COLUMBIANA PVR Club instills a love for riding

Bicycle riders will invade Firestone Park today for criterium races.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBIANA -- More than 100 bicycle racers are expected to compete in the Donnie Vignon Memorial Criterium today at Firestone Park.
The event, open to both experienced riders and interested children over a course 6/10 of a mile long, is being presented by the 20-member PVR Bike Club.
PVR stands for the first letter in the last names of Tony Potts of Mineral Ridge, the late Donnie Vignon of Columbiana and Hank Rochette of Fairview Park.
The trio established the club to promote bicycle racing three years ago. Vignon died two years ago.
Proceeds will go to Mill Creek Metroparks to establish a memorial in Vignon's name at the Metroparks' bicycle trail between Canfield and Mineral Ridge.
Potts said they would like to put a park bench in Vignon's name along the bicycle trail.
Variety of competition
Races will be held in various categories and distances from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Entry fees are $25 for adults and $5 for children.
There will be three U.S. Cycling Federation-sanctioned races -- category 4-5 over (20 miles), masters 35-and over (25 miles) and category 1-2-3 (40 miles). There also will be about 6-7 races for children ages 6-and-under to 16 years old.
Children should register by 10 a.m. The kids' races will start about 11:30 a.m. Medals and trophies will be awarded.
More racers expected
"We had 60 actual racers last year. We expect about 130 actual racers this year because we have children's races this year," said Potts, who explained a criterium.
"A criterium is a short course under a mile which [racers] do continuous laps around. This race course will be .6 of a mile."
Sponsors for the event are Columbiana Sparkle Market, United Parcel Service in Boardman, Cycle Sales in Boardman, B.B. Rooners restaurant in Salem, Principi Realty in Warren and Bikes For Kids of Cleveland.
"All of the racers must wear a helmet," said Potts.
The best racers -- category 1-2-3 -- will compete at 12:30 p.m.
Top talent billed
Included in this group will be Jim Baldesare, the 2002 U.S. National Criterium champion from Kent, who is a member of Team West Virginia; and Stephan Kadar, a former Romanian national champion now from the Cleveland area.
Potts said Kadar "is a member of the M & amp;M Bicycle Racing Club, which is the racing end of the PVR Club."
Potts said he, Vignon and Rochette started the PVR Club to promote bicycle racing.
"The whole reason we started this club is that all three of us used to race bikes as teenagers. We formed our relationships through bike racing, and when Don passed away we noticed there were hardly any more junior racers, so we [decided] to get that [number] back up. That's why we are promoting bike racing, to get kids involved in cycling to promote friendships," explained Potts.
He said the PVR Club has "a weekly training ride. We promote races. We also are hoping to be putting on bike rodeos for children.
"We also are planning to start a high school bicycle racing program in which high schools will compete against each other in bike racing."
kovach@vindy.com