News>Pros, families ride in 2011 Air Force Cycling Classic
Photos
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz stands with members of Team Sabre at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., June 12, 2011, before the start of the Air Force Cycling Classic’s Corporate/Team Challenge Ride. The Air Force Cycling Classic is an annual two-day event to promote fitness and raise funds. This year the Air Force Aid Society received $20,000 raised by Team Sabre riders participating in the corporate ride. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz winds the starter siren June 12, 2011, in Crystal City, Va., to signal the start of the Air Force Cycling Classic’s Crystal Ride. The Crystal Ride was a non-competitive event that began in Crystal City and passed by the Air Force Memorial. It featured a 12.5-kilometer course open to both serious and casual amateur cyclists. Participants who completed two, four or eight laps received medals for the event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Perry Aston)
More than 1,600 cyclists participating in the Crystal Ride Challenge June 12, 2011, endured a 12.5-kilometer course around the Pentagon and the Air Force Memorial and through Crystal City in Northern Virginia. The challenge was one of several races conducted during the Air Force Cycling Classic. While some riders participated in the Crystal Ride Challenge for fun and fitness, other competitors in teams rode to raise money for charity. A group of riders who registered as Team Sabre raised $20,000 for the Air Force Aid Society. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and his wife Suzie cheer from the sidelines near the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., June 12, 2011, during the Air Force Cycling Classic’s Crystal Ride event. More than 1,600 registrants rode as separate competitors or in teams to raise money. One of those teams, Team Sabre, raised $20,000 which they donated to the Air Force Aid Society to help Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)
The Crystal Ride Challenge, a 12.5-kilometer course open to both professional and non-professional riders, began at both the Crystal City start line and the Air Force Memorial start line June 12, 2011, and included a scenic view of the memorial itself. More than 1,600 cyclists rode in the Crystal Ride Challenge. Many riders in the event participated for fun and fitness while other competitors rode as teams to raise money for charity. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)
Announcer Jamie Smith takes advantage of a pause in the Air Force Cycling Classic racing activities June 12, 2011, to interview Andy Hatcher, a former Marine and wounded warrior competing in the amateur race held in Crystal City, Va. Mr. Hatcher lost his right lower leg and suffered a traumatic brain injury while on assignment in Fallujah, Iraq. He was introduced to cycling through the Soldier Ride program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)
The eight-man UnitedHealthcare cycling team dominated the Men’s Invitational Pro/Am race June 12, 2011, by teaming up to control the speed of the course on the final laps. The race course wound around the Pentagon and the Air Force Memorial and through Crystal City in Northern Virginia. The UnitedHealthcare team went on to win the race taking first, second and third place. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)
by Aletha Frost
Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs
6/15/2011 - JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AFNS) -- Hot and humid weather didn't deter the more than 2,300 cycling enthusiasts from around the world and the approximate 600 on-lookers, who came out to cheer for teams and riders in the 2011 Air Force Cycling Classic held June 11 and 12, in Northern Virginia.
The goal of the two-day event was to foster Air Force community relations and fun family fitness. The events provided participants an opportunity to showcase their talents and earn bragging rights in competitive and noncompetitive races, while raising money for their favorite charity.
The Clarendon Cup Race kicked off the weekend events. Cyclists riding in Saturday's races rolled through the streets of Clarendon, Va. The Clarendon Cup has been the Washington, D.C., region's premier Pro/Am Race since 1998. This year it was incorporated as part of the two days of racing under the sponsorship of the Air Force Cycling Classic. The men's and women's races are a part of USA Cycling's national race calendar. In addition to these marquee races, there were two amateur races and a race for kids 9-years old and younger.
Gen. Norton Schwartz, the Air Force chief of staff, was on hand for the second day of events, June 12, including opening ceremonies at Crystal City for photos with the Air Force Cycling Team at the Air Force Memorial.
Sunday's event kicked off with the Air Force Cycling Classic Crystal Ride Challenge participatory race. Cyclists of all abilities challenged themselves during the non-competitive event on a 12.5 kilometer course starting in Crystal City, trekking past the Air Force Memorial and Pentagon. Riders earned bronze, silver and gold medals for completing 2, 4, or 8 laps within the 3.5-hour window.
Riders of all ages and on every type of self-propelled wheeled apparatus took part in the Crystal Ride Challenge.
Air Force District of Washington's Manpower, Personnel and Services two-man team of Lt. Col. William Brinley and Eric Wood brought home a bronze medal for completing a combined total of five laps and bragging rights for AFDW.
The Crystal Ride Challenge also featured teams riding in the Corporate/Team Challenge Race to raise funds for their favorite charity.
General Schwartz thanked the supporters of our Airmen and their families and wished the teams and riders success in the day's events. He especially acknowledged the supporters and the riders in the Corporate/Team Challenge Race, where Team Sabre riders raised $20,000 for the Air Force Aid Society.
The Air Force Aid Society supports the Air Force mission by providing worldwide emergency assistance, sponsoring education assistance programs and offering an array of base community enhancement programs that improve quality of life for Airmen and their families.
A first-time rider in the Air Force Cycling Classic, Linda Egentowich, chief of operations for the Air Force Aid Society, accepted the check on behalf of AFAS.
"Every penny of the $20,000 will be used to benefit the Airmen and their families," Ms. Egentowich said. "These funds will help with whatever their needs are. Whether it's for travel, education, family emergencies or to provide services through the Airmen and Family Readiness Center, this donation will help all Airmen who need it."
With the Air Force Memorial as the backdrop, the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard color team posted the colors and the U.S. Air Force Band's Max Impact performed the national anthem. A flyover by the 1st Helicopter Squadron from Joint Base Andrews set the stage for the high-energy featured race of the day, the Air Force Cycling Classic Men's Pro Race, a 60-mile professional cycling race.
At 11:15 a.m., Col. Phillip Gibbons, AFDW vice commander, began the countdown to start the race.
The Men's Pro Race began at the Air Force Memorial and ended in Crystal City with 12 U.S. professional teams and five international professional teams competing at speeds of over 25 miles per hour. Jacob "Jake" Keough of the UnitedHealthcare team finished in first place for the second year in a row.
The Women's Pro Race followed the Men's Pro Race and Leah Kirchmann, riding for the Colavita Forno d'Asolo Pro Cycling Team, took first place.
Both winners were presented coins by Lt. Gen. Darrell D. Jones, the Air Force Manpower and Personnel director at Air Force headquarters in the Pentagon.
"It's only fitting that the Air Force sponsor an annual Cycling Classic," General Jones said. "When you think about it, the Air Force and cycling share a long history. Early airpower can be traced to a bicycle shop owned by two innovative brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright. They built the foundation of today's Air Force."
