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By JESSICA MUNDIE
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 4, 2000
Racers and volunteers from Tampa's Team American Classic have received their final instructions from city officials for Sunday's "Battle Of Brilliance" criteriums in Dade City.
Pasco County's latest bicycle racing event originally was on the calendar for last month but was postponed because of stormy weather. "Sheriffs and the folks from the city council have been cooperative and just terrific," said attorney Ellen Kast, who worked at American Classic's Interbike booth last week in Las Vegas.
"Evacuation routes had to be kept open during those hurricane threats, so we had no choice but to cancel the September racing for everyone's safety.
"This weekend will have a big draw, coming right after the Coconut Grove race and offering a $7000 prize list," Kast said.
Jim Pavek, a longtime cycling coach, San Antonio Cyclery founder and organizer of Pasco's Darby Road Race in the 1980's, says most residents around San Antonio have become cycling friendly over time.
"The economic impact of events like this helps the community," Pavek said.
"People always come out to help. The people in San Antonio are also proud of Olympic team cyclist Derek Wilkerson. They remember seeing him out training years ago when he was just a kid."
Kast and Pavek invite all spectators to come out and enjoy the day-long event. They expect exciting action as the cash prime lap bell rings for the various USA Cycling categories on the 1-kilometer circuit.
For a complete "Battle of Brilliance" schedule check www.floridaracing.net or www.amclassic.com.
BICYCLE FESTIVAL: The 26th edition of Florida's oldest and largest weekend of bicycle touring will be Oct. 13-15 in Mount Dora, which is 25 miles northwest of Orlando.
About 1,500 touring bicyclists are expected, and the rides on Lake County's roads will range from 5-125 miles.
Participants will be treated to waterfront parties, shopping, kayaking, nature walks and barbecue cookouts. Volunteers are needed.
For further information, including registration and accommodations, call Nancy Rose at the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce, (352) 383-2165, or check www.mountdora.com.
CLERMONT'S FLORIDA CHALLENGE: Bay area triathletes returned from the Sept. 24 Florida Challenge Triathlon in Clermont saying that it earned its reputation as the country's toughest half-Ironman.
The race consisted of a 1.2-mile swim, 56 miles of biking and a 13.1-mile run.
The challenge of heat, humidity and hills brought out the best in overall winners Chris Eschback, 28, of Hattiesburg, Miss., who won in 4 hours, 10 minutes, 28 seconds; and top female Amanda Pagon, 25, of Satellite Beach, who won in 4:48:14.
Florida masters claimed the top 40-plus age group spots. They were captured by Joe Bonness, 45, of Naples, eighth overall, 4:37:31; and Kathleen Kaye, 42, of St. Petersburg, 5:19:05.
Bonness left the younger competition in the dust, posting the fastest bike split, 2:23:42. Kaye did the same thing, exiting the bike competition with a 2:48:39 split. In the 45-49 group in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Bonness is sure to place in the top five Oct. 14 in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship.
The only question is which podium spot Bonness will carry the St. Pete Mad Dog flags up to at the awards ceremony.
Other Florida triathletes packing up for Kona include Kasey Carroll-Basso, Jeff Cuddeback, Laura Drake, Art Halttunen, Alison Hayden, Sean Hendryx, David Minkoff, John Reback, Alec Rukosuev, and Katie Knight-Perry and Rue Morgan.
Knight-Perry and Morgan, both of St. Petersburg, have been invited to compete in the Ironman in honor of Knight-Perry's late husband, Ralph, who died in December after suffering from prostate cancer.
The Ironman date would have been the 70th birthday of the late local star, who first stood on the stage in Kona in 1988, when he placed fifth.
Seminole's Roger Burke received the Spirit of Ralph Perry Award last week, and many St. Pete Mad Dogs were howling at St. Petersburg's pier to celebrate.
Cha Cha Coconuts was the site of their annual Hawaiian Luau, which is a huge "sendoff" for locals competing in Ironman.
DOWN UNDER: Fourth-place Olympic triathlete Joanna Zieger of Baltimore is on her way to Kailua-Kona to compete against a top field of pros.
"The Olympic triathlon was truly exciting," said Zieger, who will ride down Alii Drive in her own car in Tuesday's annual Ironman parade.
"The venue was so beautiful, the crowds were so supportive and I had the best team," she said. "Now I head home via Hawaii. How good is that?"
For further information on the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kailua-Kona on Oct. 14, including live race reports, check www.ironmanlive.com.
FLORIDA'S IRONMAN: Registrations are up in numbers for the 10th anniversary of the Great Floridian Triathlon on Oct. 21 in Clermont.
Competitors range from those with Hawaii Ironman experience to first-timers.
CFT/Sommer Sports has received awards for this race. The event has been named the USA Triathlon National Championship in the Ironman distance (swim 2.4 miles, bike 112, run 26.2).
For further information, including volunteering and relay teams needing members, call Fred Sommer, (352) 394-1320 or check www.triflorida.com or the Great Floridian Web site, www.greatfloridian.com.