The Hawaii Cycling Club had yet another fabulous turnout as 53 cyclists competed in Saturday’s Kua Bay Time Trial.
The 12.2-mile point-to-point race began on the shoulder of Queen Kaahumanu Highway near the entrance of Waikoloa Beach Drive, with riders heading south to finish just across of the Veterans Cemetery. The course also featured the first half of the 40K bike segment in the upcoming Lavaman Waikoloa Olympic Distance triathlon slated for April 3, which attracted both beginner and elite competitors.
“We had a great turnout and several competitive races,” said race director, Tom Solis in an email. “Also, the weather was good — not raining as last year. I think having such a large turnout helped to stimulate the riders and contributed to the enthusiasm after the race.”
Time trials are considered to be one of the more demanding events in the circuit of bike racing as each outcome is solely dependent upon an individual’s strength, endurance and mental tenacity with their only true competitor being the clock. Contributing to the already high level of difficulty was Saturday’s undulating course featuring a few flat sections and some challenging hill segments that had everyone’s quads burning and lungs nearly maxed out.
In a race where every second counts, it was Waikoloa’ Daniel Hill who proved to be the fastest of the morning clocking in a swift time of 26 minutes and 56 seconds, for an average speed of 27.1 miles per hour.
Just 16 seconds back to finish in second overall was Kailua-Kona’s Sean Maynard in 27:12, followed by Chris DeMarchi in third at 27:14.
Hill and Maynard, both 51 years of age, continue their friendly but competitive rivalry with Maynard winning last month’s Prologue 10-mile Time Trial in a great time of 23:30. Hill took second place in 23:55.
“Several people did a bike race for the first time,” added Solis. “More women than usual — thanks to HCC Board Member, Lynn Mattix, who had a women-only bike ride two weeks before.”
Out of a field of eighteen, the women’s race for first witnessed Britni Bakk of Team Wyn claim gold with her speedy time of 32:16. The next two podium spots went to Papaaloa’s Melissa Schad in 33:15, and Kailua-Kona’s Laura Yamasaki in 33:22.
A few honorable mentions go to Kailua-Kona’s Harry “Da Hammer” Yoshida who topped the men’s 70-74 division with his time of 36:06; Gerald Gruber, who claimed the men’s 75-79 division in 34:00; and the “always smiling” John Barnett who smashed the men’s 80-84 division in a stellar time of 42:19.
For the women, Toni Romp-Friesen won the women’s 70-74 division in a time of 46:16, and the always-consistent Wendy Minor claimed the women’s 75-79 division in 44:53.
Congratulations to all who participated!
