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The West Coast Wheelmen will bring Florida's fastest USA Cycling racers to downtown St.Petersburg on April 4 when they play host to The Festival Of States Bayfront Criterium.
All the team vans are expected to roll into town that weekend because there will be at least $3,000 in cash prizes up for grabs throughout the day of racing.
St.Petersburg's Wheelmen organization is among the oldest and most active racing clubs in Pinellas County. Members say they are happy their hometown event has become an annual part of the 2004 Festival Of States celebrations.
Spectators will enjoy the multi-lap bicycle racing around Times Bayfront Arena. When the bell rings for special cash prime laps, fans tend to jump to their feet, and this venue offers some excellent viewing of the sprinting peloton.
Spectators can cheer for top locals, including the Wheelmen's Mark McGarry, Jim Zimmer and Pinellas Park national champion Earl Henry, who won last month's race in Port Orange.
Also in contention will be BBC rider Dave Stedje of Lutz. Stedje's wife, Sherri, is performing well enough to win the womens' event.
Florida State Masters 40-plus Road Champion Mark Yeager (Team Outspokin) of St.Petersburg is another favorite. He beat Bayfront Criterium organizer Jim Zimmer at the state championships in Tallahassee in October. They may end up battling it out April 4. Stedje and Yeager were among the strongest area competitors in Dade City last Sunday. Look for both to combine their team efforts in a huge move at the Bayfront Criterium.
First up on the program will be Junior riders at 8 a.m., followed by Masters 55-plus at 8:30, Masters 45-plus at 9:15, Masters 35-plus at 10:15, Women at 11:15, Professionals and Category 1-2 at noon, Category 3 at 1:15 p.m., and Category 4-5 at 2:15.
DADE BATTLE OF BRILLIANCE: Olympic track cyclist Marty Nothstein (Team Navigators) may have attracted the crowds last weekend, but the winner of Sunday's Professional 1-2 criterium in downtown Dade City turned out to be Quebec's Martin Gilbert.
Following in the lead breakaway of five riders, Gilbert and Nothstein chased aggressive 19-year-old Stefano Barberi all over the winding 1-kilometer course.
Barely out of high school in Boca Raton, Barberi's small stature resembles a Junior rider. But many local stars who could not keep up with the 35 mph pace in the opening laps watched by the sidelines as Barberi continued to attack.
Barberi used his style of racing to win last season's Category 3 event in Dade City, and his plan this year was to escape from a sprinter who captured an Olympic gold medal in Sydney, Australia.
"Nothstein chased me down in the last lap when I tried hard to get away," Barberi said. "I had a gap of a few bike lengths going into the third turn, and why Nothstein chased me, I don't know. All he ended up getting was fourth place. He used up his energy chasing me, and all he did was get himself beaten in the sprint."
Nothstein signed autographs on stage after the race. Though he was not pleased with the final sprint, he said he enjoys racing and training in Florida.
"We came down to race at the velodrome in Broward County last Friday," Nothstein said. "I always look forward to being in Florida. This was my Tour de Florida. This race was just a step on the way to the Olympics in Athens. I didn't get a grasp on what these teams were trying to do. It was frustrating because I didn't just go with my instincts."
Chris Peterson of Tierra Verde builds racing wheelchairs and handcycles for a living, and the athletes he coaches usually are competing in the Dade Battle Of Brilliance handcycle category. Peterson, who is able-bodied, raced around the course with Cefas Bouman of Holland on his wheel. Bouman, 23, expected to make the Dutch Paralympic Team in Athens, had to sprint against his friend and mentor.
"He only won by an inch," Peterson said, laughing, as he and Bouman watched Nothstein's group sprinting for a prime lap.
"Yea, but I did win," Bouman said. "And I know I can qualify for the Paralympics in my April races in Europe. I'm going back as soon as my new machine is ready."
The Summer Olympic Games are scheduled for Aug.13-29. The Paralympic Games are Sept.17-28.