Cycling Club Meets for Criterium Ride

A local cycling club held its annual club criterium ride and family barbecue.

The criterium race was held Saturday in a business-park of Temecula on an approximate 1.5 mile road loop. The racers navigated the course ten times in 35 minutes.

The California Pools/DeWalt Cycling Team has members from Murrieta, Temecula, the greater San Diego region, Los Angeles, the California desert, Arizona and Utah.

Team members enjoy the many different forms of cycling -- from road to mountain biking, multisport events and competitive riding. Club members range from beginner to professional.

The group grew exponentially since its beginning, said Ernie Sanchez, who started the club eight years ago after moving to the area from northern California. "We started with seven people," said Sanchez. "And now, we're about 165."

Saturday's event had about half the team showing up for their annual club photo, club ride and family barbecue.

Club membership is open to everyone and hosts Saturday morning and Wednesday evening rides in Murrieta, and Sunday morning and Thursday evening rides in Temecula.

Currently, the youngest member of the team is 15-years-old and riders as young as age nine can sign up.

Team members who are serious about racing average about 20-25 races per year throughout the country.

"State championships is over and we had a couple of people become successful and become state champions," said Sanchez.

Several members have enjoyed a measure of success on the racing circuit. These include current State Champion Andy Brown, 39, of Solana Beach, and Chris Daggs, 38, of Vista.

Mike Onkels, 41, a former National champion just finished second at the State Championships. Onkels won the US Masters National Cycling Championships road race in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2009.

The racing season is drawing to a close. Sunday, some team members competed in Torrance.

Upcoming races are at the Brentwood Grand Prix on Aug. 7, and the Ladera Ranch Grand Prix on Aug. 14.

The USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships will be held Aug. 30 – Sept. 4, 2011 in Bend, Oregon.

About 12 team members will travel to Oregon and compete at the nationals.

USA Cycling is the official federation recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale. They are the governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the U.S., including road racing, mountain bike, track, cyclo-cross and BMX style racing.

One team member is Sarah Hammer. Hammer, 27, a native of Temecula and graduate of Chaparral High School, was absent from the event due to training in Europe.

She competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics finishing 5th in the pursuit race.

Hammer recently placed second at the World Championships and won the right to compete at the 2012 London Olympics where she'll compete in the six-part omnium, equivalent to track and field's heptathlon.

The omnium is the newest addition to Olympic track cycling. It consists of the flying lap race, the 20K points race, the elimination race, the 3K individual pursuit race, the 10K scratch race and the 500-meter time trial.

Cliff and Randi Hammer, Sarah’s parents and also members of the club, were on hand for this event.

A hearty barbecue dinner was catered by Pete's Firehouse BBQ of Temecula.

Mike Cleveland took first place at the event in Category 4/5, Brian Crooks took second and Brad Bellreich took third.

Gil Correa took first in Category 1/2/3, Ernie Sanchez took second and David Bautista took third.

For more information on the team, visit the California Pools/DeWalt team's website by clicking here.