Nebraska Cycling News

Some of the best amateur bicycle racers in the Midwest will converge on Lincoln April 21-22 for the Sixth Annual Lincoln Plating Spring Cycling Classic.

More than 200 cyclists are expected to compete in the two-day, three-stage race that is sanctioned by USA Cycling and the National Collegiate Cycling Association. This year’s race features an increased prize list and free entry fee for junior racers (ages 15-18) competing in the junior events.

This year’s race begins with a 12.8-mile time trial Saturday morning around Branched Oak Lake near Malcolm, Neb. That afternoon’s road race distances range from 38 to 84 miles, depending on category, and begin between 12:30 and 3 p.m. The race concludes Sunday with a circuit race in Pioneers Park. Racing begins at 8 a.m. and wraps up with the final race at 1:15 p.m.

Among the riders to watch are a pair of juniors, Zach Hockett and Nolan Froese. Hockett was a part of a team of junior riders selected by USA Cycling to represent the United States last year in a five-week series of European races. He is scheduled to return to Europe next month, along with Froese, who has already raced in Belgium and France this spring.

The race’s two-time defending Pro-I-II champion is Kevin Nicol of the Tokyo Joe’s Cycling Team. The Lafayette, Colo., native has posted winning margins of 36 seconds in each of the past two years. Other top contenders include Lincoln’s Ian Gray (Team Kaos) and Brian Jensen (Midwest TREK/VW) in the Pro-I-II division and Lincoln’s Sydney Brown (Lincoln Plating-Lemond) in the women’s category.

Online registration for the Lincoln Plating Spring Cycling Classic is available through 8p.m. Friday. April 20 at www.velosource.com.

For more information, contact Race Director John M. Lefler, Jr. at john.lefler.jr@gmail.com