Well, 2004 is in the books and the Iowa Bicycle Racing Association has awarded its 'Rider of the Year' champions and the new 'Champion of Champions', whatever that is. Click for Bikeiowa.ORG

The Iowa Off-Road Cycling Association is also closing out its championship series and holding its 2005 planning meetings in a few weeks.

The new 2005 preliminary racing sked is out and it looks like a packed-up year of racing in 2005 with an event going on nearly every weekend, if you're into racing like it is going out of style. Team DICE has seriously stepped up to the plate with a full sked in 2005.

No new big events are coming in 2005. Unfortunately, Finchford-Roubaix isn't going to happen and it looks like Adel is out, too.

My personal fave, cyclocross, is seeing a resurrection in the state. Iowa City has tossed it's hat into the party with the Cross Mafia and QC-Cx-Crue. Looks like over ten events in 2005 from my seat, which isn't all bad.

The Cross Mafia is also working with the NE/MO/KS cx scene to build a regional series kicking off in October of 2005, so we'll see how this progresses with Saturday and Sundays of racing through the fall.

The 2005 team structures are changing, as well. Cyclefarm.com is not returning. DMCC/DMOS is splitting into not one, two, or three, but four separate teams. Thad Neil and the off-roadies are going to Irwins/Toyota. Doug Klahsen and the P-town crew are siding with the Pella Bicycle Club, keeping the State Criterium Championship. Lane Anderson is leading a dedicated group of racers to the new EMU/Mortgage Solutions racing team with Altoona, Waterworks Park, Elkhart TT Series and the Cross Mafia Cyclocross Series.

Send me your new team rosters, so we know who to expect in what colors for 2005. Remember, get your team kits ordered quick to have them ready for the outdoor season kickoff!

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Our man Wes Hartman has signed with Endeavor for 2005. He'll be racing in Belgium after the holidays with the USA Cycling Euro Homebase. If you see him, tell him congratulations and ask what Robbie Ventura has him doing for workouts today.

Nick Frey is continuing with Hot Tubes for 2005. Look for homeboy to be in Europe again and touring the states, too. Tell him congrats if you see him and tell him to start racing cross, too.

Andy "A-Corn" Cornelison has signed with a New Mexican junior squad for 2005. Look for big things from the man-child from Carlisle.

Lastly, Cam Kirkpatrick will be sponsored by a local digestive disease center to offset costs incurred to investigate what crawled up his tank and died.

If you know of any other big signings, lemme know.

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Shameless Self-Promotion: 2005 Bikeiowa.com wishlist. Let me know what you like and don't like about this column for 2005. Monthly sked? Weekly quickies? More interviews? Road? Cross? BMX? MtB? Less crap from Marco? Let 'er rip.

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