Nebraska Cycling News

Omaha cyclist Marco Vasquez will be touring Puerto Rico next month but he won't be doing it by van or car. He and other members of Nebraska's Team Kaos will be racing in the four-day Tour of Puerto Rico.

The Tour of Puerto Rico is an invitation-only event that will draw teams from all over the world.

"It's our first international stage race," said Vasquez, who has been racing for 15 years and is considered one of Nebraska's best. "We hope to do well."

Sean Weide, another Team Kaos member making the trip, said the riders will be competing against top-notch international racers.

"On a competitive scale," Weide said, "this would be the hockey equivalent of the Lincoln Stars getting to play an NHL team."

The Tour of Puerto Rico, which begins April 7, will be run in four stages, starting and finishing in San Juan. The longest stage covers 100 miles.

Weide said three major sponsors - Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center and University Medical Associates - are helping defray a large part of the competition's costs.

"They have been very generous in helping the team try and advance to the next level," Weide said.

Vasquez said conditions will be challenging for the Nebraskans.

"It's going to be warm," he said. "We've been preparing for that by riding indoors more than usual."