Cycling clubs' criteriums are ready to roll

Last week, some cyclists divided their spring break between hard road miles and taking youngsters to Easter egg hunts.

This weekend, it's down to business.

Two area bicycle racing clubs -- Tampa's Best Of The Bay Cyclists and West Coast Wheelmen of St. Petersburg -- join forces, playing host to out-of-town USA Cycling racers in back-to-back criteriums.

Many riders say they are pleased to see two clubs working together and that by combining the events in a single weekend, BBC and WCW are sure to help increase the size of each field.

The hope is many more riders will travel here for the chance to compete twice in a single weekend.

Florida's USA Cycling racers will vie for Florida Series Points and thousands in cash at both events -- Saturday's Stan Anderson Memorial Criterium at the University of South Florida and Sunday's Festival of States Criterium at Bayfront Center.

BBC's Anderson Memorial features racing for all USA Cycling categories -- including juniors, women, masters and professionals -- on a new, hilly course at USF.

The event is named for Tampa's beloved BBC cycling coach, who died nearly a decade ago after battling cancer.

Directions to the Anderson races: Take I-275 north to Fletcher Avenue exit, continue east approximately 3 miles to North Palm Drive. Turn left onto N Palm Drive (at USF campus), then make the first right turn.

Parking will be available in the lot on the left side. Racing begins at 8 a.m. Pro 1-2 competition will be at 1 p.m.

For information on the BBC team or racing and volunteering at the Anderson Criterium, call Dave Stedje, (813) 949-2052; or send an e-mail to backbay1@yahoo.com.

Local riders to watch: WOMEN -- State champion Sherri Stedje (BBC/Jetworks) of Lutz, who is leading the Florida Points Series. JUNIORS -- Dixie Hollins student Mike Lenas (Trek Regional), 16, of St. Petersburg, who placed seventh in the expert category at last weekend's Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, Calif.

SUNDAY'S BAYFRONT CRITERIUM: The double racing weekend will be complete after St. Petersburg's West Coast Wheelmen have their annual event at the downtown Bayfront Center.

The WCW course is fast and flat and excellent for spectating and action photos.

The junior racing begins at 8 a.m., followed by the women, masters, and other categories. The Pro 1-2 event is scheduled for 1 p.m. For information, contact Dennis and Sandy Sullivan, (727) 360-2917 or drsull@gte.net.

Local riders to watch: MASTERS -- WCW 50-plus member Earl Henry of Pinellas Park and 40-plus riders Mark McGarry and Jim Zimmer, both of St. Petersburg; Team Majic 50-plus competitor Mike McCollum of Largo; and Pro 1-2 riders Tony Prioli (Serotta/Chainwheel Drive) and Jeremy Tibbetts (Outspokin), both of Clearwater, previous top-5 finishers in the race.

CLASSIC: The St. Petersburg Bicycle Club will welcome racers and recreational riders (families included) to the Spring Classic 2002 Bicycle Tour, April 14 in Bradenton.

The Classic will begin and end at the Lost Kangaroo Pub, 427-12th St. W -- just west of Business 41 -- in Bradenton. Rides start at 8 a.m., with routes of 60, 40, and 20 miles. Helmets are required.

Registration includes food, tech support, T-shirt, maps and prize drawings. For information, contact (813) 839-7126 or maccelt@aol.com.

TAXING ARMSTRONG: According to reports in the French sports newspaper L'Equipe, American Lance Armstrong (Trek/US Postal Service) may be glad he moved from the south of France to his new home in Girona, Spain.

The three-time winner of le Tour de France says the French are determined to get him through doping allegations or by calling him a tax cheater.

"They can't find drugs in my urine, so I must be a tax cheater," Armstrong told Cyclingnews.com.

"The STF (Societe' du Tour de France) wrote the check from the 1999 winnings to the U.S. Cycling Federation and that they in turn wrote checks disbursing it to the team members," Armstrong said. "I did not take a dime, but I'm liable for the entire tax penalty."

French authorities are trying to make Armstrong pay taxes on winnings equivalent of 250,000 British pounds (more than $350,000), according to Cyclingnews.com.

The reports say this apparently is unprecedented, as cycling tradition demands that a Tour winner receives no prize money, instead dividing it among his teammates and staff.

Armstrong, second in the Criterium International last week in France, told Cyclingnews.com that he is in the process of providing documentation to prove he is innocent of any wrongdoing.

To follow Armstrong and the U.S. Postal Service racing schedule, go online to lancearmstrong.com.

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