MORE THAN 250 VIE IN TOUR DE GIRARDOT CYCLING CLASSIC RACES

The whisper of bicycle tires on pavement and the yellow flash of brightly-colored uniforms marked the last day of competition of the Tour de Girardot Cycling Classic Sunday at Doctor's Park.

Competitors in six United States Cycling Federation classifications whirled their way through their final races in the two-day, three-stage event. Sunday's criterium race finished up around 2 p.m. The six citizen races then took center stage.

Bill Logan, race organizer and wellness coordinator for St. Francis Medical Center, said conditions were right for a successful event.

"The weather's been great, the riders loved the road course and the criterium -- this is the first year we've done it without being rained out," Logan said.

The event just avoided being rained out as a storm system moved through Cape Girardeau late Sunday afternoon.

Logan said 164 USCF riders competed over the weekend. More than 100 people also signed up for the citizen races held late Sunday.

Sue Walters, expert level coach with the Chicago-based Pepsi-Power Bar race team, said she loves coming to the Tour de Girardot.

"This race is always very calm. You don't have a lot of irate racers because things are done the way they're supposed to be done," Walters said.

She added that race officials, volunteers and referees are always polite and the courses are always challenging. "Our riders always enjoy this race," Walters said.

Dan Ritchie, a Southeast Missouri State University student and event worker, said he's never been a fan of cycling but he was enjoying the criterium races. The criterium is run on a track that is less than a mile long. Riders race around the track for 45 minutes, which allows spectators to get a good look at them.

"The road race was interesting but you only got to see the riders for 5 seconds," Ritchie said.

Aileen O'Roarke traveled from Ireland, through Fort Wayne, Ind., to the Tour de Girardot. She and Helena Jackson of England were working with the Fort Wayne Three Rivers race team.

O'Roarke, a physical therapist, said bicycling is not as popular in Ireland as it is in the United States.

"I don't normally watch these things," she said.

Brent Seyer, 9, of Scott City also wasn't very impressed with the goings on. He was gearing up to compete in the citizen races but said he wanted to compete because he thought it might be fun.

His mother, Angie Seyer, said her sons are always trying different sports and activities.

"Maybe this will be the thing that sticks," she said.

RESULTS

USCF Cat IV and V Men

First overall, Kevin Tober

Second overall, Dale Suttle

Third overall, David Jones

Race winners:

Time trial, John McDaniel

Road race, Kevin Tober

Criterium, Chris Johnson

USCF 30 to 39 Men

First overall, Eric Martin

Second overall, Robert Bobrow

Third overall, Curtis Tolson

Race winners:

Time trial, Eric Martin

Road race, Eric Martin

Criterium, Robert Bobrow

USCF 40-plus Men

First overall, David Hixson

Second overall, Evan Wykes

Third overall, Al Dziewa

Race winners:

Time trial, Steve Hall

Road race, Evan Wykes

Criterium, David Hixson

USCF Juniors

First overall, Andrew Broas

Second overall, Zach Reed

Third overall, Adam Moore

Race winners:

Time trial, Zach Reed

Road race, Andrew Broas

Criterium, Andrew Broas

USCF Women

First overall, Andrea Fischer

Second overall, Bette Chesser

Third overall, PJ Walsh

Race winners:

Time trial, Bette Chesser

Road race, Andrea Fischer

Criterium, Andrea Fischer

USCF Cat III Men

First overall, Scott Boyd

Citizen Races

Big Wheel Boys,

First, Charles Davis

Second, Zachary McLaughlin

Third, Seth Little

Fourth, Aaron Sippy

Fifth, Tanner Hankins

Big Wheel Girls,

First, Leslie Dennington

Second, Mary Dohogne

Third, Cori Cox

Fourth, Brianne Sanders

Fifth, Morgan Morris

5-6-year-old Boys

First, Vince Friese

Second, Caleb Petzoldt

5-6-year-old Girls

First, Sarah Uptmor

Second, Sarah Hanson

Third, Taylor Sanders

Fourth, Taylor Smith

Fifth, Markie Sharrock

7-8-year-old Boys

First, Kyle Younger

Second, Jordan Weiss

Third, Shea Smith

Fourth, John Oliver

Fifth, Trenton Nelson

7-8-year-old Girls

First, Caitlin Bamberger

Second, Sheila Wade

Third, Alex Parks

Fourth, Sarah Ressel

Fifth, Chrissy Renick

9-10-year-old Boys

First, Jacob Dufek

Second, Max Friese

Third, Jared Weiss

Fourth, Jordin Janet

Fifth, Thom Wyatt

9-10-year-old Girls

First, Allison Dohogne

Second, Holly McMurry

Third, Arial Wright

Fourth, Hayle Davis

Fifth, Stephanie Hency

11-12-year-old Boys

First, Mitchell Castell

Second, Travis Johnston

Third, Landon Maevers

Fourth, Joseph Dufek

Fifth, James Clelland

11-12-year-old Girls

First, Stacy Dohogne

Second, Kasie Essner

Third, Megan McMurry

Fourth, Danee Davis

Fifth, Valerie Hency

13-year-old Boys

First, Ross Tillgman

Second, Paul Unterreiner

Third, Michael Park

Fourth, Chris Bickings

Fifth, David Kirn