Nebraska Cycling News

Lincoln - This year’s Lincoln Plating Spring Cycling Classic promises to be once again be among the premier stage races in the Midwest.

With an already sizeable prize list boosted by $500 and the excellent logistical support of VeloTec and ChannelOne Marketing, this year’s race on April 21-22 in and around Lincoln, Neb., is expected to draw a record field for the state of Nebraska’s first official bike race of 2007.

Promoter John Lefler, Jr., has tweaked this year’s race schedule slightly. To encourage aggressive road racing, the individual time trial has been moved to the opening event of the race. Riders will tackle one lap of the rolling ribbin of highway at Branced Oak State Recreation, near Raymond.

Another noticeable change is the absense of a collegiate team trial. Instead, collegiate racers will compete in two separate racing events: Saturday’s afternoon road race at Branched Oak and Sunday’s circuit race at Pioneers Park in Lincoln.

“So many of the collegiate teams do not have enough members to participate in a team trial. It makes scheduling much easier and allows more travel time for our out-of-state teamsm,” explains Lefler.

Lefler also said that all junior racers who are annual license holders will receive a complimentary entry into the spring classic. This is in keeping with the suggestion by the officers of the Nebraska Cycling Association to increase participation by the sport’s future stars.

“Our event has grown and our time at each venue is limited. It is hard not to be able to offer a stand-alone juniors event, but I believe that many of the juniors that will race within their categories will enjoy the experience with more competition.”

The race’s two-time defending champion in the Pro-I-II division is Kevin Nicol of Lafayette, Colo.

Online registration begins March 19 at noon and continues through 9 p.m. CST at www.velosource.com

For more information on the 6th Annual Lincoln Plating Spring Cycling Classic,
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