Nebraska Cycling News

They intentionally stopped. Twice.

The unusual scenario came about when Sarpy County Sheriff’s deputies withdrew their offer for traffic control assistance on the 16-mile course near the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium. The two stops came at intersections with stop signs where riders had to make right-hand turns.

Photos by Mike Madcharo.

Team Kaos’ Marco Vasquez, who won the Cat. I-II division, said the race organizers made an unthinkable situation fairly reasonable in order to make sure the event went off. Because of the lack of law enforcement help, a four-mile stretch of the course had to be eliminated.

“They (Ciao Baby Racing Club) were really clear about having to stop twice and shortening the couse,” Vasquez said. “And we wanted to race, so we went along with it.”

The two stop-and-go portions of the course did make an already challenging course more difficult, Vasquez said. His winning time of 35 minutes, 57 seconds equates to an average of 26.7 mph.

“It was kind of a rhythm breaker to try and get your rhythm again after coming to a full stop,” Vasquez said.

In addition to Vasquez, Saturday’s other state time trial champions were: Team Kaos’ Morgan Chaffin (Women’s Open), Fred Galata, Omaha Velo Club (Masters 55+), Bill Gottberg, unattached (Masters 45+), Marc Walter, Lincoln Plating-Lemond (Masters 35+), Allan Walton, Elkhorn Valley Race Team (Category V), Ian Gray, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Category IV) and Michael Munson, Lincoln Plating-Lemond (Category III).

Riders who are Nebraska residents and annual license holders were eligible to win state championship medals. In two divisions, the winner of the time trial was not the state champion: Bill Moraski of Bellevue in Category V and Dennis Weinbeck of Topeka, Kan., (Capps Rebound Cycling Team) in Category IV.

Nebraska State Time Trial
16 Miles
At Gretna, Neb.

Complete Results. 

Cat. I-II: 1, Marco Vasquez, Team Kaos, Omaha, 35:57. 2, Jeff Luedtke, Husker Road Club, Omaha, 36:32. 3, Joe McWilliams, Team Kaos, Lincoln, 38:09. State champion: Vasquez.

Cat. III: 1, Michael Munson, Lincoln Plating-Lemond, Omaha, 37:13. 2, Nathanael Elmer, Ciao Baby Racing Team, 38:16. 3, Troy Krause, Slimenundgrossen/Trek Of Kansas City, Lincoln, 38:21. State champion: Munson.

Cat. IV: 1, Dennis Weinbeck, Capps Rebound Cycling Team, Topeka, Kan., 37:21. 2, Ian Gray, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, 38:39. 3, Jeff Bergen, unattached, Omaha, 39:00. State champion: Gray.

Cat. V: 1, Craig Moraski, unattached, Bellevue, 39:39. 2, Allan Walton, Elkhorn Valley Race Team, Wayne, 40:57. 3, Scott Blair, Elkhorn Valley Race Team, Pierce, 41:18. State champion: Walton.

Women Open: 1, Morgan Chaffin, Team Kaos, Omaha, 44:33. 2, Lindsay Heim, unattached, Omaha, 45:34. 3, Marie Neville, Team Kaos, Lincoln, 46:14. State champion: Chaffin.

Masters 35-and-over: 1, Marc Walter, Lincoln Plating-Lemond, Lincoln, 37:05. 2, Craig Schmidt, Lincoln Plating-Lemond, Lincoln, 38:07. 3, Scott Applegate, unattached, Lincoln, 46:38. State champion: Walter.

Masters 45-and-over: 1, Bill Gottberg, unattached, Omaha, 38:34. 2, Michael Melton, Ciao Baby Racing Team, Lincoln, 39:53. 3, John Vondracek, Ciao baby Racing Team, Lincoln, 40:15. State champion: Gottberg.

Masters 55-and-over: 1, Fred Galata, Omaha Velo Club, Omaha, 38:49. 2, Rich Pearson, Team Kaos, Fremont, 41:36. 3, Gary Schmidt, Team Kaos, Bennington, 45:27. State champion: Galata.