Cyclists on board for the Cyclocross experience

By: Jessica Fish, St. Petersburg Times :: Florida's competitive USA Cycling team members are signing up for next month's Florida State Cyclocross Championships, event organizer Lance Riddile said. This is a chance for area riders and fans to get a closeup view of the challenging, European-style sport, which includes running, cycling and dismounting your bike on a wooded or grassy steeplechase course with obstacles.

"The responses are coming from all over the country now, because of the Velo-News Magazine ad we ran last week," Riddile said. "Cyclocross is at an all-time high now, as far as participation in U.S. events. There were 2,000 riders at nationals last week."

Riddile, who works as a city of Largo recreation supervisor, said several local teams have cyclocross experience and are registering for the series.

Road riders said they hope for fast, dry conditions, in which they can go at offroad riders.

Mountain bike racers joined Southwest Association Of Mountain Bike Pedallers Club riders on north Tampa trails last week and said that they are hoping for the most wet, muddy and treacherous conditions, where they plan to use their offroad technical skills.

USA Cycling awarded Riddile's series the state championship designation for 2006. Race dates for championship points will be Jan. 15, Jan. 22, Feb. 19 and Feb. 26, at the Largo Central Park Nature Preserve on Highland Avenue.

To register or volunteer contact Riddile at lriddile@largo.com or call 727 518-3021.

TEAM ACTION WHEELSPORT: St. Petersburg's Team Action Wheelsport includes some of Florida's best mountain bike racers this season. Racing member and team organizer Markus Mittermayr said the overall championship medals won in Gone Riding's Fall Championship Points Series made the sponsors happy. This is expected to be one of the top local teams among Masters and Sport Women categories at the cyclocross event.

"Our team had a great fall mountain bike racing season, with medals all around," Mittermayr said. "We were really happy. We now look forward to some relaxation. But, in January, we start doing some cyclocross and road racing until the spring mountain bike racing season begins again."

Team Action Wheelsport members raced in all eight offroad points races at some of Florida's best locations, such as Razorback MTB Park in Reddick, Tom Brown Park in Tallahassee, Santos Trails in Belleview, Hanna Park in Jacksonville, Oleta River State Park in North Miami and Alafia River State Park in Brandon.

Among the team's medal winners from Team Action Wheelsport were Steve Pavent (second in Master Sport 40+
); Mittermayr (third, Master Expert 50+ ); Jolie Pavent (fifth, Sport Women) and Cliff Powers (fifth, Master Beginners 40+

NEPTUNE/FUJI TEAM: Bicycle racer Eddie Mullally has put together a formidable group of Category 1-2 riders on the new Neptune/Fuji Team, and they plan to kick off their season with the cyclocross series.

The team has current and former state champions, some with international experience. It might be Florida's biggest hope for keeping the Category 1-2 state title in Pinellas County.

"I think it's a great course, especially for down here in Florida," Mullally said. "What a great way for my riders to crosstrain, and prepare for the upcoming road racing season.

" Paul Kavan won a race or two out there last year, and he's as strong as ever. Paul is ... averaging about 400 miles per week. I would say he's one of our best riders, and he can win again. He's a nice guy and a dedicated team player. We may try to set up Josh Thornton for a win though. You never know."

The roster includes Mullally, 42, of Tarpon Springs; Kavan, 43, Tampa; Thornton, 26, San Antonio; Ian Jackson, 53, St. Petersburg; David Charpie, 44, Tarpon Springs; Tom Neal, 46, Crystal River; and Tim Sullivan, 31, Clearwater.

Kavan's wins include victories at Tour Of Tobago; Mexico City; and Florida state champion wins in road, criterium and 40-kilometer time trials.

Kavan said Jackson began his career by winning national track titles in his native Australia, before coming to America. With more than 100 victories on U.S. soil, Jackson's sprinting ability has helped him win big money criteriums since the mid 1970s. Both have raced in Europe.