Cyclists vie for glory in Howard County road race
As armchair cycling fans watched the first stage of the Tour de France last Saturday, several hundred amatuers bike racers vied for their own glory in western Howard County.
- Riders roll out under a neutral start at the beginning of the CAT 3 group of the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- CAT 1 riders roll our for a neutral start at the beginning of the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Riders roll out under a neutral start at the beginning of the CAT 4 group of the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Riders stay grouped in a peloton, drafting for aerodynamic efficiency during the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Cyclists are a blur in this slow-shutter speed photo during the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Cyclists fly down Carrs Mill Road during the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Panning with a slow shutter speed and a strobe emphasizes movement in this shot from the Road Warrior 50 bicycle race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Cyclists fly down Carrs Mill Road during the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- A cyclist flies down Carrs Mill Road during the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Panning with a slow shutter speed and a strobe emphasizes movement in this shot from the Road Warrior 50 bicycle race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Cyclists fly down Carrs Mill Road during the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Cyclists fly down Carrs Mill Road during the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- A four-man breakaway works together to gain time on the main field in the CAT 1 division of the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- A peloton cruises downhill past a field of corn during their second lap in the Road Warrior 50 bicycle race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- A peloton cruises downhill past a field of corn during their second lap in the Road Warrior 50 bicycle race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- A recreational cyclist hurries to a pullout as the main field of CAT1 racers quickly approaches during the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- The CAT 1 field works through the rolling hills on Ae Mullinix Road during the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Adam Driscoll of Halethorpe rides in the peloton on Ae Mullinix Road during the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- A four-man breakaway works together to gain time on the main field in the CAT 1 division of the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- A solo rider tries to stay off the front on Ae Mullinix Road during the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- A peloton works through the rolling hills on Ae Mullinix Road during the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Michael Russo of Arlington, Virginia sprints uphill toward the finish line to win the CAT 4 division of the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Michael Russo of Arlington, Virginia celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the CAT 4 division of the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Michael Russo of Arlington, Virginia celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the CAT 4 division of the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- A quartet of racers that had run into difficulty during the race cross the line together, happy to be done with the day’s effort. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Sean Barrie of Washington, D.C. celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the CAT 1 division of the Road Warrior 50 road race. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Staged on a 13-mile circuit of rolling country roads near Glenwood, the Road Warrior 50 bicycle race attracted cyclists, categorized by skill level and experience, for races consisting of two to four laps.
Typical of road races, the main field stayed together early in each race, keeping the speed high but conserving energy by drafting. Solo riders and small groups tested their mettle by breaking away — attacking off the front — hoping to stay away until the end. Most of the morning’s races, however, ended with everyone together, sprinting up the steep finishing hill.
Bike racing has grown in popularity over the past decade. USA Cycling claims more than 70,000 licensed racers and sanctions more than 3,000 events annually in a variety of disciplines including BMX, mountain biking and cyclocross. Local races can be found on almost any weekend this summer and into the fall.
Michael Russo
Jul 15, 2013 @ 11:14:08
#24/26 is me. Is it possible to get/buy a copy of this photograph? Thanks!
-MR