Team Kaos

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The return of criterium racing around the Nebraska state capitol was a welcome sight for Team Kaos/Alegent Health.

On a hot, breezy Saturday afternoon, Team Kaos claimed a win and was on the podium in all three men's races at the Capital City Criterium on a flat, fast course. The race, promoted by Bike Pedalers bike shops of Lincoln, was part of the city's Biketacular event. 

In the A race (Men's 1/2/3), the day's main event, Kaos took three of the top six spots.

Ian Gray (Ciclismo) went off the front before being joined by former Kaos teammate Joe McWilliams. Soon after, Jay Thomas (Midwest Wheelmasters) and Cody McCullough (Sioux City Velo) joined the break with Kaos' Justin Maresh in tow.

It's been a busy few weeks on the race scene for Team Kaos/Alegent Health. Here's what our riders have been up to lately:

Marco Vasquez placed fourth at the Iron Horse Road Race (Masters 35-44 division) in Durango, Colo., on Saturday. Vasquez lost contact with the three leaders late, but remained strong enough to hold off the rest of the chasers. The road race is only 46 miles long, but 36 of it is uphill. By the end of the race, a pair of mountain passes have been crossed, and 6,600 feet of climbing have been recorded.

Vasquez was 15th in the Sunday criterium, and followed it with a third-place finish in the time trial on Monday. The stage race was an omnium, so the points lost on Sunday hurt Vasquez's overall placing. Regardless, he was fifth in the overall for a very solid finish. 

Matt Farnham finished second in the Cat. 2 men's race at the Platte River Battle Royal mountain bike race earlier this month. Teammate Mike Miles was 12th. The duo took fourth (Farnham) and fifth (Miles) at the Swanson River City shootout a week earlier.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Brandon Fenster of Team Kaos/Alegent Health is in the top 15 of the Joe Martin Stage Race general classification with only Sunday's criterium remaining.

Fenster, a Cat. 4 rider from Omaha, was 15th in the uphill time trial on Saturday morning, and later finished 10th in the road race. The 46-mile race finished in a pack sprint after being neutralized earlier to allow the Men's Pro/1 field to pass.

The Sunday-morning crit begins for Fenster at 9 a.m. and is scheduled for 35 minutes.

Team Kaos also had a contingent at Saturday's Platte River Shootout mountain bike race. Check back for an update as soon as results are posted. 

Join Team Kaos/Alegent Health on Sunday, April 26, for the annual Omaha Health, Wellness and Fitness Expo bike ride.

Three routes of varying distance will be leaving from Civic Auditorium in downtown Omaha on Sunday morning. All three routes -- 9, 15 and 43 miles -- are the same ones used in the annual late-summer Corporate Cycling Challenge. Additionally, all three routes will be fully supported by Team Kaos, which is sponsored by Alegent Health. 

The 9- and 15-mile routes are completely flat and start at 10 a.m. Sign-in and registration should be completed before 9:30.

The 43-mile ride is hilly and challenging, and starts at 9:30 a.m. Sign-in and registration should be completed before 9.

Entry fee is $23 and includes a T-shirt, finishing gift, full SAG support, food and water along the ride and a finish line celebration.

All riders must wear an ANSI- or SNELL-approved helmet, carry at least one water bottle and obey all state, county and city traffic laws. Riders must complete their ride by 2 p.m. to ensure full support along the route. 

For more information, go to www.omahahealthexpo.com and click on "Bike Ride Info" on the left-hand menu bar.