racing Team represented the club well, with a number of riders earning medals and/or placing highly. Riders from Kentucky and Indiana competed for separate state championship honors in addition to racing for overall cash prizes. Team results from the road race competition follow.
Congratulations are also due to the various squad members who worked tirelessly to help set their teammates up to take the top spots. Bicycle racing is a team sport, and though the placings and honors listed above are for individuals, they reflect the efforts of every squad member in the field.
A tremendous amount of help and support was given by people behind the scenes. These individuals did everything from planning and registration, to working as corner marshals, taking care of hand-ups in the feed zone, and making sure our riders and the event were handled flawlessly. Thanks to the following helpers: Albert Linder, Dave Spitler, Amy Johannemann, Rory Whitaker, Craig Holmes, Kathy Faulkner, Sonny Neurath, Ed Fitchner, Joe and Tammy Kipp, Tom Plant, Mary Plant, David Chinn, Barbara Berman, Rob Evans, Terry Sullivan, Ian Schill, Ed Doerr, Bret Hamilton, Rachel Davis, Mike Purcell, and special thanks to Brad Myers, The Cambellsburg Betterment Committee, and sponsors. Efforts like those given by the above individuals and organizations are the reason the Louisville Wheelmen Club and Racing Team combine to form one of the premier cycling organizations in the midwest.
Results
Results
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