Heber City's Kathy Sherwin is normally a mountain biking expert, but tried her hand at road stage racing in New Mexico. Sadly, Sherwin's race ended with a broken thumb after a rider crashed in front of her and the pro mountain biker was caught up in a massive pileup.

Hurting, but not knowing the extent of her injuries, Sherwin remounted her bike and completed the remaining 60 miles of the stage placing 23rd before ultimately being forced to drop out of the competition.

Jeff Louder, also a Salt Laker, was sent oversees last week by his BMC Cycling team, where he raced in the Tour of Romandie. Perhaps a little jet-lagged, Louder finished 68th in the star-studded field racing against many of the top teams in the world.

Even more close to home, the Utah State Criterium championship will be held this weekend at Rocky Mountain Raceway. Traditionally held around Pioneer Park but moved because of ongoing construction, this year's races will begin Saturday at 8:45 with junior categories. The Cat 1-2 racers take to the course for 90 minutes of high-speed attacks, turns and action at 3 p.m.

PLAYING IN THE DIRT: If road racing isn't necessarily your thing, the local mountain bike race season is also taking off. After starting the season in southern Utah, the Intermountain Cup moved north for the Showdown at 5-Mile Pass last weekend.

Bart Gillespie, Mona Vie/Cannondale, easily took the pro division with an 11-minute victory over David Welsh. Heather Holmes won the women's pro division race, beating Roxanne Toly by 13 minutes.

Several hundred cyclists participated in the various races, and many will be back in action again this weekend when the Intermountain Cup moves farther north to Sherwood Hills in Sardine Canyon near Logan.

In addition to the big weekend races, local mountain bikers can look forward to midweek races at Solitude (Tuesday nights, starting June 24) and Sundance or Soldier Hollow (Wednesdays, beginning yesterday). Sundance will also host a Super D series beginning May 24.

ROAD TOURS ROLLING: Of course, not every cyclist is looking for high-speed racing. Most, actually, hop on the bike recreationally and for fitness. For many of those, a 100-mile ride is the highlight of a season.

Last week, several hundred cyclists took to the roads of the Tooele Valley for the Ghost Town Century. On May 17, well over a thousand bikes will roll out of Salt Lake City for the Cycle Salt Lake Century which takes participants to Antelope Island and back.