Rutland Herald
May 22,2014
By Emma Lamberton
Correspondent
Cycling enthusiast and mechanic George Carson stopped competing in Rutland area cycling because of a perceived bias against cyclists.
“People weren’t embracing it. When a pack of 150 can’t get respect, there’s a problem,” he said Tuesday in the workshop of True Wheels, a Killington extreme sporting goods store.
However, the Killington Stage Race is giving Carson hope for the future of cycling in the region.
The Memorial Day weekend race is expected to attract approximately 600 riders from New England and Canada over three days. With each rider bringing an average support staff of four-six people, the race provides an economic boost for the local community.
“It’s a huge economic benefit,” said Assistant Race Director Peter Oliver, “especially because traditionally, it’s a slow time of year for tourism.”
Bill Elles, owner of First Stop Board Barn in Killington, which, along with True Wheels, sponsors a stage of the race, agrees that cycling should be viewed positively by the community.
“It brings good activity and outside traffic to the area. These cyclists can afford to come back for vacation,” he said.
According to the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, the race brings more than $500,000 to the local economy through the weekend.
The Killington Stage Race is the reincarnation of a similar race held in the area until it went bankrupt in 2000. Once considered one of the premier racing events in America, it was extinguished by years of inclement weather, trying routs and subpar logistics.
However, the future of the Killington Stage Race looks bright as it has thrived under new management. “Gary stepped up the plate,” race official Chase Morsey said of Race Director Gary Kessler. “Of the big races I am involved with, he has the best organized event.”
The race motto, “Race the Legend,” shows race organizers Kessler and Oliver are not trying to separate the Killington Stage Race from its past. “The race has a lot of history. It goes back. We’re trying to tap into that legend,” Oliver said.
The strategy is working, and racers keep coming back for more. This weekend, Andrew Boxer of Ludlow will compete in the race for the sixth time. “This race is good for a two-peak season. I train to peak at the end of May and again in September.”
The Lookout & First Stop Bike Shop Circuit Race begins the three-stage race, with the first wave of riders leaving Skyeship Base Area at 8:55 a.m. Spectators are encouraged to gather at the finish. Another recommended viewing area is the President Calvin Coolidge Historic Site in Plymouth to get a look at an interim sprint.
The Champion System Road Race is the second stage, with the first wave of riders leaving at 9 a.m. Sunday from Skyeship Base Area. Spectators will be provided with chalk to decorate the finish at the K1 Base Lodge. Another viewing option is Silver Lake in Barnard, where there will be a feeding area.
Stage 3 is the Long Trail Brewery Individual Time Trial which sends off the first wave of riders on Monday at 8:15 a.m. The stage begins at the Route 4 pull-off west of the Brewery and ends at the Killington Town Office.
With approximately 600 racers participating, Oliver sees a lot of potential. “We will be looking at the future of professional cycling.” While the race presents an exciting future, it will also exhibit the known skills of Canadian cyclist Lex Albert, as well as Canadian Olympic cyclist Susan Palmer-Komar.
Race mechanic George Carson is excited for the Killington Stage Race and the way it is changing the public’s opinion of cycling. “This is a breakthrough year,” Carson said, “It is being embraced by the community.”
Correspondent
Cycling enthusiast and mechanic George Carson stopped competing in Rutland area cycling because of a perceived bias against cyclists.
“People weren’t embracing it. When a pack of 150 can’t get respect, there’s a problem,” he said Tuesday in the workshop of True Wheels, a Killington extreme sporting goods store.
However, the Killington Stage Race is giving Carson hope for the future of cycling in the region.
The Memorial Day weekend race is expected to attract approximately 600 riders from New England and Canada over three days. With each rider bringing an average support staff of four-six people, the race provides an economic boost for the local community.
“It’s a huge economic benefit,” said Assistant Race Director Peter Oliver, “especially because traditionally, it’s a slow time of year for tourism.”
Bill Elles, owner of First Stop Board Barn in Killington, which, along with True Wheels, sponsors a stage of the race, agrees that cycling should be viewed positively by the community.
“It brings good activity and outside traffic to the area. These cyclists can afford to come back for vacation,” he said.
According to the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, the race brings more than $500,000 to the local economy through the weekend.
The Killington Stage Race is the reincarnation of a similar race held in the area until it went bankrupt in 2000. Once considered one of the premier racing events in America, it was extinguished by years of inclement weather, trying routs and subpar logistics.
However, the future of the Killington Stage Race looks bright as it has thrived under new management. “Gary stepped up the plate,” race official Chase Morsey said of Race Director Gary Kessler. “Of the big races I am involved with, he has the best organized event.”
The race motto, “Race the Legend,” shows race organizers Kessler and Oliver are not trying to separate the Killington Stage Race from its past. “The race has a lot of history. It goes back. We’re trying to tap into that legend,” Oliver said.
The strategy is working, and racers keep coming back for more. This weekend, Andrew Boxer of Ludlow will compete in the race for the sixth time. “This race is good for a two-peak season. I train to peak at the end of May and again in September.”
The Lookout & First Stop Bike Shop Circuit Race begins the three-stage race, with the first wave of riders leaving Skyeship Base Area at 8:55 a.m. Spectators are encouraged to gather at the finish. Another recommended viewing area is the President Calvin Coolidge Historic Site in Plymouth to get a look at an interim sprint.
The Champion System Road Race is the second stage, with the first wave of riders leaving at 9 a.m. Sunday from Skyeship Base Area. Spectators will be provided with chalk to decorate the finish at the K1 Base Lodge. Another viewing option is Silver Lake in Barnard, where there will be a feeding area.
Stage 3 is the Long Trail Brewery Individual Time Trial which sends off the first wave of riders on Monday at 8:15 a.m. The stage begins at the Route 4 pull-off west of the Brewery and ends at the Killington Town Office.
With approximately 600 racers participating, Oliver sees a lot of potential. “We will be looking at the future of professional cycling.” While the race presents an exciting future, it will also exhibit the known skills of Canadian cyclist Lex Albert, as well as Canadian Olympic cyclist Susan Palmer-Komar.
Race mechanic George Carson is excited for the Killington Stage Race and the way it is changing the public’s opinion of cycling. “This is a breakthrough year,” Carson said, “It is being embraced by the community.”
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