Cycling:Heritage Lake Road Race brings 300 cyclists to Greencastle

DePauw is used to seeing bikes race around campus in the spring during Little 5, but this weekend there's a competition featuring more skilled riders.Roughly 300 cyclists are riding this weekend in the Heritage Lake Road Race, hosted by the DePauw cycling team. The club, founded in 1995 by head coach Kent Menzel, is a part of the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference.

Leading the team this year are junior captains Rita Klofta and Paul Mooney. Klofta is looking to repeat her performance at women's nationals last year, which includes winning the Individual Omnium Award for the best results in the road race and the criterium.

"Standing on top of the podium proved that all my hard work was worth it," Klofta said. "It was the biggest athletic accomplishment of my career."

There are three different races that take place at cycling competitions: the road race, criterium, and team time-trials. Road races require more endurance, criterium (laps around a short circuit) require aggressiveness and speed and the time-trial requires an overall team effort.

The race this weekend features multiple heats where competitors will race for 48 miles, 32 miles, or 25 miles based on their skill level.

Last weekend, the Tigers held their own at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky. Kolfta competed in class A and placed second in the criterium, third in time-trials, and 10th in the road race, all in class A. Mooney placed third in the time trial and 11th in the road race, both in class B.

"It was a great weekend overall," Menzel said. "Rita had a great weekend and Mooney is a rising star."

Menzel is confident in his team's ability to perform well this weekend and expects his top cyclists to shine.

"Rita will be outstanding, the course is well-suited for her," Menzel said. "Mooney is gaining confidence and it should show for him this weekend."

The action begins 8:30 a.m. Saturday and continues throughout the day.