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The University of Utah/Bikes for Kids Utah Omnium, held March 26-27, ended Saturday after two days of cycling races in the Salt Lake Valley that attracted professional, collegiate and recreational cyclists and spectators from the Intermountain region. The Bikes for Kids Utah Hill Climb Time Trial, Stage 2 of the omnium, held Saturday morning raised nearly $1,000 for the Bikes for Kids that will allow the organization to give about 20 new bikes to Utah children in need. Proceeds from Stage 1 Criterium and Stage 3 Circuit Race will support the University of Utah cycling team in its racing efforts.
“Hosting our Hill Climb Time Trial during the omnium made it more visible and gave it a substantial participation boost,” said Debbie Reid, founder and executive director of Bikes for Kids Utah. “The U. of U.’s hard-working cycling team has been an amazing partner and put forth great effort to help us make this first omnium the success that it was.”
The Bikes for Kids Hill Climb Time Trial, starting at the intersection of Bangerter Parkway and 13800 South in Draper, took about 130 racers on a four-mile (6.4 km) climb with 1,300 feet (396 m) elevation gain up Traverse Ridge Road.
“I enjoy participating in race events that benefit a charitable organization,” said Steven Rogers, a Category 4/5 omnium participant from Lehi. “Each stage of the U. of U/Bikes for Kids Utah Omnium had really well-marked courses.”
The first place time trial winners in the Pro 1/2, Women 1/2/3, Men 3 and Master Men A categories won a series of cash prizes. First and second place overall omnium finishers in the Men 4/5, Women 4/Masters and Men B/55+ and won Bikes for Kids Utah branded bikes to give to a child in need of a bike. The University of Utah, the collegiate team with the fastest overall time for the omnium, won $500 donated by Intermountain Financial Group.
“The charity aspect was definitely a motive to race in all of the omnium stages,” said Category 4/5 racer Tyler Matson of the Weber State cycling team. “This was my first stage race and I’d rate it with the LOTOJA. By the end, my legs were heavy.”
The University of Utah/Bikes for Kids Utah Omnium was the first omnium event in Utah and most riders’ first pre-season race.
“I raced on the East Coast last year and really liked the omnium format, but there weren’t any other omniums in Utah until this one,” said Cameron Patch, a Category 3 racer of Revolution Racing. “In a regular stage race if you don’t finish one of the stages you don’t qualify for the others. This omnium allows you to race and get points even if you can’t participate in each stage.”
Still, the majority of the cyclists that raced in the omnium included the time trial in their line up, according to Bradlee Duncan, the race director of the University of Utah cycling team.
“We owe a great deal to Bikes for Kids Utah for helping generate such a great turn out for this pre-season race series,” Duncan said. “To our surprise, we maxed out the Men Category 4/5 at the circuit race and had to turn people away. We’re proud to add such a strong event to the Utah race calendar and help grow Utah’s cycling community.”
The time trial and the criterium, with about 130 participants each, and the circuit race, with just under 250 participants, had nine categories including Men Pro 1/2, Women 1/2/3, Men 3, Masters Men A 35+/45+, Men 4/5, Masters Men B/55+, Women 4/Masters, Junior Men and Junior Women, with a time trial category for non-USA Cycling racers and charity riders.
Complete race results from the omnium’s Electric Park Criterium, Hill Climb Time Trial and Circuit Race are on the University of Utah cycling team Website (utahcycling.org)
More information about Bikes for Kids Utah annual fundraising events, including its fundraising bike rides and fall dinner auction, is on the Bikes for Kids Utah Website. Details about the Bikes for Kids Utah fundraising bike rides on May 8 and its fall dinner auction are forthcoming.
About Bikes for Kids Utah
Bikes for Kids Utah (bikesforkidsutah.com) is a non-profit organization formed in 2006 that provides bicycles for underprivileged children throughout the Salt Lake Valley. It generates support for its cause through its event registration proceeds, auctions, and private and corporate donations. Bikes for Kids’ annual bicycle fundraising events, including casual road rides, timed road races and a dinner auction, raise money to provide 1,000 underprivileged children with new bicycles each year.
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