Written by: Admin

The 3rd event in the 2010 Iowa Cup took place in Des Moines on May 16th. Promoted by the Zealous Racing team, the challenging course separated the strongest from the weak in short order. Lapped racers would be common in each category.

Beginning at the elevated start/finish area on smooth pavement, the counter-clockwise loop quickly descended a swooping two-lane street into a hard left at the bottom which transitioned up into the big climb of each lap. The narrow blacktop surface there was cracked, chunked and pockmarked before smoothing out somewhat on the elongated S-shape, 4-step, 150 meter or so climb that steepened at the top. While it lacked legions of drunken Belgian fans lining each side of the tarmac, the hill could perhaps be imagined as a "Mini-Muur." There was even a paved gutter on one side that provided a path of lesser resistance while the few spectators at the top at least sounded drunk.

The long, slightly curving plunge from the peak provided some respite or another opportunity to extend gaps for those that pedaled. At the bottom, the abrupt 110 degree uphill corner to the finish collected several racers throughout the day who chose bad lines. The exclusion of the customary 'free' lap by the officials caused some crashers to abandon.

In the combined 40+/50+/Junior race, Bob Greigg finished 8th in 40+. Buddy Houts crashed but continued on to finish 4th among the Juniors.

In the 1/2/3's, Clark Priebe finished 5th and Jon Nelson was 11th in a hotly contested race that featured many lead changes and several abandons. -Posted 5/20/10