While a large portion of our cycling team was volunteering their time and efforts at the 8th annual KCK West Kiwanis Bike Safety Rodeo, Big D Cycling saw 11 of its racers attend the Midwest Masters Cycling Team 2-Day Road Race in Salina, KS, on Saturday, May 17.

Cool temperatures prevailed at the start of the race, while light winds swept across the plains. The Men Masters 60+ and Women Masters 50+ fields navigated a 30-mile, out-and-back course, while the other racers were challenged with rolling hills and long flats along a 63-mile road course.

Alex Brizuela continued his winning ways after having a mechanical issue at the Joseph Sheehan Road Race. He nabbed the top spot on the podium in his Men’s Category 4 race.

Josie Measures was faced with working against three Free State Racing cyclists in her 30-mile race to earn a spot on the podium. She was able to get second in the Women Masters 50+ KBAR category.

Donavon Hottman, Frank Quinlan, and Bill Wells enjoyed a great race, earning fourth, sixth, and seventh place, respectively, in the KBAR category for Men Masters 65+.

Our largest group competed in the Men Masters 40+ and 50+ categories, which was also combined with the Men Cat 1/2/3 racers, due to their limited field. A well-timed breakaway by two competitors spoiled the plans for the team to get someone on the podium. The race, unfortunately, was marred by a crash near the finish line, sending Greg Vaught and Dan Ruettimann to the pavement. Each of them was able to get up and finish the race, but it ruined what was shaping up to be good races for each of them.

Joe Kleidosty, Kurt Wilson, and Leo Simbaqueva put in a lot of work at the front of the peloton, earning fifth, sixth, and seventh place finishes, respectively, in the Men Masters 40+ category. Jim Clevenger earned third place in the Men Masters 50+ Category, evidence that his form is starting to come back from his bad wreck at the Spring Fling criterium race earlier this year.

Shawn Knight continued to work on his criterium racing skills and raced the Men Masters 40+ category on Sunday, May 18. He was able to earn a fourth place finish while working alone and against two larger teams within the race.

Leo Simbaqueva was in fifth place in the Masters Cat 4/5 group after the time trial and criterium stages, 22 seconds back from first place. He was frustrated with his performance in the criterium on Saturday and knew he had his work cut out for him on the hilly, 29-mile road race course near Perry, Kansas.

With beautiful temperatures and light winds sweeping across Lake Perry, Leo “Quintana” Simbaqueva displayed just how he earned his nickname. He climbed like a Colombian, finishing third in the road race, just two seconds back from the top two finishers. He earned a four-second time bonus and finished 45 seconds ahead of fourth place and almost three minutes ahead of the chase group. He earned a third place spot on the general classification podium with his road race performance.

Shawn Knight showcased his criterium skills, winning the prime sprint and the final sprint. His performances over the three-stage race weekend earned him a fifth place finish in the Masters Cat 4/5 group.

Kurt Wilson and Paul Aldeguer put down great times and results across all three disciplines in this stage race. Each finished in the cash, placed sixth and seventh, respectively, in the Masters Cat 1/2/3 field. Jim Clevenger, still recovering from his accident at Spring Fling, earned a top 10 finish and is looking forward to the upcoming KBAR events.

Noah Collins put down a very respectable result in the time trial, but he and Joe Kleidosty were caught in and behind a crash in the criterium stage, losing valuable time in the process. Due to a technicality, Collins did not get a free lap in the criterium, which pushed him out of general classification contention. All was not lost. Kleidosty put in some domestique work for Collins in the road race, in hopes of putting him in position for a stage win. Collins finished 13th in the road race in a tough field, just 11 seconds back from the top finisher.

You can see the overall general classification results at KCA’s website.

In another part of Kansas, Tyler Staples competed at the CGSC Triathlon at Fort Leavenworth on Saturday, May 3. The race consisted of a 200-yard indoor swim, a 12.6-mile bike route, and a 2.7-mile run. Staples overcame some difficulties in the swim portion of the race, finishing third of 17 in his age group (Men’s 30-39) and eighth of 112 overall.

