Series Summary to be published in the CJ

The Kentucky/Indiana Spring Cycling Road Series concluded this past weekend in Louisville with bicycle races held on Saturday and Sunday, April 19 and 20. The Somerset-based cycling team, Cumberland Cycles Racing Team and Club, participated in the Series with some remarkable results.

The Series began on March 1, in Louisville and ran every weekend through April 20; a total of eight races, generally on Saturdays. From Louisville, the racing migrated up to Indiana, over to Owensboro and then came to Somerset on March 22 (the Mt. Victory Road Race). The Series Finals were held in the Louisville area this past weekend.

Each of the eight races awarded winners of the day and, just like the Tour De France, scores were kept over the entire Series. The Series has become a very difficult cycling event with the best road cyclist in Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio, and other states participating, including many former and current national champions, Olympic veterans as well as Olympic hopefuls.

In order to score points in this cycling series, a rider must finish in the top 15 places in any one or more of the eight races. No age bonuses are given and racers are required to participate in categories according to their racing experience (Categories 1,2,3,4 or 5).  The Series, which began in 1980,  was originally designed to get cyclists prepared to race throughout the remainder of the year.

This year, Cumberland Cycles Racing Team and Club were given the opportunity to host one of the eight Series races.  This race was held in the Shopville/Mt. Victory area and was a great success thanks to the efforts of many of the cycling club members, our club sponsors and the race sponsors, First Southern National Bank, Cumberland Cycles Bike and Skate Shop and Southern Belle Dairy. The Somerset-based race achieved great notoriety for its challenging, mountainous profile. The overall success of the race was due in large part to the personal efforts of Brad Herrman, Marc Travis and Charles Senters.

Many area bicycle racers participated in the Series and more than half of them scored points in the general standings. These riders include the following, in order of points scored:  Debra Fortenberry (15 points), Jonathan Thompson (13), Adam Bourne (12), Charles "Chuck" Senters (12), Jenny Denney (11), Jack Evans (11), Aaron Denney (8), Brad Herrman, Doyle Swanner, Frank Cornet, James Garman, Jeff Parmelee and Mark Henry. These eleven individuals posted a total of 42 individual "starts" in the series races, with the highest, single day finish going to Adam Bourne, 5th place at the Mt. Victory Road Race.

The Somerset-based cycling team and club will continue racing through the year with many difficult races to come this summer. The bicycling club will also host many recreational rides in the area.

Bicycle racing has come to Somerset!

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