Nebraska Cycling News

Lincoln, Neb. -- Just as he did last year, Kevin Nicol of Tokyo Joes Cycling Team used his proficiency in the time trial to take control of the Lincoln Plating Stage Race.

Nicol averaged 28.14 miles an hour over the rolling 12.8-mile course around Branched Oak Lake State Recreation area to beat Team Kaos' Jarred Berger by 36 seconds. The 39-year-old Lafayette, Colo., native then maintained that margin in Sunday's final stage, a 55-minute circuit race at Pioneers Park, to capture the Pro I-II race for the second consecutive year. Randy Reichardt of the Haul n Ass Racing Team, finished third, 48 seconds behind Nicol.

Derek Goerke of HRRC/CollegePoint/BikeSource won the 72-mile opening stage road race around Branched Oak Saturday morning by beating Whitey Debroux of Team Einstein in a field sprint. Saturday's road race and the evening time trial were held in ideal weather conditions sunny skies with very little wind and temperatures in the low 70s.

Craig McCartney of Wild Oats/Al's Barbershop won Sunday's circuit race in a sprint ahead of Goerke and MRRC/Trek/Shimano's Steve Tilford.

The Highgear/TREK of Omaha Road Training Series wrapped up this weekend under cloudy skies and windy conditions. Over 50 riders took part in the final tune-up before this weekend's 5th Annual Lincoln Plating Spring Cycling Classic.

The Highgear/TREK of Omaha Road Training Series concludes this Saturday, April 15, 2006 with a criterium at Branched Oak Lake, Lieber's Point near Raymond, NE.