Cyclists battle the clock in Kua Bay time trial

WAIKOLOA — The Hawaii Cycling Club presented the Kua Bay Training Time Trial on Saturday, attracting 24 cyclists to compete in the 12.19-mile point-to-point race that began from Waikoloa Drive and concluded at the scenic Kua Bay entrance.

The event took the form of a time trial — a discipline many consider to be one of the purest and most challenging in the sport of cycling. Unlike a traditional race where riders go head-to-head, a time trial strips away the external competition, leaving cyclists to battle against one adversary: the clock. Success depends entirely on personal strength and pure grit and for everyone, the goal was simple — go as fast as possible!

Saturday’s race kicked off on the shoulder of the Queen Kaahumanu Highway, just off Waikoloa Beach Drive. While the initial few miles were deceptively flat which gave cyclists a fast start, the course soon shifted gears and presented the real challenge — Scenic Hill — a segment known for testing even the most experienced riders. The hill climb is situated just before the Scenic Overlook Point and often marks the turning point of the race as riders transition to a series of rolling hills before finishing at the Kua Bay entrance.

This didn’t seem to faze Waikoloa’s Daniel Hill as he was once again the fastest rider of the morning by crossing the finish line with an outstanding time of 27 minutes and 12 seconds, averaging a speed of 26.9 miles per hour. His victory adds yet another achievement to his growing list as he prepares for his second appearance in the Ironman World Championships set for October 26th.

Following closely behind was Hilo’s Leonard Bisel, whose solid effort earned him a time of 29 minutes and 25 seconds. Rounding out the men’s podium was Kailua-Kona’s Robert Loveridge in third place with a time of 30 minutes and 15 seconds.

In the women’s division, Kailua-Kona’s Laura Yamasaki claimed victory with a time of 32 minutes and 33 seconds. The remaining podium spots were tightly contested with Kailua-Kona’s Cary Craig taking second place at 33 minutes and 4 seconds, followed closely by Kamuela’s Jennifer Benz, who finished third with a time of 33 minutes and 20 seconds.

Next up on the Hawaii Cycling Club calendar of events will be the Waikoloa Hill Climb Training Time Trial slated for November 17th just north of town.