A few Diablos stayed off the dirt and took advantage of back-to-back weekends of road races in Palmyra.

The Lake Area Physical Therapy (LAPT) Team hosted a race on May 19, while VeloCause Centraal Cycling took the honors on May 26.

Here's how the Diablo riders fared:

Snake Alley Criterium
Burlington, Iowa
May 26th, 2018
​www.snakealleycriterium.com/
Race No.1: Considered one of the most physically challenging races in the Midwest,
the Snake Alley Criterium is held on a downtown fifteen block course featuring the
​five nasty 12.5% grade switchbacks of the “Snake Alley” climb.
His heroic efforts on this relentless course finished him nicely in this elite Pro 1/2 field.
Brent Williams: P1/2 51st out 91

40th Annual Melon City Criterium / Rider Development
Muscatine, Iowa
May 27, 2018
Presented by Melon City Bike Club, Inc. and Harper's Cycling and Fitness
​www.meloncitybikeclub.org/new-page-3/
Race No 2: Sweltering 90 degree heat! 
Brent Williams: P1/2: 39th out 105

Kwik Star (AKA Quad City) Criterium
Davenport, IA
May 28, 2018
Presented by Quad City Bicycle Club
​www.quadcitiescriterium.com/
Race No. 3: A relentless climb every lap kept the heart rate spiking. 
Brent Williams: P1/2: 46th out 88

Upcoming road / criterium races:
WiSport
wisportcycling.org/schedule
June 1 & 2: Rib Falls Time Trials 
June 3: WBR Bong and a Half 30K Time Trial (WiSport) - Kansasville, WI
WCA
​wicycling.org/road/2018-road-calendar/
June 2: Mukwanago Criterium

Rasta Rally 
Sunday, May 19th in Rhinelander WI.
http://rastatrails.org/rasta-rally/

Featuring The Lesters!
Macy Lester 1st in age, 2nd overall female, short race
Sally Lester 2nd in age, short race
Megan Lester 3rd in age, long race
​Jon Lester 3rd in age, 5th overall long race

WORS XC #2 Mountain Bike Race
Englewood Farms in Fall River, WI 
May 19, 2018:​
http://wors.org/schedule/englewood/
​
There were a few category upgrades and a first time mountain bike racer with an excellent finish. 

Junior (14 and Under) Male
11 to 12:
Hunter Lester – 1st

13 to 14:
Landon Nelson – 1st 

Cat 3 (Citizen) Female
11 to 14:
Macy Lester – 2nd
Newly upgraded from Junior to Citizen!

Cat 3 (Citizen) Male
11 to 14:
Austin Cullen – 3rd
Andrew Dipiazza
Newly upgraded from Junior to Citizen!
Samuel Dipiazza
Newly upgraded from Junior to Citizen!

35 to 39:
Joe Eick

Cat 2 (Sport) Female​
15 to 18:
Megan Lester – 2nd
Newly upgraded from Citizen to Sport!

40 to 49:
Ava Rollins – 1st
Sally Lester – 5th

Cat 2 (Sport) Male19 to 24:
John Bessey – 1st
First Mountain Bike Race and he wins Sport! No season of Citizen required.

40 to 49:
Edward Kolka
 
Open Fat Bike
Greg Cullen – 1st
Scott Barclay
 
Cat 1 (Junior) Male
17 to 18:
Ethan Janssen – 4th
 
Cat 1 (Elite) Male
19 to 29:
Nick Niemi
Newly upgraded from Elite Junior to Elite Men!

40 to 49:
Jason Gibson

Upcoming mountain bike races:
May 26, 2018: WEMS Race #1 - Wild Ride Buzzard Buster - https://wemseries.com/

June 3, 2018: WORS Race # 3 - Battle of Camrock - http://wors.org/schedule/camrock/
​
June 9, 2018: Borah Epic - https://www.borahepic.com/
​

When: September 12, 2018
Where The gravel and logging roads amongst the north woods of Laona, WI
​http://thebear100.com/

108 mile (100 preregistered) race:
 Jeff Abitz backed out of his driveway at 4:00 am Saturday morning, eager to defend his 2017 Bear 100 overall winner  title. He knew it would be difficult, but did not expect the high caliber of competition this year...
First, there was about one hundred riders at the 7:00 am start line. Then, about 20 miles later, there was about ten at the pointy end. With about 20 miles to go Jeff, found himself struggling to contribute to the three man group he found himself in. 
Anyone who has ever tried to paceline on gravel and logging roads knows of the challenges that holes, sticks, ruts, and assorted carcasses can present (Thank you Lauf Grit suspension fork and custom Matt Fischer wheels).
He (okay I!) took what I thought would be my final effort up a gentle incline and a minute later found myself alone with (Category 1, 32 year old) Brian Kaker. We worked together another five miles, but eventually Brian would accelerate away from my 49 year old body, beating me by three minutes. Maintaining a fatigued, but steady pace, I held off a charging third place rider for second overall.
​I'll take it.
 ​Jeff Abitz - 2nd overall - 5 hours, 47 minutes

68 mile (78 pregistered) race:
Nick Niemi - 10th overall!
Scott Niemi
Scott Barclay

​

 The Wisconsin Offroad Series 2018 season opener brought the racers to Iola.
​http://wors.org/schedule/iola/

Several Diablos kicked off the season including the return of Greg Cullen,
and newcomer Ava Rollins in the Fat Bike category!
It turns out they are both quite good at it. 

Below are the participants and top 5 results: 
Junior (14 and Under) Male
7 to 8:
Vincent Dipiazza – 3rd
​
Cat 3 (Citizen) Male
11 to 14:
Austin Cullen – 5th  
Andrew Dipiazza
Samuel Dipiazza
35 to 39:
Joe Eick – 5th
 
Cat 2 (Sport) Female
40 to 49:
Ava Rollins – 1st, 3rd overall
 
Open Fat Bike
Greg Cullen – 2nd
Scott Barclay (The day after the Bear 68 mile gravel race! What? Why? How?!!!)
 
Cat 1 (Junior) Male
17 to 18:
Ethan Janssen 

No omnium? No problem!

People came to Menasha en masse to race in a classic six-corner criterium on a day that featured beautiful weather. A big thank you to racers and volunteers alike for coming out with great enthusiasm, and an even bigger thank you to Mother Nature and all the moms out there for making the most out of a day that should be reserved to motherly activites.

If you're a mom and bikes are your hobby, then it was the best of both worlds! Diablo racers had good results to boot — here's how they did in each category:

If you consider yourself a cyclist or fan of the sport, the first weekend in May is most likely blocked off for the La Crosse Omnium.

Whether used as an "A Race" or simply a tune up for the more prestigious Northeast Wisconsin Omnium taking place the following weekend, the Coulee region is a fantastic cycling venue. Even if one of those statements is slightly biased, Diablo racers across all categories had respectable showings — and no one can argue that!

Here's who raced and how they fared: