Bicycle racing takes over the town; Zirbel wins Criterium race

   Clear Lake’s Fourth of July fireworks gave way to bicycle racing excitement Saturday and Sunday. 
    Professional cyclist Tom Zirbel said he was motivated by friends and family from his hometown and he came from behind to win the Iowa State Criterium Championship race through downtown Saturday night.  Zirbel, a professional racer with the Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies Team, came from the second pack of racers with nine laps to go to

claim the title.  With four laps to go, Zirbel moved to the front of the lead pack of 12 racers and crossed the finish line first.
    Lisa Vetterlein, who races for Smart Honda, dominated the women’s crate and earned the title with a 32-second victory.
    Sunday, races moved to the countryside.  Adam Bergman, of St. Paul, claimed first place in the  Omnium road race, while Zirbel finished eighth in the 82-mile race.

Race Results
Men Pro Cat 1/2: Overall Omnium Winners: first, Thomas Zirbel, Boulder, Colo.; second, Adam Bergman, St. Paul, Minn.; third, Patrick Lemieux, St. Paul, Minn.

Women Pro Cat 1/2: Overall Omnium Winners: first, Lisa Vetterlein, Des Moines; second, Vanessa Curtis, Iowa City; third, Leah Kleager, Omaha, Neb.

More race results and photos will be available in next week’s issue of the Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter