Document text
Duo excited about inaugural race Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Bike enthusiasts Glen Gann, left, and Ed Garfield are hoping Saturday's inaugural Rogue Valley Mayor's Cup criterium bike race will catch on in Medford similar to the Pear Blossom run. By DON HUNT For the past 15 years, Medford's Glen Gann and Ed Garfield have traveled around the state to participate in major bike races. They won't have to journey far for their next event. Saturday marks the inaugural Rogue Valley Mayors Cup race at Alba Park in Medford. Some 200 to 300 riders from throughout the Northwest are expected to participate in the criterium race - an event that features cyclists racing around a one-kilometer course for 30 to 90 minutes, depending on their age and ability levels. As the cyclists reach the final lap, a bell sounds and it's a mad dash to the finish line. Gann and Garfield are the co-promoters of the race but will find time to enter the master's division (35-and-over). "We're hoping for a good response - we'd like this to become an annual event," says Gann, a 16-year veteran of twin-wheeled racing. "This is something Medford could showcase in the future, like the Pear Blossom Parade and run." The series of races, to be held in a six-block area between Fir Street and Oakland Avenue and Main and Ninth streets, begin at 10:20 a.m. and conclude at 3:20 p.m. with the granddaddy event, a men's pro race that features the fastest cyclists in the field. Local favorites in the pro division include Maurice Toronto and Richard Randleman. Thanks to a host of sponsors, led by Asante Health System and Providence Medford Medical Center, $10,000 in prize money has been earmarked for the top finishers, including $1,200 to the winner of the men's pro race. The race is also a fund-raiser for ACCESS Food Shares. Spectators are welcome to stand along the route and are assured of some action-packed racing, Gann says. "A criterium is the most spectator-friendly race - you'll see the leaders come around every 11/2 minutes or less," Gann says. "They'll be going 20 to 30 mph. It's pretty intense." The intensity reaches its zenith on the final lap as the riders throw caution to the wind in their quest for victory. "There's a lot of strategy involved," Gann says. "Some people want to pull away from the field while others want it to come down to a full sprint at the end. You'll see packs of riders hanging together and you'll see a lot of drafting." The top riders train 250 to 350 miles per week, Gann says, as they mix in long rides, sprints and hill work. The workouts are often time-consuming and the races offer little glory except for the winners. "It's a self-dedicating sport," Gann says. "Some guys go out and golf with their buddies. We go out and burn our lungs and thighs." Those who compete long enough usually hit the pavement at some point in their careers. Gann crashed two weeks ago in Silverton when another rider went down in front of him. He cracked his helmet and suffered some road rash, but was otherwise unhurt. The racing bikes are made of titanium, aluminum, carbon fiber or steel. They range in price from $1,000 to $4,000. Most have 18 speeds and weigh less than 21 pounds. "The bike can make a difference, but I'd say 70 percent of your success comes from your riding skill," Gann says. Race organizers hope Saturday's event will expand to a two-day, multi-stage event in the future, with an endurance race and time trial being added to the criterium. "It's great to have an event that tests all the riding skills - speed, endurance and the handling of your bike," Gann says. "But this is a good start." The race is the brainchild of Jim Pulliam, a former director of information services worker for the city of Medford. Pulliam took a similar job at El Paso, Texas five weeks ago but will fly in for Saturday's event. "I wanted to give something back to the community," Pulliam, 46, says. "I saw this as a way for the bike racers to race and for the community to make some money with the proceeds going to ACCESS. "It's a nice combination." Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.