Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
Organizers say a date set for late this month will help to lure more professional racers.
By CHASE SQUIRES, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 2, 2002
DADE CITY -- It was a rough road, but the Dade Battle of Brilliance is set to wheel through town in its third incarnation Aug. 25.
Race co-founder David Hevia of Kiefer Village Jewels said organizers had to juggle declining sponsorships; there were even some earlier fears of not having a race, but in the end the city might end up with a race day package that will be stronger than ever.
A new partnership with Orlando-based cycling club Atlantic Shores Velo has boosted visibility for the 11-race event with more than 225 cyclists expected to compete in categories ranging from juniors to the sport's top professional level.
Organizers have eliminated some of the peripheral events, such as a health fair and children's bicycle rodeo, instead choosing to focus on the high-speed dash through downtown Dade City that winds through a half-mile of twists and turns around the old courthouse.
"There's no other venue like this for these people to race in; it attracts a lot of attention," Hevia said. "It's a small-town setting that no one else does. It's really great for the racers."
The purse this year will be down some, due to declining sponsorship, with about $2,700 on the line, plus Festina watches and other prizes. But Hevia said the lower purse money, down from about $7,000 in the first two races, is offset by a date earlier in the racing season.
Having that early date, Hevia said, will lure more racers because there are still enough competitions in the annual Florida points circuit to leave the top spots up for grabs. By the end of the season in October, when the first two Dade City contests were held, many racers consider themselves out of the points championship and begin preparing for the next year, he said.
This year's race is also expected to benefit from the addition of new race director Tim Molyneaux of Atlantic Shores Velo, Hevia said.
Molyneaux has been the announcer for both previous Dade Battle of Brilliance races, but coming on board as race director brings a wealth of experience to Dade City's event, Hevia said.
Organizers still plan to work closely with Tampa's Team American Classic, which helped present the earlier races, but the planning will be handled by Molyneaux, who has strong connections to cyclists throughout the state, Hevia said.
This year's event also is expected to benefit from a relationship with the Dade City Family YMCA, which plans to use the day as an open house and membership drive while offering racers an air-conditioned place to do warm ups and take showers afterward.
As it has always been, the race will again this year focus on fundraising for the area's Toys for Tots program. The drive raises money and collects toys for needy children at Christmas.
"I only do bike racing one day a year," Hevia said. "But I have had a passion for a long time to be in the charity fundraising business. That's what this whole event is about. One day a year, it's about racing. The rest of the year, everything we do to get ready, is about fundraising for charity."
Hevia already has set his sights on next year, when he hopes to expand racing to another day and encourage cyclists and spectators to stick around Dade City for the entire weekend.
Dade Battle of Brilliance maintains an Internet site with race times, entry fees, categories, online registration and directions at www.kvjewels.com/dadebattleofbrilliance.