Para-Cycling racing concludes in Downtown Redlands

By: Lauren Roos

March 17, 2019 (Redlands, CA) – The crowds turned up in downtown Redlands, under sunny blue skies, to cheer on the para-cyclists for the final day of racing in the PossAbilities Para-cycle Race Series. Stage 4 was the final chance to score points towards the omnium competition. The atmosphere filled with the support from cycling fans, made for ramped up speeds.

Multiple world champions and paralympians were in the field, including 12 veterans. Athletes in different categories with the desire to improve their speed and fitness, attempted to keep up the pace in hopes of increasing their own chances of one day making it onto the U.S. Paralympic team. Cyclists throughout the field worked together, drafting off each other and taking turns pulling at the front.

A brief crash occurred 11 minutes into the race but thankfully, both cyclists were able to rejoin the field in a short amount of time and continue racing. Due to the warm weather, many racers kept cool with “ice socks” (pantyhose filled with ice) tucked around their bodies and volunteers spraying them down mid-race with water. The race series also attracted a number of women, competing in the omnium throughout the week.

“This is the first year that we have so many women racing. They are racing for Nexus Endurance/ Challenged Athletes Foundation and they come from out of town to stay,” Race Director Cotie Williams said. “It’s really cool that we have full fields in our competitive classes for ladies.”

The Nexus Endurance/ Challenged Athletes Foundation team is an all-women’s team that brought five athletes to the race this year to join the other three women racing for Roger C. Peace and Team PossAbilities. Emmanuel “Manny” Herrera of Paralyzed Veterans Racing Team in the Recumbent category was very glad to be back racing in Redlands this year.

“This is my sixth or seventh time racing Redlands and I’ve fallen in love with it,” Herrera said. “I like the venue, I like the course!” Manny could be seen pumping up the crowd as he passed under the start/finish banner throughout the race. “I’d see people just watching us go by and be, like, this ain’t Nascar! Make some noise!” And make some noise they did!

This year marks Pedro Payne’s eighth year with PossAbilities, the organization behind the para-cycling event. PossAbilities is supported by Loma Linda University health and provides challenged athletes with the equipment they need to complete in a variety of sports. This year marks Pedro’s last year with the organization, making Sunday a bittersweet day for him.

“It’s been a journey, a blast!” he recounted after the end of the race today. “When I first got hired for the PossAbilities leadership I didn’t know about this race and what it entailed. Through the years, meeting these awesome para-cyclists, their families and support networks, has been a blessing in my life. Giving them an opportunity to compete on the same course as the pros, it means so much…they enjoy it, we enjoy it. It’s been a success! We started with maybe six riders and now we are pushing 50 [competitors in the para-cycling race]. PossAbilities is being left in good hands with Cotie Williams taking the lead. We will continue to race this and continue to have fun!”

After all the podium photos were taken, medals and prize money awarded, Pedro Payne’s words seem to ring especially true as he looks forward to another great race next year -“We will continue to race and continue to have fun!”

Congratulations to all the stage winners and omnium winners for the PossAbilities Para-cycle Race Series in conjunction with the 35thRedlands Bicycle Classic.

Hashtag: #RedlandsClassic

Emmanuel Herrera and Bruce Kuker of Paralyzed Veterans Racing

Women’s H3 podium: 1. Alicia Dana 2. Jenna Rollman 3. Gabrielle Platt

Pedro Payne (Race Announcer) and Cotie Williams (Race Director) of PossAbilities.
Photos: Lauren Roos