Residents and various participants from around the country got into gear Saturday for the Capital City Cycling Classic held in Lansing.
The cyclists raced for the Michigan State Criterium Championship, gathering hundreds of cyclists — from beginners to professionals — to compete for cash, coveted jerseys and medals in the early August heat.
In a criterium race, cyclists compete in a circuit on a closed course. The course ran a total of just over one mile around the downtown Lansing area, skirting widely around the capitol building.
From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., spectators and racers endured 12 individually categorized races.
A USA Cycling sanctioned event, the various races spanned a range of time limits — from 30 to 75 minutes in length.
Race director Steve Smith said the CFT Cycling Team started Tuesday Night Ride, or TNR, when it was formed in Lansing more than 30 years ago and continues to bring cyclists to the city today.
"We love competitive cycling," Smith said. "We’re proud to be in Michigan and Lansing."
The race categories included kids, juniors, masters, men, women and handcycling.
"As you get older, you look at different ways to be involved in the things that you love," Smith said.
The handcycling category serves as an outlet for competitors with disabilities to race at the same level as other racers.
"These competitors have a limited number of races they can compete in, so we're happy to do it for them," Smith said. "They’re great athletes (and) we want them to have the opportunity to compete also."
With categories such as handcycling and kid's races, a wide range of community and visiting competitors can participate.
Smith said cycling is "inherently dangerous" and racers can perform various attacks on each other mid-race.
"Any time you’re on two wheels going 35 miles an hour, you’re gonna make contact," Smith said. "Can something go wrong? Absolutely."
Adam York, MSU alumnus and sponsored category two racer, said cycling is about improving and achieving goals.
"I think any racer that shows up would like to win it," York said. "It’s always good to see who’s coming up in the ranks."
For the spectators, the sport can be more about support and entertainment.
Wyoming, Mich. resident Stephanie Cole came to the event to support her father, who raced in the men's category 3-4 race. She said the exciting aspect of watching the races is the level of competitiveness the racers bring.
She said she witnessed a domino-effect crash right in front of her, in which one racer crashed, causing a series of racers to fall in the wake.
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"I'd be scared," Cole said. "I tell (my father) not to give up, to keep going."