Big D Cycling and Keen Wealth Advisors could not have asked for better weather this weekend … or better results!

Even with the forecast for severe storms, Big D cyclists showed up and raced in several categories, including Men’s Cat 4, Men’s Master 40+, Men’s Master 50+, Men’s Master 65+, and Women’s Master 50+. You can see all race results at the KCA website! Considering the forecast, this was a great turnout, yielding another good result for our title sponsor, Keen Wealth Advisors.

In the Men’s Master 40+ race, good team tactics, proper positioning and powerful efforts were able to keep the larger teams of 360 Racing and Oklahoma City Velo Club in check during several attacks made by those teams. The race started out at a quick pace over challenging, rolling hills, with a lead group that formed within seven miles, containing Paul Aldeguer, Kurt Wilson, and Joe Kleidosty. Wilson countered the initial attacks and even attempted to get into a break, but he could not get with the correct group of cyclists to make anything hold.

After the peloton turned north, the speeds increased. Eventually, two racers from OKC Velo Club and 360 Racing got away. Wilson had put in a lot of work up to that point, and he indicated he needed help countering the attacks. Kleidosty took that as his cue to wake up, and he shot up the right side at a critical point in the race, just before a 5% average gradient climb, to bridge up to the breakaway.

Aldeguer saw that as an opportunity to make his move to get with the breakaway. He shot up the climb, whilst earning a Strava KOM on that climb segment, indicating the high pedigree of his climbing ability. He joined the lead group of two riders, while Kleidosty slowed down considerably during the climb, in hopes that Aldeguer could stay away for a podium finish. Since 360 Racing and OKC Velo Club had racers in the breakaway, they were not doing any work at that point, as well.

By the time the racers reached the feed zone, Aldeguer and his breakaway buddies were no longer in sight. The chase group, which was not really chasing, was dealing with gusty cross winds before the turn to the south onto Highway 7. Everyone knew headwinds were in store for the latter half of the race.

After turning to the south, an OKC Velo Club racer shot off the front. Wilson turned to Kleidosty and asked him if he wanted to chase this one down. Kleidosty responded and gutted it out in the headwinds to catch the OKC Velo Club racer. They started working together and eventually made contact with Aldeguer and the other two racers in the lead group. Kleidosty and Aldeguer were the only Masters 40+ racers in the successful breakaway of five racers, earning first and second in that category.

Thanks again to Greg Vaught for hauling the trailer to the races.

It was almost looking like a repeat of the weather conditions that Big D experienced at Bazaar just a couple of weeks ago. As luck would have it, the rain scooted off just south of us, and the Big D team just had to navigate the TT course, while battling some gusty winds.

Donavon Hottman had the highest podium finish, getting first place in the Men’s 65+ category. Bill Jennings was right behind with a 2nd place finish. Jennings mentioned this was the first time he was able to beat David Wamsley, so congratulations on that positive experience and show of improvement!

Doug Young and Greg Vaught earned some valuable KBAR points in the Men’s Master 50+ category. Thanks to Greg again for his efforts in hauling the trailer and other equipment.

Joe Kleidosty placed 2nd in the Master 40+ category.

Bree Ginden, Amy VanNieuwenhuyse, Josie Measures, and Roberta Dierks represented the Big D Women’s team with strong placements in their respective categories.

One of the more exciting highlights of the day was Nigel Vaught’s 2nd place finish in the Juniors 9 – 13 age category. Peter Whalen was not far behind, with a 4th place finish. Greg had the pleasure of escorting his son around the course during the race. Nigel did not get his shoe laces tucked in properly, and they became stuck in his chain. He handled the situation like a pro, avoided a mishap, and still earned a silver medal! Congratulations to our Juniors! Thanks to Keen Wealth Advisors for sponsoring the junior entry fees.