Purdue Cycling Club Invites Racers to the Improved Purdue Omnium

By Justin Floyd

With a new road race course and new professional chip-timing, the Purdue Cycling Club looks to level up racing in the Midwest with the 3rd edition of the Purdue Omnium this Saturday and Sunday, March 29-30. The event will be the third stop on the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference (MWCCC) schedule and will play host to domestic category racing. The event will offer a Team Time Trial and Road Races on Saturday; and will conclude on Sunday with a Criterium.

”This year we are hosting a true Omnium with points earned in both the road race and criterium. Included in that will be points primes in the criterium,” Purdue Cycling Club President David Alexander noted. 

In his 2nd year as PCC president and race director he has looked to expand and improve the race this year. 

The road race is something new this year and will be a true classics-style spring race. Set in southwest Tippecanoe County along quiet country roads, the 12-mile circuit features several rollers and plenty of chances for early-spring crosswinds.  Alexander joked, “Anyone who likes their echelons will hopefully enjoy this race.” 

The collegiate TTT will also feature on the same roads with an out and back 10 mile test to get teams ready to hit out at collegiate nationals.

The event has not only featured high-quality fields and competitive courses since its reincarnation three years ago, but one of the most unique prizes in the region: the gold hammer. Made by Purdue students Madison Clary and Emily Wessel, the gold-painted hammer pays homage to Purdue’s official mascot, the Boilermaker Special, a locomotive, and Purdue Pete, a hammer-wielding boilermaker. 

“It’s pretty simple but a prize that is a cool representation of Purdue but also makes people remember the race,” said Alexander.

Major upgrades this year to the racing include timing and results by Race Penguin, a professional chip-timing company from Columbus, Ohio and organizers of the Derby City Omnium, to improve speed/accuracy after completion of events. Rollin’ in the Dough and Eddie Joe’s IceHouse food trucks will be present to feed hungry racers and spectators on both race days.

Despite all the improvements, one part of the formula that didn’t change is the criterium course which Alexander has dubbed, “the best parking lot crit in the midwest” because it features 7 turns. The technical nature of the parcours makes for exciting racing that is great for spectators and racers alike. 

The omnium is one of the PCC’s largest fundraisers to keep the club operating while also fulfilling its stated goal of improving quality and quantity of race opportunities in the area.

 Alexander added, “The quality of racing is some of the best you get in the Indiana/Kentucky region. We get a lot of the big teams to show up and I think it's a great opportunity to support a collegiate club and help grow road racing in the state while also having a really great early season race.”

Online registration for the event closes Thursday March 27th at midnight and can be found at:

https://www.bikereg.com/purdue-road