Bike Hugger 

One of the spectator highlights of the Greenville championships is the Kids Race, where kids from 6-12 get a chance to race the final 200 meters of the pro course.

They come on Big Wheels, BMX bikes, brand-new Treks, and steel frames with a sheen of rust. Everybody wears race bib number 1, and everybody takes home a medal. The cardinal rule is œdon’t run into any of the other riders.

It’s a terrific way to introduce the sport to youngsters – where else would they get the chance to compete in front of thousands of spectators lining the race’s start-finish area?

Here’s a photoset with some of the participants.