MARQUETTE (February 12, 2009)- Michigan Road Racing State Champions will be crowned in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan this June. The Michigan Bicycle Racing Association has selected Marquette’s Superior Bike Fest as the Michigan State Championship Road Race for 2009 and 2010. The three day event will be held June 26 – 28, 2009 and also include mountain bike races, a circuit race and the crowd-favorite Twilight Criterium through downtown Marquette.
Cyclists have enjoyed the road course stage of Superior Bike Fest in the past which rides out along the shore of Lake Superior and winds through scenic Marquette County, offering riders serious climbs in addition to beautiful views as they make their way back to the big Lake. USA Cat 1/2 riders will compete on a 100 mile course while USA Cat 3, 4, 5 and citizen riders will take the 55 and 35 mile routes. MBRA officials were impressed with Bike Fest’s organizational effort, the quality of the Bike Fest sponsors and volunteer support, the backing of the City, and the race course.
“While the MBRA received a number of excellent submissions from other events, the Superior Bike Fest team put together an exceptional application,” said Joe Lekovish, Director of the Michigan Bicycle Racing Association. “Bicycle racing continues to experience record growth in Michigan's Upper Peninsula as both a participant and spectator sport and the Superior Bike Fest event is one that is truly worthy to host the State Road Race Championships. Additionally, this will be the first time ever that a State Cycling Championship has been hosted in the U.P. I look forward to attending this year’s event!”
"The Superior Bike Fest (SBF) has really sparked a lot of interest for cycling in our community and the UP. I think a lot of people locally are much more aware of cycling as a sport and also see it as a fun way to exercise. The proof is in the growth of the many cycling clubs that have started recently around the UP. Houghton has the Red Jackets Cycling Club, Munising has the Anna River Pedalers and Marquette has the KMK Cycling Club and a college team at NMU. And we also have an independent cycling race team that has grown out of all this, which is the Chocolay ACE Hardware Race Team. So it's easy to see that the SBF has definitely helped cycling grow the last 5 years here."
"I remember the first SBF, which was a basic citizen road race. Then they added the Friday night crit in downtown Marquette which brought more people in. Next the organizers came up with the Sunday circuit which makes up a full weekend of road racing!” said Tom Mahaney, Director and rider for Marquette’s own Chocolay ACE racing team. “Putting all this together and becoming a USA Cycling Event shows how this race has grown from a local citizen race to a top-notch Midwest racing event. I think the organizers behind SBF had a vision for this race and stuck to it. They deserve a lot of praise and credit for their commitment and efforts. The icing on the cake is the designation of this year's and next year's race as the Michigan State Road Race Championships. Hats off to all the organizers and sponsors of the SBF!"
Mahaney has been involved in Marquette’s blossoming cycling scene from the beginning. "From [SBF], I was drawn into cycling at a rapid pace. Our Tuesday night rides fueled the competition bug in others besides me. Over the years, a number of us were always competing in races but not really racing as a team. With the start-up of the Chocolay ACE Hardware Race Team last year, we started racing as a team. We had great success in the many races we competed in including the SBF. Our goal again this year will be the top step of the podium at this event and several more."
Frank Pipp, a professional rider for the Bissell Pro Cycling team and Upper Peninsula native is excited about the designation. “This is a big jump in status for cycling in the U.P.,” said Pipp. “It is great that Marquette continues to embrace sports that aren’t mainstream.” Pipp hopes to be able to compete once again at the 2009 Superior Bike Fest in the Pro 1/2 category. He is currently preparing to race in the prestigious Tour of California.
Superior Bike Fest typically sees about 500 riders over the weekend. “We think by hosting the state championship, we'll see not only an increase in ridership, but in the quality and ability of the riders, as well,” race co-director Donn Wolf said. “We anticipate seeing more organized teams with strong riders competing, all wanting to claim a state championship trophy. We'll see the level of competition step up a notch.”
“We're very excited about this.” adds race co-director Jim Grundstrom. “We've moved up in the credibility pecking order in the cycling world.”
The weekend of events include the Friday evening criterium, Saturday road races, Saturday's downhill gravity event at Marquette Mountain Ski Area and Sunday's circuit race and XC mountain bike event. The Superior Bike Fest benefits the Marquette Mountain Ski Patrol and the YMCA of Marquette County.
The SBF began 17 years ago as the Mountain Chase XC race organized by the Marquette Mountain Ski Patrol. Seven years ago road racing was added to the weekend and the event was renamed the Superior Bike Fest. “The SBF is a unique opportunity for riders of varied disciplines to come together for a weekend of fun competition,” says Wolf. “Road, downhill and XC riders will all find an event which suits their taste.”
For more information about Superior Bike Fest, please visit www.superiorbikefest.com. For more information about the Michigan Bicycle Racing Association, please visit www.mbra.org.
