Tour of Nevada was entertaining to watch

Dear Editor:

Last weekend, the Tour of Nevada was held in Nevada. This event was a USA Cycling sanctioned event that brought cyclists from all over the Midwest to Nevada to participate Saturday and Sunday in what is termed a criterium.

Now I was a little confused as to what this was and I assume most of you were too. As an advocate for cycling and running sports I volunteered to help work a corner during the event and was pleasantly surprised. In fact my shift ended Saturday evening at 7:30, but I stayed as a spectator until the final race ended at 10:30.

I am an occasional cyclist and often consider myself fairly fast, I was wrong! The ability of these men and women to push their bikes to speeds in excess of 25 mph, and then hold that speed for as long as 70 minutes amazed me. I don't know when the last time elite and professional athletes competed in Nevada, but I am certainly glad I had the chance to see them.

To try and sum up the excitement, picture an Indy or NASCAR race, but now the motors are the human body and the cars are their bikes. No pit stops here, if the motor wears out or you get low on fuel you are out of the race! The course is short with multiple technical turns, and yes, just as in Indy and NASCAR, a few crashes.

Athletes start in a pack and quickly gain speed. Just as in auto racing they stay together, as the group can easily outrun a single breakaway bike. One difference is on various laps the announcer over the intercom announces "prem" and a dollar figure. I found out this means that the winner of the next lap wins the dollar amount up for grabs. This leads to some early sprints to win the lap and as much as a few hundred bucks.

As the race wears on cyclists start jockeying for position. Maybe a sole athlete breaks away which makes the pack have to decide to let him go or chase. Most early breakaways are not taken seriously and are shortly reeled back in.

But then maybe six riders make a break. Working together they take turns in the front where the work is the greatest, each doing their part to help the small group accelerate enough to break away from the pack. This pressures the main group to respond and they work as well to try and make chase.

As the final race of the night wound down the main group couldn't catch the lead cyclists. Eventually, one of the leaders couldn't sustain his pace and he fell back. Another leader made his own break away from the lead group with three laps to go. He couldn't hold, however as another rider caught up to him just before the last corner of the last lap. With a few hundred yards to go they swerved and played each other for position before the chasing rider stood in his pedals and broke by the lead rider, passing him just feet before the finish line and easily sprinting up to 40 mph. The race was won!

If you were in attendance for these races, I am sure you shared my enjoyment. If you were not, I hope you will keep an ear out as the event will surely return next year giving you another chance to check it out. Next year make an effort to come out and show your support. If for no other reason, how about just a break in your routine or the chance to try something different.

Oh, and if you do come, feel free to bring your cow bell to ring each lap!

Steve Marquardt

Nevada