*** Cyclists converge for State Omnium - Wenatchee ***

Wenatchee, Washington -- 05/14/2005
If you’ve noticed lots of bikes on the
roof tops of cars lately, there’s a reason.

It’s time for the Washington State Omnium Stage
Race Championship, a three-part event featuring
time trials and the Wenatchee Twilight Criterium on
Saturday, and the Malaga Road Race on Sunday.

The criterium is a timed, speed-based sprint race on a
four-corner course. The road race is all about distance
and endurance.

Like last year’s event, there is big money up for grabs
— to the tune of $10,000 in cash and other prizes. And
race organizer Ted Finegold says among those to watch,
racing for the First Rate Mortgage team, is Seattle’s Kenny
Williams, a former winner of Wenatchee’s criterium and
national champion. He and the other top racers will be
racing in the last group (Pro 1-2) at 8:30 p.m.

Locals to keep an eye on include Larry Michael, owner
of Second Wind, and Michael Hansen, owner of Biosports.
Most of the Wenatchee Velo riders can be found in the
Masters C/D (3:50 p.m.) and Masters A/B (5:40 p.m.).

“There will probably be about a half
dozen (local) guys in there,” Finegold said.

From a spectator’s point of view, the Criterium is the most
watchable as racers race a fast, tight circle downtown. The
roads are closed during the race, so you’ll want to find a
place to park early. Otherwise, you might be in for a hike to
get there. The race starts with the Juniors at 3 p.m. A beer
garden will be set up in the Key Bank parking lot.

While there’s not really a bad seat in the house, Finegold
says every race of its kind has a “crash corner,” and this
one’s is in turn two on the corner of Orondo and Columbia.

Sunday’s road-race finale may not be as compact or
accident-prone, but if you know where to go, it can be
just as spectator-friendly. The best spot to watch is the
church near Stemilt Creek. That’s home to the race’s
main aid station. It also is the landmark for the “King of
the Mountain” competition within the competition. First
one there wins. Wenatchee Heights is another good area
to set up camp.

“The criterium is really cool from the speed perspective
and there’s a lot of action,” Finegold said. “But up at the
church is cool, too, because you can get really close to
them (the racers). The steepest parts of the course are
the best places to watch because that’s where they’re
going the slowest and you can really cheer them on.”

Traffic is not closed during the road race, but organizers
recommend traveling along Stemilt Creek Road, where there
would be less interference to racers, and to avoid the narrow
and winding Stemilt Loop Road altogether.

For more, go online to --
http://www.pazzovelo.com/events/races/2002/wenatchee

Geneb...Wenatchee,Washington-USA
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