Warm Springs wildfires force shift in CCC stage 1

Due to several fires on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic will move Wednesday’s Hayden Homes Warm Springs Road Race to the Cascade Lakes, race officials announced late Monday.

“Unfortunately, due to the recent fires on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, it was necessary for the safety of all parties involved to move Wednesday’s stage.,” said John Schiemer, executive director of the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation.

“Obviously we are all disappointed, as we have been preparing this new course for months,” he said. “However, we are grateful for the quick response by the US Forest Service, Deschutes County, Mt. Bachelor and the Oregon Department of Transportation for granting us permission to race on the Cascade Lakes route.”

Wednesday’s race will begin at Wanoga Sno-Park and will be similar to Friday’s Cascades Lake Road Race except riders will ride clockwise around Mt. Bachelor.

The Professional Men will circumvent Mt. Bachelor twice and the Professional Women will circumvent Mt. Bachelor once.

The Crane Prairie portion (roads 4270 and 42) will not be used for Wednesday’s revised course. Both Men and Women will finish at the Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, West Village Lodge.

Tune into NewsChannel 21 at 10 on Fox and 11 on NBC for Kandra Kent’s full report on the last-minute course change and reaction from cyclists.