Tour of Walla Walla hits Waitsburg this weekend

WAITSBURG & WALLA WALLA-The Tour of Walla Walla cycling weekend kicks off April 12-14. This is the 21st year of what has become a spring classic in the local road racing community.

The competition consists of four stages, beginning with the Wilson Hollow time trial in which cyclists in eight categories race solo against the clock.

This 6.8 mile circuit leaves from the Waitsburg Fairgrounds staging area heading east on Wilson Hollow Road. It begins with a short kicker, then settles into the rolling terrain before heading to a fast return.

Stage two is the Waitsburg Road Race that both begins and ends on Waitsburg Hill and goes southwest of town. Even professional cyclist Kaler Marshall agrees Waitsburg Hill is known as the "Temple of Pain."

The Saturday downtown criterium is flanked by historic Walla Walla architecture and an enthusiastic and cheering crowd. The route consists of seven corners made up of right- and left-hand turns.

The racing ends with Sunday's Kellogg Hollow Road Race. With a loop distance of 27 miles and 2,010 feet of climbing, cyclists will be challenged to multiple loops, depending on their category.

The stretch from the end of the circuit loop to the finish line is 2.9 miles with 28 feet of climbing but is mostly downhill.

This is Marshall's seventh time competing. "It's one of the premier stage races regionally in Oregon, Washington and Idaho and there's a lot of racers that come from Canada to do it," he said.

Besides bragging rights, racers compete for about $7000 cash (across all categories) and merchandise prizes.

Michael Austin and his wife, Kathryn, own Allegro Cyclery, one of the event's sponsors. Being the owner means Austin has had his hand in all aspects of the business since its inception in 2005.

The Austins also lend their organizing know-how to the event, working tirelessly as race directors. They handle the planning and administrative details of the event.

"We've been involved with the race since year one," says Austin who appreciates that "Waitsburg gets behind the race in a big way. The community is so supportive. This year the Rotary has partnered up with us," he said.

Cycling isn't just for the riders. Spectators will have some thrilling spectacles to enjoy.

"Last year our average speed was 30 mph. If you stand on the edge of the course, you can feel the wind come off it," Marshall said.

The Tour of Walla Walla is a just one part of the larger Pacific Northwest Stage Race series. The cycling continues with the Tour de Bloom, May 3-5, in the Wenatchee Valley, followed by the Mutual of Enumclaw, May 18-19.

More information can be found at tofww.racedaywebsites.com.