Electric City Classic cycling event draws pros, kids, in-between
Aug. 27—It's 15 minutes before showtime and the trash talk is heating up among participants vying to become a big deal in the Big Wheel Wars at the Electric City Classic cycling event Saturday afternoon.
"You might as well write 'Peoples Security Bank' on there," Bill Terrinoni, a member of the Peoples Security Bank & Trust team, says as project coordinator Liz Baldi walks by with the coveted trophy.
"We may not win, but you won't win either because I'm going to take you guys out," Brian Mahlstedt, a member of the FNCB Bank team, jokingly taunts back.
The rivals were among five four-member relay teams that tested their pedaling power — and ability to get up and off the ground-level tricycles — during the first day of the two-day Electric City Classic.
The event, a project of the nonprofit economic development group Scranton Tomorrow and presented by Geisinger, concludes Sunday with the Electric City Hill Climb — a short cycling sprint up Olive Street, between Taylor and Prescott avenues in the city's Hill Section, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday's main event — called a criterium — featured professional cyclists who zipped around a short-circuit course that lapped around several blocks in the city's downtown.
The athletes raced at speeds up to 45 mph, making multiple sharp turns as they vied for the top prize of $10,000 and title as the state's criterium racing champion.
Kimberly Stoveld of Philadelphia won the women's race, beating 21 competitors, while Danny Estevez of Massachusetts bested 78 other racers in the men's division.
Organizers first brought the race to Scranton in 2019 to help promote the downtown. The COVID-19 pandemic scuttled it in 2020 and forced the cancellation of the criterium portion of the race last year.
"We're thrilled to have it back," said Leslie Collins, president and CEO of Scranton Tomorrow. "It's a great opportunity to bring the community together and, most importantly, for economic development as we bring racers, their families and spectators to the downtown."
In addition to the criterium race, other events Saturday included handcycle races, a group ride on the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail and a children's bicycle race.
The Big Wheel Wars, which in addition to Peoples Bank and FNCB featured teams from PNC Bank, Fidelity Bank and Trust and the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, were a big hit with spectators.
"It's a lot of fun, especially when they incorporate fun events like this with professional racing," said Todd Pousley of Scranton, who was rooting on the Chamber of Commerce team with his daughter, Addison, 11, and his girlfriend, Ashley Shamansky of Bloomsburg.
The chamber's team got knocked out before the final, which pitted Peoples Bank and PNC. Terrinoni's pre-race boast proved true as his team took first place.
Liz and Brendan Finley of South Abington Twp. said they also enjoyed the Big Wheel Wars, but they were most impressed with the professional criterium race, which enthralled their 3-year-old daughter, Gwen.
"She just started to ride a bike, so to see professional cyclists is awesome," Liz Finley said. "It's really cool to watch them go by at high speeds and be so up close."
Collins said organizers are honored that the Scranton course — which racers say is one of the most challenging in the criterium circuit — was chosen for the state championship race.
"This course is particularly complicated because there are a large number of turns," said pro racer Dan Henry of Washington, D.C.
Stoveld, the women's race champion, echoed that sentiment.
"It was so hard, but it's my kind of course because I like turns," she said.
Contact the writer: tbesecker@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9137; @tmbeseckerTT on Twitter.
